Al Qaeda and the US Strategy for Combating Terrorism - Assignment Example

Qn 1. PART I Most Americans believe the patriot movement to have emerged from the bombing of the Federal building. However, Gallaher notes in his book that this movement did not just happen overnight. To him, the patriot movement has been there for about two decades as per the mid 1990s. It basically involved violence against the American government by its citizens and has been evidenced since the olden days of settlement as per the sentiments of Catherine Stock. Gallaher’s take on this issue of patriot movement is that of several stages, but he clarifies that it has no clear indication on the point in time when it occurred first. There are two major themes that stand out in this issue despite there being a misunderstanding between scholars and political analysts. The themes are; firstly, the origin of the movement is related directly to the current destruction of the welfare of the modern state particularly in the rural areas of America. The other is the political economy’s formation of the groups that mobilize themselves for movements. A series of movements have happened like in the 1790s, there were whisky rebels, like in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio. Patriot movement is said to have first emerged in the legacy of Roosevelt’s deal that occurred between the state and producers and the subsequent fallout. Informants have in several occasions cited the New Deal by Roosevelt as the beginning of the problems that currently exists in America. One of the cases that may have come from this deal is the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) PART II Movements that were antigovernment continued to escalate. The magnitude of the patriot movement organizations increased a big deal and in accordance to Wright, the number of groups for the patriot movement rose from 224 in the year 1995 to a high number of 858 in 1996. However, after year 1996 there was a steady decline from this number of 858 to as low as 194 groups in the early 2000s. Arresting of group leaders is highly seen to be the cause of the decline. (Wright, 2007 p202) PART III There are extremist pools that are still in existence which include remaining parts of racial supremacist communities, patriot movements, and other newer movements. They are proliferated antigovernment movements as well as theories of racial conspiracy. There are publications that exist like, “The Turner Diaries and the Myth of the Six Million” that still continue to bring about anti-semantic extremism and racial extremism as well. (Buxton and Provenzo, 2010 p316) In the USA, there exists hate-mongering kind of groups of reform and extreme right seeking. There are quite a good number of Dissident Right Social types of movements such as patriot movements and religious groups like the Christian movement. The Extreme Right Dissident Right movements have been considered the same by scholars. Racism movements are grouped under Extreme Right movements. Patriotic movements and armed citizen militias are included under the same kind of movements; Dissident Right movements for social purposes and thus patriotic movements could breed terrorism. (Berlet, 2011) Qn 2 PART I In the USA Nazi group is not a new thing since they were there in the 1920s. They were part of the NSGWP (National Socialist German Workers Party) of the US. It also merged with another Tentomia society so as to come up with German-American Bund. They (these groups) got to higher levels of popularity in the 1930s which was rather considered controversial. They faded during the times of the Second World War. They were abandoned due to the forced dismantling of the same. As the 21st century set in, Neo-Nazi groups have cropped up together with white separatist, white supremacist, anti-semantic as well as fascist groups. These are said to be allies and share a lot in common to the Nazism ideologies. PART II The continued persistence of Neo-Nazism is due to courtesy of their having such things as websites, holding public demos as well as the maintained international links to other groups in the continent of Europe and elsewhere globally. They are few in terms of population, though. (martinfrost.ws, 2011) PART III “Christianity identity” is the expression referring to a religious movement putting together numerous groups in the USA that are considered supremacist. Teachers of this identity often uphold violence and racism. The anchorage of these teachers is owed by to such movements as Nazis and Ku Klux Klan. These movements consider themselves as the true Israelites. They also consider the Jews as arch enemies as well as half devils. They also hold the belief that all other people are inferior creations but the white race. The religious views held by these movements are occultist and bizarre and also their perspectives upon history are based upon conspiracy theories. The movement is also referred to by another expression “Israel Identity” and which has become a major uniting