For a long time, the united states have been at war with both domestic and external terrorists. Transnational terrorism activities are often influenced by radical ideologies of murder, hatred, and oppression. The occurrence of terrorist attacks can destroy lives and property and indirectly affect the country's economy by establishing loss of tourism, market uncertainty, xenophobia, and high insurance claims. The devastating consequences of terrorism have influenced the U.S. government to develop various national strategies, tactics, and tools to combat terrorism (Lum & Kennedy, 2012). The tools aim at strengthening the county's internal security as well as reinforcing safety at the borders. Despite fighting the terrorist enemies on the battlefield, the tools also aim at promoting human dignity and freedom as an option to the terrorists' perverse mission of totalitarian rule and oppression. The government has been influential in employing military power and using intelligence, diplomatic, financials, and law enforcement activities to disrupt terrorist operations. Apart from destroying the extensive terrorist network, other strategies deployed include confronting radical ideologies, capturing or killing key lieutenants, disrupting safe havens, eliminating the support, denying access, and forming partnerships and coalition.
Strategies, Tactics, and Tools Used Inside the U.S
The military has substantially degraded the terrorist network. In collaboration with the FBI, the military has successfully captured and killed major domestic terrorists such as Timothy McVeigh, responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing. Using the elements of national power, the agencies have also successfully neutralized and denied terrorists the things they need to survive and operate (Malvesti, 2012). The killing and support denial has helped in weakening their network within the united states. The use of national power has helped cut off terrorists from the network of institutions, individuals, and other resources they require when facilitating their activities. The approach has enabled the agencies to deter, disrupt, and disable terrorism attacks.
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Another tactic that has been deployed is the establishment of effective democracy through the advancement of human dignity and freedom. The continual advance of freedom and enhancement of human dignity through democracy has helped establish a long-term solution to the transnational terror movement in the country (Lum & Kennedy, 2012). Practicing effective democracies helps in honoring and upholding fundamental human rights, such as freedom of religion, assembly, press, association, and speech. Exercising effective democracies strengthens sovereignty and maintains order within the nation because it enables agencies to solve conflict issues peacefully. Besides, democracy protects independence and other impartial systems of justice.
Furthermore, the military has eliminated various physical safe havens to curb terrorism. The government has strengthened the capacity of the War on Terror partnership to reclaim control of the territory through effective policing and effective systems of justice. Specific legal systems lack enough procedural and international assistance regulations to facilitate efficient prosecution, investigation, extradition of terrorists. The existence of such inadequacies provides a haven in which terrorists operate without fearing prosecution. As a result, the United States has created a domestic legal system supporting adequate investigation and prosecution of terrorist operations while preserving people's privacy.
Another counterterrorism effective tool is the enhancement of government architecture and interagency collaboration. The united states have enhanced its counterterrorism architecture and interagency collaboration by developing clear national priorities. (Malvesti, 2012) The nation has created the Department of Homeland Security that has helped in reducing America's vulnerability to terrorism, lowering damages, and promoting fast recovery from any attack. Subsequently, the country created the Director of National Intelligence to help integrate the community's efforts. This agency has facilitated the development of efficient strategic, operational planning efforts to realize counterterrorism goals.
The Strategy, Tactics, and Tools for Countering Terrorism Operations Outside the U.S .
Also, the United States have been persistent in denying terrorists the support and access to a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). Besides, the government has also ended state sponsorship to countries that support terrorist activities. For instance, the United States has already designated five state sponsors of terrorism including, Cuba, Sudan, Iran, North Korea, and Syria (Mattis, 2018). Agencies have maintained sanctions against the five states and promote international isolation until they stop supporting terrorists.
Notably, terrorists have been denied entry to the U.S, and their traveling disrupted internationally. The tactic of denying the essential enemies tools to travel within the borders and internationally has substantially impede their mobility. The successful destruction of illicit networks that facilitate travel and obtainment of false identification documents through forgery operations has helped inhibit the enemies' effectiveness. For instance, the use of layered system tools of protection within the borders, ports, and roadways has minimized terrorism (Shetterly, 2005). Besides, the intensity of aviation security and visa screening has helped in combating terrorist travel. The establishment of security bodies such as the National Strategy for Maritime Security and the National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel has also helped counter terrorist attacks.
Strengthening partnerships and coalitions to fight terrorism has also been an effective tactic for courting terrorism outside the country. Since the 9/11 attack, most of the vital successes against international terrorist groups such as al-Qaida have become possible due to the formation of workable partnerships. The development of multilateral groups like the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Maritime Organization has become essential in the war against terror (Muttis, 2018). Collation between the various agencies is relevant in setting standards to creating regional strategies that offer forums for education and training. Besides, the partnerships have helped provide effective local, regional, and international remedies to the challenges of terrorism.
Defending the potential targets of attack is also another strategy deployed to counter terrorist activities. Terrorists are opportunistic, and they aim to exploit vulnerable regions and countries with inadequate military resources. For instance, a terrorist may aim to attack facilities with formidable security where innocent citizens gather, such as public transportation nodes, schools, places of worship, and restaurants. Though the targets may vary, they tend to have a symbolic nature and are often chosen by terrorists because they produce economic damage and mass casualties (Mattis, 2018). As a result, the agencies have continually protected these target zones by developing strategic security improvements at those sites.
In light of the discussion, the United States should continue deploying external counterterrorism strategies to enhance global security. The tactics imposed by the agencies and military indicated that the government of the united states had done much to degrade terrorism within and outside its borders. The expansion of counterterrorism coalition and transformation of governmental institutions and frameworks have been significant in combating terror. The ability to foster democracies has also helped in eliminating the occurrence of domestic terror attacks.
References
Lum, C., & Kennedy, L. W. (2012). Evidence-based counterterrorism policy. In Evidence-based counterterrorism policy, pp.3-9. Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0953-3_1
Malvesti, M. L. (2012 ). Policy considerations in combating terrorism: decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty . Military Academy West Point NY Combating Terrorism Center.
Mattis, J. (2018). Summary of the 2018 national defense strategy of the United States of America. Department of Defense Washington United States .
Shetterly, D. (2005). Starving the terrorist of funding: how the United States Treasury is fighting the war on terror. Regent U.L. Rev., 18, pp. 327.
Byman, D. L. (2003, October. Al-Qaeda as an adversary: Do we understand our enemy? World Politics, Baltimore, 56(1), 139-163. doi: 629641901
