Counterterrorism
Counterterrorism involves the practice, techniques, strategy, and tactics that intelligence agencies, businesses, law enforcement, the government, and the military utilize to deal with terrorism. As opined by Cooper and Lander (2010), counterterrorism plans are plans of the government to utilize national power instruments to neutralize terrorists, their networks, and organization to make them unable to use violence in instilling fear or trick the government and its citizens to respond in line with their goals. The main characteristic of counterterrorism is maintaining people safe by adding various stringent procedures and policies that provide security and safety. In this case, the government responds, deters, and prevents different threats that emanate from terrorists. For instance, most government buildings are built away from roads and parking lots with different types of barriers to prevent the facility and people within.
Counterinsurgency
Counterinsurgency is political, civic, military, economic, paramilitary, and psychological actions used by the government to counter-insurgency. According to Ricks (2006), counterinsurgency is an approach to counter irregular insurgent warfare using combined political, civilian, and military solutions. The main characteristics of counterinsurgency involve bringing all parties together to prevent terrorism and agree to understand each other to obtain the overall goal. Counterinsurgency cannot be sufficient without the support of the government.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Role of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency in the Global War on Terror
Both counterterrorism and counterinsurgency play a significant role in the global war on terror. To start with, counterterrorism responds to terrorism by learning from previous events to make America and other countries safe (Slowtvaus, 2009). It mainly tracks terrorist suspects using different techniques. On the other hand, counterinsurgency involves engagement to support a foreign government and its success relies on the government’s willingness of that country to undertake necessary political changes. The only difference between the two is that counterterrorism can cause international issues from country to country while counterinsurgency can damage the relationship between the two countries.
References
Cooper, H., & Lander, M. (2010, July 31). Targeted killing is new U. S. focus in Afghanistan The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/world/asia/01afghan.html?_r=3&pagewanted=all on 17 th June 2021
Ricks, T. E. (2006, February 21). U. S. counterinsurgency academy giving officers a new mind-set: Course in Iraq stresses the cultural, challenges the conventional The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/20/AR2006022001303.html on 17 th June 2021
Slowtvaus. (2009, September 3). David Kilcullen on strategy and counterinsurgency in Iraq [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK2hZgiQuBI&feature=related on 17 th June 2021