force to many groups of white supremacy. It is often an inclusion by most teachings of religion that are produced by leaders of the groups racist remarks which echo other white supremacist statements of these groups, the most moderate, are known to publish hate literature and the other most radical groups result to violence. The radical groups also are known for murder. Nowadays, the persons most attracted to these groups are violent and racist young people. These youths are usually part of crowds were involved in the chanting of slurs that were racial at the federal marshals in the attempt at capturing weaver. PART IV These movements have the capability of bringing about terrorism as the nizkor.org website states. Although small, these groups court a lot of media attention in a broad range. Racist groups found in USA have been discovered to be spreading organizational aid and literature to the German racist groups. This has in particular become a matter of concern in the US as well as the entire of the western world. (nizkor.org, 2006) Qn 3 PART I A major achievement of the UN is the regime establishment of universal treaties as well as conventions towards combating international terrorism. The treaties make a provision to the legal framework dedicated to the terrorist acts pursuance. They also provide ways which make it difficult for terrorists to use some of the means they usually apply. This legal framework is made up of sixteen universal instruments of law. They define some of the most popular acts of terrorism like hostage taking, hijacking, financing terrorism and bombing. (coe.int, 2006) Shortly after the terrorist attacks of Washington DC and New York, the president of the Security Council together with the then ambassador of France to the US gave out a draft legal resolution to the attacks with a strong condemnation as well as giving way to military action. As early as 12th September 2001, there was an adoption of Resolution 1368. Fourteen days subsequent to this, the council also adopted Resolution 1373. The latter Resolution was meant to reach other 191 member states of the UN and compel them to undertake executive as well as legislative actions to counter terrorism. (portal.uam.es, 2003) PART II Most of the independent democratic states police forces are obliged to take care of international threats, with the inclusion of terrorism. Such states define terrorism as a criminal act. Under such circumstances the qualitative as well as quantitative legal overtaxing enforcement capacities so as to maintain peace have led to requests by portions of the public together with executive and legislative branches of government to make an expression of both operational and legal ways so as to deter terrorism. This is also aimed at increasing the civilian capacity to counter terrorism in the context of the foreseen threat. An example of this is the situation of Northern Ireland in year 1968 as well as 1972. (Zimmerman, 2005) The doctrine being applied by the US is based upon Clausewitz’s theory. The main stipulation by this doctrine is to attack strength with strength. Vulnerability if used and exploited to the highest levels is the most applicable way of overwhelmning the enemy. (Pollock, 2005) There are some emergency counter-terrorism legislation that have been set in a bid to put violence to an end. However, one main lesson has been drawn from this approach of fighting terrorism. It had a loophole since it could easily be abused and this could lead to catastrophic outcomes. This has been an evidenced experience in the Northern part of Ireland due to the fact that the laws corroded the existing criminal justice system. To make the situation worse; it even resulted to the politicizing of the rule of law. The legislation lend to a trend of alienating and demonizing those communities that could bring about aid in irradiating terrorism. This Ireland’s case triggered violence and made an attempt in holding in such a way that perceived or real grievances were worse off than before. It made normal the scenes of violence and gave into the negative impacts of propaganda, such that the persons in the opposition to the state could achieve in spreading false rumors. (coe.int, 2008) Qn 4 PART I Hard-line approach to terrorism is not always the best to fight terrorism. It is considered an ineffective approach to this global vice of terrorism. It is said to cause triggers to more acts of terrorism. Handling of terrorists in an ineffective manner by such terrorism fighters like Detachment 88 such as the murder of a suspect of terror in Central Java is not the right way to approach terrorism. Killing should not be taken as the best option of getting rid of terrorism since such suspects that are killed can be spared and nabbed alive for questioning. The police involved will be considered to be more civilized if they got suspects of terrorism alive. If such suspects were questioned alive there arises a double-win situation where more information is gotten upon any developing cells