United States commenced a global offensive against terrorism after the 2001 terror attack that left almost three thousand people dead and six thousand more injured. Over the years, United States has remained consistent trying to suppress terror groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabaab. From the strategies applied, several have worked while others have failed. This discussion will focus on the effective counterterrorism strategies.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2019), the department has adopted stringent measures to achieve high levels of aviation security. Aviation security is very important when preventing terror threats from groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda. The strategy ensures that a repeat of the September 2001 incident does not recur. LaFree & Freilich (2016) aerial hijacking is one of the oldest and very effective terrorist attacks used by terror groups. The strategy to secure the aviation industry and reduce chances of boarding an airplane with weapons is highly recommendable.
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United States uses several approaches to ensure that the activities of terror groups are suppressed. According to Kydd & Walter (2006) the four major strategies which have proved successful include preventing attacks by terrorist networks. The attacks are minimized by installing a highly effective system that identifies terror threats long before they happen. Denying WMD to countries aiding terrorists has also proven effective over the years (Kydd & Walter, 2006). Countries aiding terrorism cannot be trusted with weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). United States has been trying to reduce or cut the financial supply the terrorists get. Terror groups are often aided by countries and so U.S. tries to institute economic sanctions on such countries. Lastly, United States has ensured that the terror groups do not control any nation (Kydd & Walter, 2006). Allowing the terror groups to control a country would guarantee them an easy access to resources which would facilitate their growth. The war on terrorism is progressive in nature. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has already identified the war on terrorism as a long war and so it continues exploring the best approaches to continue winning and suppressing terror groups.
References
Kydd, A. & Walter, B. (2006). The strategies of terrorism. Quarterly Journal: International Security. https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/strategies-terrorism
LaFree, G., & Freilich, J. D. (Eds.). (2016). The Handbook of the Criminology of Terrorism. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118923986
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2019). Department of Homeland Security strategic framework for countering terrorism and targeted violence. https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0920_plcy_strategic-framework-countering-terrorism-targeted-violence.pdf
