Counterterrorism in the USA - Essay Example

Counterterrorism in USA: Realizations and Consequences Introduction September 11, 2001 - that fateful day six years ago destroyed the images many people had of the United States as one of the safest countries in the world. It brought to us the truth that destruction comes with power. The 9/11 attack showed the world how the world's most powerful nation was obliterated in a split second. It has alarmed the entire nation and called for several critical adjustments in the global foreign policy. The tragic event made the national security almost entirely concentrated to the fight against terrorism. Policies were re-assessed to ensure that the state is secured from any terrorism attacks. The government became stricter in implementing rules and evaluating traders, immigrants, and other travelers going inside the country. Drug traffic is also carefully monitored. The military is also taking action in the war against terrorism. A bigger budget is allocated to support the war. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 , Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South-Asian Americans, and those perceived to be members of these groups, have been the victims of increased numbers of bias-related assaults, threats, vandalism and arson in the United States. In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the United States and other countries around the world were placed on a high state of alert against potential follow-up attacks. After everything that has happened, United States and the world, has never been the same. Terrorism It is defined as the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. We often hear the term terrorists'' to describe the bad guys or terrorism'' to describe every act that opposes the government. It has been used so loosely that we need to redefine the term to give back its meaning. "This is a proposal to lend some clarity to the definition, and thus hopefully to the use, of the word terrorism. Currently, the term terrorism is applied to the use of force most often on the basis of whether the speaker agrees with the goal of the violence. Hence the expression . One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." (The Rational Radical, 2001) Homegrown terrorists Most of the time, terrorism is directly associated to the Muslims. Actually, one's conversion to Islam does make him more likely to be a terrorist. It can not be denied that religion greatly influences one's beliefs, morals, ideologies and way of life. Although being a Muslim does not make one an instant terrorist, they are more exposed to the preaching of the Islamic extremists. This makes them more vulnerable, especially because Muslims are noted to be an incredibly united group. They share the same beliefs and goals. One's enemy becomes the enemy of the whole Muslim community. This is why the United States is alarmed by the radicalization of American-Muslim converts. Although the government is doing everything to reinforce the security against outside terrorists, it should be pointed out that rebellion inside the country poses a serious threat to national security. Much attention is also needed to fight domestic terrorism. Domestic terrorists are driven by their political and social beliefs. They are the government's opposition. They go all-out to fight for their beliefs, including stealing, hurting civilians, and other criminal acts. These homegrown terrorists are very diverse and their familiarity and easy access to the country makes them more dangerous. Some of the most distinguished domestic terrorist groups are the white supremacists, the black separatists, and the militia/sovereign citizen movement. The white supremacists, aside from being a national threat, also harass the minority, which includes the Jews and the non-white ethnic groups. On the other hand, the sovereign citizen movement is the enemy of the law. They violate the law officers, judges, prosecutors, and other law enforcement personnel. Meanwhile, the black separatists are often linked to other international terrorists. They help these groups by feeding them their needed information and by gaining access to the community. (Mueller, 2007) The Internet is one powerful tool in spreading radicalization and terrorism. Operators can be exposed to the Islamic propaganda which can be easily accessed through some web pages, forums and chatrooms that openly discuss terrorism issues. Infiltrating these terrorists : Intelligence Simply defined, intelligence is information that has been analyzed and refined so that it is useful to policymakers in making decisions - specifically, decisions about potential threats to our national security. The intelligence is responsible in determining the enemy's strengths and weaknesses. They have to know their opponent's intentions and what they are capable of doing. These information is very important in planning and decision making regarding the actions required to ensure the nation's security. This will help the government determine the best economic or military move, or create more appropriate security policies. Human rights Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are considered entitled: the right to life, liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equal treatment before the law, among others. Many conflicts are sparked by a failure to protect human rights, and the trauma that results from severe human rights violations often leads to new human rights violations. As conflict intensifies, hatred accumulates and makes restoration of peace more difficult. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security". The law protects every citizen from all cruel and inhuman acts, gives them the right to protect his and his family's privacy, and prohibits anyone to degrade their character or reputation. The law is not bias and protects everyone equally. Just War Since the terrorist attacks on the USA on 9/11 academics have turned their attention to just war once again with international and national conventions developing and consolidating the theoretical aspects of the conventions - just war theory has become a popular topic in International Relations, Political Science, Philosophy, Ethics, and Military History courses. The just war theory follows some major principles. First, a just war should only be done after all other non-violent options failed. War should always be the last resort in settling any problem. Second, a just war can not be waged without the approval of the legitimate authority, no matter how just or noble the cause may be. Third, a just war should be done only with the right intention, or to set something right, or to rectify a wrong suffered. A war is only justifiable if it has a fair probability of succeeding. The lives of the soldiers and civilians should not be put to risk if a cause is known to be hopeless. The lives of the civilians should be protected to avoid injuries or death, and they should never be made as target. The loss that will be caused by the war is also a major consideration. The cause of the war should at least be worth the injuries, deaths, and properties destructed during the battle. Ultimately, war should only be done to achieve, or re-establish peace. If the peace and order situation is not better than the situation before, then the war is not worth it and should not have been started in the first place. (De Forrest, 2001) Anti-Americanism America's rise to the status of the world's premier power, while inspiring much admiration, has also provoked widespread feelings of suspicion and hostility. The United States clearly is the most responsible to the continuous degradation of humankind. Its influence causes people to have lower intellect, moral values, and quality of life. It has corrupted the whole world. USA Patriot Act This law is perilous. Most Americans do not even know the meaning and significance of this law. It could break down constitutional safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures, leading to abuses against U.S. citizens. Such generic orders could have a significant impact on the privacy rights of large numbers of innocent citizens. References De Forrest, M.(2001) Just War Theory. Gonzaga University Journal. Retrieved January 6, 2008 from http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pol116/justwar.htm Mueller, R. (2007) Statement Before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved January 5, 2008 from http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress07/mueller011107.htm Terrorism: Let's Have Some Clarity. (2001) The Rational Radical. Retrieved January 5, 2008 from http://www.therationalradical.com/dsep/other/terrorism-definition.htm Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1948) General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of United Nations. Retrieved January 5, 2008 from http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html Read More