of terrorism as well as proving that the nation involved in questioning is civilized. Counseling centers should be set up and which involve both sides’ governments. Former terrorists are greatly resourceful in doing the counseling. It makes a lot of sense since former terrorists are usually people who are good and militants alike. There are also Muslims involved in terrorism that are spiritual and intellectual. Hard-line Muslims would thus follow the dialogue approach to solving grievances. Compromise on both sides would also arise as a result. (Padang, 2010) PART II On the other hand soft-line approach to terrorism is not its bad side. Sometimes the environments where terrorism is thriving need to be violently suppressed. Some scenarios where hard-line approach could be called for are such which are case particular and some cases cannot be contained using soft-line approach to terrorism. Also when a state may decide to undertake isolation, disruption and killing to stop terrorism this hard-line way of cutting off terrorism is the only option for such a state. One of the hard-line approaches to terrorism may be the striking option that involves military undertakings picked from a variety of options can be utilized to severely disrupt or destroy infrastructure and personnel that are used in terrorist operations. Other hard-line approaches like covert operations such as sabotage, assassination and renditions are secretive. They are a way of using Special Forces for operations to diminish terrorist bases and misguide them when it comes to targets. (Martin, 2009 pp463-465) PART III Economic sanctions against terrorism are a form of integral way of stopping such states that support terrorism. Sanctions are seen as a way of usefulness both diplomatically and politically. It can be applied in pressuring target nations to make rectifications to their policies as well as strengthen others’ resolutions. By other’s resolution it applies to neighboring states to such a nation that supports terrorism. As per the Tokyo economic summit, terrorism is not a justified thing and thus it must be fought against in determined, discrete, tenacious and patient actions which also ensure international cooperation. (findarticles.com, 2010) Qn 5 PART I In human history, guerrilla warfare approach has always been a success utilized by the weak against the strong. The guerrillas take part in the war by utilizing the advantage of their knowledge of the terrain; For instance, high mountains, thick jungles or cities that are densely populated. They launch attacks on small groups which have been isolated and that belong to the stronger party in the war. After the attack they blend back to the surrounding in pretence that they are ordinary citizens. The case of guerrilla warfare in Iraq occurred after the second victory of the US soldiers. The US got overconfident and made proclamations that have the mission had been accomplished. This, however, was not a victory to last long since there had been a pre-planned guerrilla war that was designed with a goal of fighting US out of Iraq. Many US soldiers died after the major operations of combat had ended. Despite the success achieved by the US, in this second stage of Iraq-US battle, guerrilla tactics masterminded by Saddam Hussein brought chaos as far as US supply lines were concerned while they headed for Baghdad. The then army chief of staff, Edward Shinseki happened to be one of the high placed US government officials, said that this phase would be an uphill task even when compared to the original attacks of US upon Iraq. The top administration headed by Bush went on to ridicule the observation, though. Another of the ignored prospects was that of the analysts where they refuted the claim that ensuring Iraq’s freedom would be similar to the after World War II occupation of Germany and Japan. Thus, the position of US in Iraq had grown from bad to worse. The guerrilla attacks had started to intensify and the situation on the ground was that of a prostrate economy and lawlessness. There began a shortage of services considered to be basic like clean water and electricity. The torture and the censorship carried out by the US upon the Iraq press brought about tension but without them the forces of Iraq would have come out with a victory. Unemployment levels in Iraq rose. This meant that the US foreign policy had to change for good. (Eland, 2005) PART II In the recent past, there had not been such compelling and shocking amateur snapshots like those made of US soldiers carrying out their torture upon the Iraqi prisoners. This torturing was taking place in the Baghdad being broadcasted by CBS 60 Minutes II towards the end of the fourth month of 2004. It became a major item of political debate that occurred both in the US and outside. This case of Abu Ghraib has triggered numerous unsubstantiated sentiments regarding the meaning as well as the effect of those photographs at the scandal’s core. Many assumptions about the efficiency of those photographs had been made. These were especially frequent in the public community as concerns the belief of the US’s transparency, uncontestable piece of evidence and that ability of setting the agenda of policy making and reporting. This changed the dominance of Iraq war of the American liberation as well as moral superiority of the USA. (Papadopoulos, 2008) References: Anden- Papadopoulos, Kari. (2008) Abu Ghraib Torture Photographs. