Counter Terrorism in Iraq - Essay Example

Counter Terrorism al Affiliation) Terrorism in Iraq The collapse of the post-Cold War states and the Cold War has helped in the increase of terrorism and terrorism intelligence globally. It is due to easy accessibility of artilleries and the intellect of how to use them. The Instability in governance and leadership, elevated by the increased conflict has opened up hot spots for terrorism training within countries, Iraq in particular, and recruitment activity. Smuggling and drug trafficking routes are often used by terrorists to sustain operations worldwide (Taddeo, 2010). Terrorism in Iraq began early 2003, February 26th. The terrorist killed three people by detonating a suicide bomb vest in northern Iraq. Later in March 22nd, other three people were killed by suicide car bomber, who detonated the bomb at a checkpoint in Sayed Sadiq. That year only, there were 25 suicide bombings executed by 32 attackers. Approximately 151,000 to 600,000 or more Iraqis were killed in the first 3–4 years of conflict (Reese, 2009). Since then, terrorism has evolved and propagated over a decade up to date. This has compromised the national security of the country, with the instability paving the way for more terrorist recruitment and invasion. Most of these terrorist groups were formed to oppose the US forces that invaded their country on 20 March 2003. They were joined by the United Kingdom, several coalition associates, and the post-invasion Iraqi government. The US also had an objective of destroying Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. The dictatorship government was led by Saddam Hussein (Griffin 2004). There are several major terrorist groups, operating in Iraq, that pose a major national security to that nation, with the main one being Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (or Sham or Levant) or ISIS, led by Ibrahim Al-Badri, also known as Al-Baghdadi. They are centered in Syria and Iraq. It is a Wahhabi jihadist extremist militant group, mainly composed of Sunni Arabs from Iraq and Syria. As of March 2015, it has control over a region occupied by 10 million people in Iraq and Syria, and through trustworthy native groups, it has control over small areas of Libya, Nigeria and Afghanistan (Griffin 2004). On 29 June 2014, the group declared itself to be an international caliphate, where it entitles itself religious, political and military authority over all Muslims worldwide (Reese, 2009). The Asaib Ahl-Haq militia is yet another major terrorism group, operating on Iraq grounds. The group is also known as the Khazali network, controlled and governed by Iran and operates under the leadership of General Qassem Suleimani (Taddeo, 2010). They took accountability for over 6,000 attacks on the American and Alliance forces during the US invasion of Iraq. They split from Muqtadhr al-sadr’s Mahdi Army after the Shia uprising, to create their Khazali network (Reese, 2009). On January 20, 2007, the Karbala provincial headquarters was raided, and this was their biggest attack. They invaded the U.S. Armys offices at Karbala, killed one soldier, then captured and killed four more American soldiers. Other groups that operate their insurgency in Iraq include, Badr Forces Militia, led by Hadi al-Amiri and Shaheed Al-Mahrab Militia led Ammar al-Hakim (Griffin 2004). Fixing Iraqs counterterrorism forces is a priority. For the counterterrorism policies to work, several strategies have to be instilled so as to oversee the wiping out of terrorism in Iraq. One strategy was the creation of the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), a Self-governing body, separate from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and Ministry of the Interior. The United States developed the Iraq counter-terrorism service, and it has a three-dimensional organization structure. The organization includes the Counterterrorism headquarters, the Counter Terrorism Command (CTC), and Iraqi Special Operations Forces Brigades. Organizations such as counter-terrorism service are at the core of U.S. strategies that intend to progress military groups, to fight insurgents and terrorists (Griffin, 2004). U.S. should anticipate the implications of engaging a force outside of a nation’s traditional security arrangement fully contemplate the roles U.S. advisors and assistance play with a native security (Taddeo, 2010). There are major organizations or units, that are were formed to combat terrorism threats in Iraq. The Iraqi National Counter-Terrorism Force (INCTF) that is governed by the counter terrorism service is one.it is a non-sectarian force, as mirrored in its leadership, its personnel, and the procedures with which it carries out its tasks (Griffin, 2004). The unit structure is composed of the general Iraqi population makeup of Shi’a, Sunni, Kurd, and other minor communities. This helps to rationalize terrorism threat levels within communities by putting together antagonistic groups together and making them work side by side (Reese, 2009). The other organization is the Counter Terrorism Service,which governs the Iraqi National Counter-Terrorism Force. It serves as a higher headquarters to the Counter-Terrorism Command, and two ISOF brigades. The Iraqi counter-terrorism battalion concentrated on high-level terrorists and terrorist groups. Furthermore, it conducted hostage rescue operations, raids, airfield and port captures, and reinforces the Iraqi counter-terrorism battalion procedures. The support battalion provided the capability to sustain the ISOF during constant combat operations (Reese, 2009). Laws against terrorism in Iraq. The draft law defines crimes of terrorism as acts meant to trigger terror among civilians, instigating threat to their lives. In addition to integrity, the draft law means the acts that cause damage to the environment or any public or private property. The draft law means the acts that divulge any of the natural or public health assets to danger, with the purpose of destabilizing the public order, threatening firmness, safety, national unity or the States dominion (Griffin, 2004). The laws impose death penalties to any alleged terrorist proved guilty by law. Life imprisonment will be accorded to anyone found harboring a terrorist or covering up their acts of terrorism. With these laws in place, ruling out terrorism within Iraq might be effective, even though most terrorists are to believers to their cause the stability and governance of the Iraq government stand by these penalties despite heavy criticism from the public. This is due to claims b different ethnic groups that they are red flagged highly than others (Taddeo, 2010). References Reese, S., & Lewis, S. (2009). ‘Framing the war on terror’ counter terrorism 43(1) pp. 98-121 Taddeo, Valentina. "U.S. Response to Terrorism: A Strategic Analysis of the Iraq Campaign.” Journal of Strategic Security 3, no. 2 (2010): 27-38 Griffin, M. (2010). “War on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq (3rd ed., pp. 43- 67). New York. Walker, C., Carlile, . B., McDonald, K., & Omand, D. (2011). Terrorism and the law. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Read More