The Fight against Terrorism - Term Paper Example

Understanding Terrorism Introduction Terrorism has become one of the most sensitive issues around the world. This is so since it is being experienced by all countries in the world in one way or the other. This has resulted in the fight against terrorism to be global one. When most people hear about the fight against terrorism, they only think of the war against radical Islamic groups such as Al Qaeda and All Shabaab, which is happening in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia among others (Cooper, 2001). However, terrorism has become widespread taking various forms carried out by citizens of countries such as the United States of America. For example, the resent Boston Marathon Bombing is believed to have been orchestrated by two Chechen brothers who were United States of America citizens. This has prompted the need for a different approach to counter terrorism other than the use of the armed forces when it comes to the fight against terrorism. This paper will describe and analyze counter terrorism approach that does not involve the engagement of the military. It will also illustrate and examine the different alternative techniques by establishing the challenges each technique faces. It will also give examples on real situations around the world how these techniques are being used. Alternative Counter Terrorism Techniques The use of the military in the war against terrorism has been criticized due to various issues. The United States of America military for example has been accused of occupying other countries, imposing their rules on other countries and violation of human rights in their approach to counterterrorism. All these have been attributed by the use of the armed forces in trying to extinguish the terrorism menace. However, through the use of the military, the question of how terrorism can be fought justly since using the military has proved to be a very hard thing. For instance, in the United States of America many people enlisted to join the United States of America armed forces as a result of the infamous September 11th attack on the United States of America by terrorist in 2001. Therefore, most of soldiers in the United States military are vengeful towards terrorists since in one way or the other, they caused a lot of suffering to the soldiers. This is the reason behind the various human rights violations that accompany the fight against terrorism through military interventions. However, there are various ways that can ensure that the fight against terrorism can be undertaken without the use of the Military. The various non military counter terrorism approaches can be divided under political, economic and social approaches. Political One way through which counterterrorism can be done without the use of the military is through a political means by having constant dialogues and negotiations with political leaders of these terrorist organizations. This seems hard since most governments have taken a stand where they do not allow any negotiations with terrorist groups. However, this should be revised since almost every terrorist organization groups usually have a political arm within it. This is mostly common among terrorist groups that have a political agenda behind the terrorist attacks. For instance, governments can politically instigate a political intervention that will ensure that the terrorist groups get their grievances heard and solved hence bringing an end to their terrorist activities. A good example of how this technique has been used in dealing with terrorism was during the Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom. In solving these attacks, the British government deployed its armed forces which resulted to more attacks and bloodshed. However, it was not until political negotiations were undertaken between the IRA and the British governments that terrorist attacks by the IRA in Britain subsided and eventually ended. However, this technique is met with some challenges. The major and obvious challenge that meets this approach in the fight against terrorism is the fact that most governments do not negotiate with terrorist groups. This is where governments have a hard lined stand when it comes to negotiations with terrorists groups. The only negotiations such governments have with terrorists is only on their terms of surrender. Another political approach to counter terrorism is governments ensuring that terrorist organization do not play any role in controlling the political scene of a particular country. This is of high importance because if a terrorist group influences the political scene of a given country, it will result in terrorists being funded and trained in that country thus resulting in a lot of terrorist activities in the region. There are various ways in which terrorist groups influence the political atmosphere in a given country. The most common way is intimidating voters to ensure that general election outcomes go their way. Ensuring this does not happen is done through making sure that terrorist attacks do not take place during occasions such as elections. An example of where this strategy has been employed is in India. For instance, during last year’s elections in J&K and Punjab provinces elections, terrorist groups that are based in Pakistan threatened to kill voters and election officials who would participate in the elections. However, the Indian Parliament made sure that it provided the best security possible during the elections that they went on without terror attacks hence the terrorist groups were unable to influence the outcome of the elections in their favor. The challenge that presents itself when it comes to this approach to counter terrorism is the fact that this is one time prevention measure. Another challenge is the fact that security agencies are concentrated on one aspect leaving other areas without enough security thus creating easier targets of terror. Enacting laws that will ensure there are no terrorism activities around the world is another political measure of approaching counter terrorism. This is where a government in cooperation with other governments enact similar laws that are accepted globally to undermine terrorism. A good example is the of this approach to counter terrorism is the enactment of a law among United nations member countries where each member is supposed to freeze all assets that ar e viewed as belonging to a terror group. This approach is challenged by the fact that all countries all over the world are not political allies thus some neglect to enact such laws in order to nude mine their politically rival counties. Economic Techniques