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:n0wqRAR_G1UJ:www.sagepub.com/ mcquail6/Online%2520readings/14b%2520Anden- Papadopolous.pdf+photographs+from+Abu+Ghraib+prison+caused+a+crisis+in+the+ American+policy&hl=en&gl=ke&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESj0XXUT1rQU1JBHLR8r HMkACeRh18DQiU3loQTfuBLbdf3NJHZfZMCkHvNzLvZiilhFDh_WBAoiij_hlW ByXKjnTt1y9Wk2T9FHtSQOGH2K-VIMNs- RXbvoSQutGPTaDoRkdG13&sig=AHIEtbShTxrIALd8nFKSXy4xVy_5d7UkIw Berlet, Chip. (2011). Human Rights, Systems of Oppression, and Social Justice: Confronting the Right-Wing Backlash in the New Millennium. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://buildinghumanrights.us/berlet-essay.html Buxton, Cory A. and Provenzo, Eugene F. (2010). Teaching Science in Elementary and Middle School: A Cognitive and Cultural Approach. Edition 2, illustrated. SAGE. p316. coe.int. (2006). United Nations Action to Counter Terrorism. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:e- OzYwZ3YjMJ:www.coe.int/t/dlapil/codexter/3_CODEXTER/Working_Documents/ CTITF%2520Information%2520Package.pdf+Which+national+and+international+leg al+remedies+exist+for+combating+terrorism&hl=en&gl=ke&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEE SgYtXe947pI1lo9RvmYC9klGWOf7r0Kyp63-PvqbsHgcD85BJhFx- cwM3akkc9uOIpvVBQ0uudT2oG- MH2sZaBZKaxAHJeseHrcRECVhohMEZeCMNpHOGcnubFVuYrhJBiurFXe&sig= AHIEtbRpak71KiU6gbK6nNr_l2lyRFHgjw coe.int. (2008). Fighting terrorism – learn the lessons from Northern Ireland. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/Viewpoints/080711_en.asp Eland Ivan. (2005). The Way Out of Iraq: Decentralizing the Iraqi Government. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://www.independent.org/publications/policy_reports/detail.asp?type=full&id=16 findarticles.com. 2010. Economic sanctions to combat international terrorism. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1079/is_v86/ai_4549736/ Gallaher, Carolyn. (2003). On the fault line: race, class, and the American patriot movement. Edition Illustrated. Rowman & Littlefield. Pp70-73. Martin, Gus. (2009). Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues. Edition 3, illustrated. SAGE. pp463-465. martinfrost.ws. (2011). Neo-Nazism in the USA. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/neonazism1.html#Neo-Nazism_in_the_USA nizkor.org. (2009). Christian Identity: A Religion for White Racists. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/orgs/american/christian-identity/religion-white- racists.html Padang, Donny Syofyan. (2010). Soft approach to terrorism. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/09/26/soft-approach-terrorism.html Pollock, John M. (2005). A War like No Other: Al Qaeda and the Us Strategy for Combating Terrorism. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZPey1nImik0J:www.strategicstudiesins titute.army.mil/pdffiles/ksil466.pdf+Among+warlike+options,+which+applications+o f+force+are+most+appropriate+when+combating+terrorism%3F&hl=en&pid=bl&src id=ADGEESjXqaCUQikf3qChZSBjbHggMEHQHCiN01EVnnx3j7SVBE7GYUrkW HJFmCYC7xjNmr0qcFZcV3qutcjJ50V3CWWw7PnQo- 6QURH1pzRdzqTxIY7CrOuhtsP8mBBxR3U6NptuS8FK&sig=AHIEtbTLDXI6YEg 5oBakTK7MbrArDxFrGg portal.uam.es. (2003). Combating Terrorism. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:SVBuYkRWVyUJ:portal.uam.es/portal /page/portal/UAM_ORGANIZATIVO/Departamentos/CienciaPoliticaRelacionesInter nacionales/doctorado/Seminarios%2520y%2520cursos%2520de%2520profesores%25 20invitados/Materiales%2520Misra/2CombatingTerrorism.pdf+Which+US+legal+re medies+exist+for+combating+terrorism&hl=en&gl=ke&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg- GKjQulHsqtqKrvH9EKwsNVWyhvzgjGNpEkK24Hyk600UlAxWESueaY8FWYvO HMHKvq- B92uJLHvTbldWyEN2V6Zk7qtm2xS7UtRilbUnEM6zEX7Zkqkn3Osv2qLewaBnW OdM&sig=AHIEtbR0NKf7Fe6GxXq2YeOXchFsl3-PXw Wright, Stuart A. (2007). Patriots, politics, and the Oklahoma City bombing. Edition. Illustrated. Cambridge University Press. p202. Zimmerman. (2005). Between Minimum Force and Maximum Violence: Combating Political Violence Movements with Third-Force Options. Retrieved 3 April 2011 http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:8hJrnG9BXhMJ:se2.isn.ch/serviceengi ne/Files/ESDP/22777/ichaptersection_singledocument/81B620A6-7A92-4AA0- A189- A0B7C0EEFA3D/en/3_Zimmermann.pdf+Among+warlike+options,+which+applicat ions+of+force+are+most+appropriate+when+combating+terrorism%3F&hl=en&pid= bl&srcid=ADGEESic0y02yI0aJrl2FqNIwnxZVNxHBnkLz640Rgc416dufdL5mgJB- GnuOstUf- 4ND6fwv_vhdSsSmUL8D215_Hgd8dmM64wcJss727Cb5nXcMYQrI_Zzv9zv9Nsb3 y86lwMrbF_2&sig=AHIEtbRELiHoWR6hC5GORcijAa6_DiwK2Q Read More