Fighting Anti-terrorism in the United States

1 Fighting Anti-terrorism in the United States America is taking the fight on terrorism evidenced by the end of Taliban regime and the destruction of Al Qaeda’s safe haven in Afghanistan. The history of the United States policy begins with a general view of the American Revolution until the present day events. In comparison to the mid-eighties, there are fewer terrorist incidents in the present times. Various countries that have in the past targeted Americans have disappeared. The Soviet bloc for instance which in the past was an ally of the terrorists is now openly condemning them. The change in many other countries has led to the formation of the United Nations Convections, a group composed of 12 nations that target to end terrorism and enhance international cooperation.

Despite the milestones achieved in this fight, most countries still employ terrorism in their state policies. One example of such a country is Iran. The Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security which engage in terrorist activities through direction and support to the various terrorists are examples. It is however worthy noting that the American Revolution is regional and not global and gears to achieve the long-term ideal of maintaining the empire of liberty. The major threat to the United States government however has been terrorism.

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The government has endeavored to maintain a global coalition of more than 70 countries unlike before where governments of countries such as Syria, Sudan, and the Afghanistan were accused of funding, offering training bases and assisting the delivery of weapons to many terrorists groups. Other countries have also allowed terrorists to conduct their vivacious activities on their soil and offering any necessary assistance (Paterson et al., 1995, p. 15). However it is noted that the government has also conducted a successful military operation that results in the change of regimes in other countries such as the Afghanistan. Additionally, the United States has provided freedom and humanitarian relief to oppressed people in Afghanistan.

Further, there have been directives to freeze terrorist assets and restrict in change of regimes (Paterson et al., 1995, p. 18). This is especially vital as most terrorists employ other methods that make it more difficult for the various anti-terrorists groups to counter. For instance, initially most international terrorists were only a threat to Americans outside their own countries.

However, terrorists are now attacking the country from within as evident in the September 11 attacks and just before the millennium when an alert U.S. Customs Department Service official recognized and denied Ahmad Ressam entry to the United States. Ressam was coming from Canada (Peterson et al., 1995, p. 16). This, without insinuating any form of complacency, indicates that more than a million people gain entry illegally into the country. Thus the country cannot wholly rely on border controls and procedures to keep off foreign terrorists from the country creating the need for more policies to be put in place.

There is need for effective planning and good intelligence which is the best weapon to counter terrorism. This mostly goes to the Directors of the Central Intelligence who need to notify the Central Intelligence Agency of effective recruitment in human intelligence. This will

3 serve to be among the highest and biggest priorities in the anti-terrorism fight. Additionally, the Director of Anti-terrorism needs to take note that the 1995 guidelines put in place cannot apply to current terrorists informants (Paterson et al., 1995, p. 18). Thus there is need to have other preexisting processes that can be used to assess informants. Further, there is need to have flow of information from the law enforcers to other policy makers and analysts. NTO and other International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have been deployed to assist in the fight against terrorism especially in the Afghanistan region (Paterson et al., 1995, p. 18). However, other than using any forceful methods, the United States needs to create rapport with the communities and in the long run get to know of the terrorists’ whereabouts.

The state needs to build a more integrated system in the homeland security, which is possible through the hiring of new personnel, improving the information sharing systems and improving the partnerships with others (Paterson et al., 1995, p. 18). The state also needs to secure the needed funding and develop a road map for securing the homeland security. The creation of Department of Homeland security (DHS) was a great milestone in counterterrorism.

The intelligence and warning also needs to be vigilant in detecting where possible future attack could occur, and curbing its occurrence (Paterson et al., 1995, p. 18). To improve this there is need to establish a National Joint Terrorism Task Force which will assist in the expansion of the local task force. A wider network for the domestic intelligence that runs for 24 hours needs to be created; this is possible through the improvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigations database that needs to be improved as well, thus detecting any suspects in the country.

In conclusion, it is right to say that with the employment of these measures and the cooperation of other countries and mostly the improvement of state departments, the Unites states can be sure to fight terrorism. Indeed, it is even possible to eliminate any terror threats in

4 the country. However, it is good to note that if other regions are not are safe, neither is the Unites States; thus regional cooperation and military assistance to the less developed states needs to be put in place and enhanced where it is already in place.

5 Reference List Dobson, Alan P. and Steve Marsh. U.S. Foreign Policy since 1945, 2ed.New York, NY: Routledge, 2006.

Paterson, Thomas, Clifford J. Garry, Maddock Shane, Kisatsky Deborah and Hagan Kenneth.

American foreign relations: a history since 1895, Volume 2. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010.