There are various economic approaches that can be employed by various governments as approaches to ensure that the counter terrorism is approached without the use of military interventions. One such approach is where the governments limit the economic capability of terrorist groups by disrupting flow of money to the terror groups. Terror groups require a lot of money in their operations since they need to train, arm, and compensate their members. There are four main ways in which terrorists groups such as Al Qaeda get funds to facilitate their terror operations. One way is where they impose taxes and loyalties to businesses establishment. Another way is where they get funds from donors who are sympathetic to their causes. Terrorist organizations also get funds for their operations by running legitimate businesses where they use the profits to facilitate their operations. Finally, terror groups involve themselves in trafficking illegal products in order to get finances for their operations. For instance in Afghanistan, the Taliban are known to traffic heroin in order to get money to support their terror activities. Limiting the economic operations of terror groups are done in various ways where inter agency co-operation is essential. For instance, drug enforcement police units should work hand in hand in ensuring that terror groups are un able to carry out drug trafficking thus limiting their economic capability. A good example, of this type of approach to counter terrorism without the use of the military is where the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States of America has been used to assist the government of Afghanistan to address the issue of heroin trafficking by the Taliban. This went a long way in ensuring the war against terrorism especially in Afghanistan was successful since due to the Drug Enforcement Agency efforts the Taliban had limited funds to operate. Another way to break the flow of money to terror groups through other agencies of governments is to investigate and highlight financial establishments that are known to fund terrorist activities. This is mainly done through the cooperation of agencies in the government such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America with security agencies. Such agencies help in identifying such establishment where they notify counter terrorism police units to who raid these business organizations and seize their assets. This has been done especially in Arab owned business establishments I the United States of America that are notorious for funding terror groups. Putting import or export restrictions by the international community is another economic approach of approaching the counter terrorism without the use of government the armed forces. This is where the importation and exportation of certain goods believed to be the economic backbone of various terror groups is banned from entering or leaving the country. A good example of where such a strategy has been used effectively to combat terrorism is in Somalia. Buying of charcoal from Somalia by other countries has been banned since it was established that it was form the exportation of charcoal through the port of Kismayu that the terrorist group Al Shabaab which is affiliated with Al Qaeda got most of its revenue to finance it terrorist activities in Africa. After the banning of exporting of the charcoal, the group’s operations were undermined making the group find a lot of difficulties in their operations. Just like other approaches economic approaches to counter terrorism without the military are faced by various challenges. One challenge that is faced by these approaches is the bureaucracy between different government agencies involved in counterterrorism. This is where different agencies involved in this approaches undermine each other rendering the approach in effective. Another challenged that meets these approaches is corruption especially in third world counties where bribery makes the efforts by governments to deal with terrorism without the use of the armed forces in effective. Social Techniques There are various social approaches to counter terrorism without military intervention that can be employed. Improving education is one social technique that will ensure minimal terrorism without employing the use of the armed forces. This is because many young people join these terrorist groups in order to earn a living due to the lack of education that renders them jobless (Bar-Tal, 2007). If quality education is provided to young people especially in countries known for terrorist training and recruitment will go a long way in the fight against terrorism since the youth will have a good education thus they can get jobs to earn them a living thus they do not join terror groups in order to earn a living (Piazza, 2011). A good example of how this is being approached is in Africa and the Middle East where education is receiving a lot of support to ensure that young people are not lured to join terrorist activities. However, this effort is being met by the tough challenge of funding education due to the poverty that is present in such countries. Ensuring that Madras a curriculum is not incorporated in the curriculum is also important in combating terrorism. This is will result in ensuring that young minds are not brain washed to join terrorist groups. This is being introduced in countries such as Pakistan where gradually madras as are being removed from the curriculum. However, this is facing a lot of hostility from citizens who view this as undermining the Muslim religion which is a challenge. Conclusion Terrorism can be approached and dealt with without the use of the military. Soldiers are trained to defend ones country with their life thus they are unable to deal with issues such as domestic terrorism. There have been various cases surrounding the use of military to deal with terrorism due to brutality (Walzer, 2007). It is important to identify the role of any armed force in regard to terrorism. If government agencies are equipped well enough with finances, training and intelligence then it is possible to eliminate terrorism without used the armed forces. References Bar-Tal, D. (2007). Sociopsychological Foundations of Intractable Conflicts. Retrieved From: http://abs.sagepub.com/content/50/11/1430 Cooper, H. (2001). Terrorism: The Problem of Definition Revisited. Retrieved from: http://abs.sagepub.com/content/44/6/881 Piazza, J. (2011). Poverty, minority economic discrimination, and domestic terrorism. Retrieved From: http://jpr.sagepub.com/content/48/3/339 Walzer, M. (2007). On Fighting Terrorism Justly. 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