The aspect of homeland security and counter-terrorism can be dated to the initiatives of preparedness during emergencies, response, recovery as well as resilience. The United States continues to encounter serious threats to both domestic and international terrorism. More challenges arise while securing borders, ensuring the continued security of infrastructure regarded as critical and developing resilience locally and nationally against natural disasters. These goals are analyzed by Homeland Security and Counterterrorism program, which analyzes countries. This program offers measures necessary to provide resilience to create an infrastructure that is highly resistant to damage of any form and establish security in domestic homes. The program also provides protection to individuals and groups from getting involved in acts of terrorism and crimes that may pose threats to homes. Novel techniques and more advanced tactics have been highly adopted by criminals and terrorists to bypass the role of homeland security by threatening the security and safety of the public.
Homeland Security and Defense
Homeland defence and homeland security have been key priorities to the United States Department of Defense since the wake of 9/11 attacks. In other words, the different roles played by Homeland Security and Homeland defences were greatly expanded since 9/11. The difference between homeland defences and homeland security is outlined by the roles and responsibilities. Nevertheless, they both serve a common purpose. The primary mission of Homeland Security and Defense is the protection of the American people and the American homeland. Homeland security works with other agencies and civilian spheres to ensure the safety of the lives of the American people as well as their property. Notable is that the department of homeland security works within the borders of the United States as well as outside the country.
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Preventing terrorists from striking America is the number one responsibility of Homeland Security and Defense in protecting the American homeland (Lucas & McInnis, 2016). On this note, the Homeland Security and Defense work on investigation and identification of terror threats within the United States of America as well as outside where the citizens of the US may potentially fall victim. This department of the US Defense department engages in various tasks which are meant to offer maximum security to America. The homeland security personnel are tasked with arresting suspects and individuals believed to hold valuable information with regard to security. Arresting and interrogating individuals for information is the legal mandate given to Homeland Security and such which they undertake to protect the nation.
According to Gaines & Kappeler (2019), providing security to the Borders of the US is another key mission of Homeland security and Defense. On this note, the agency is made responsible for enforcing the laws that govern immigration. It is apparent that protecting the borders goes hand in hand with immigration laws. The agency works on creating a system that identifies illegal immigrants and those whose intention may be bad. Additionally, they work in identifying persons considered as a potential threat to security to the country right from the United States border. Terrorists get their ways into the nation as a result of poor immigration laws and the enforcement of such laws. Therefore, making immigration laws and ensuring that fewer threats come from the border offers the Defense Department an easy way to tackle such threats. Homeland Security and Defense also watch and prevent possible smuggling of weapons through the United States border. These include weapons of mass destruction as well as illegal firearms that can be used to compromise the security of persons and property within the country.
Cybersecurity is also a mission that falls in the jurisdiction of homeland security and defence. Cybersecurity does not fall under the traditional missions of Homeland Security and Defense. Nevertheless, it has become a trending threat to the security of property and persons and has recently been included in their missions. Rapid use of the internet is behind the increasing vulnerability of the American people to cybersecurity threats. Living in the 21st Century means has made people depend greatly on the internet. People access social media and use GPS trackers to locate places as often as daily, making them vulnerable. The Department of Defense and Homeland Security are both tasked at identifying and eliminating cyber-attacks upon the people of America. This includes protecting American companies from potential online thieves to copyrights and patent rights. Additionally, eliminating cybersecurity threats involves identifying and locating individuals who use online platforms to spread hate, xenophobia and compromise the security of people living within the United States. Both Homeland Security and Homeland Defenses work on cyber-threats. However, not much has been put place. The security agencies are yet to marshal up intelligent tools for fighting cyber threats.
Strategy for Counter-terrorism
As I have mentioned, terrorism remains a key security threat in the 21st Century and one that ought to be handed necessary energy and attention. The United States National Security Strategy focuses on counter-terrorism, among other security threats. Various strategies can be applied in counter-terrorism. In the past, certain tactics for counter-terrorism have been costly to the government, creating a lot of protests against security forces. These proposals are in line with the National government strategy and can help reduce the dangers of counter-terrorism for the better. Apart from the National Strategy for counter-terrorism, the definition of terrorism and violent extremism, majorly in the Middle East is key in devising a good strategy against terrorism (Sheeham, 2017).
Recognizing the threat of radicalization is a key strategy that could be used by the Federal government in the identification of terrorists. Terror attacks take lengthy steps to be executed, and these steps majorly start from the radicalization of innocent citizens to insert a terrorist thought in them. The government should, therefore, list radicalization as a threat to national security, monitor potential places where radicalization may occur and stop it. Using force against radicalization may be unsuccessful. Therefore, the government ought to identify potential places for radicalization, inflict anti-radicalization campaigns to prevent the terrorists from recruiting more innocent people into their course. The government can partner with Islamic religious leaders to have an anti-radical campaign and lessons given priority in their Islamic lessons.
The Federal government should also invest in fighting local threats with the same energy they fight global threats. Al-Qaeda and its nebula are the known jihadist groups which stage a lot of terrorist threats to the United States citizens within and outside America. Nevertheless, there are certain small jihadist groups or at least groups with similar ideologies as Al-Qaeda who may also pose threats to the nation. Such groups may not have official membership or link with Al-Qaeda, yet they pose serious terrorist threats to the country. The Counter-terrorism Unit should identify such groups and act on them before they grow and reach higher levels.
Building security partnerships is yet another key strategy that could be possibly used for counter-terrorism by the United States government. Security partnerships both at local and international level work well in dismantling the organization of terror plans by jihadist groups (Palmer & Whelan, 2006). The Federal government, through the Counter-terrorism Unit, should invest in making local security partnership with other security agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security, among others in combatting terrorism. These partnerships are necessary for the collection of intelligent information and lead that point to imminent threats. Additionally, these partnerships can be resourceful in locating criminals hiding from the Counterterrorism Unit.
Moreover, the Federal government should also make partnerships with security agents from other countries in a bid to combat terrorism. This is specific to such countries which face similar threats as the United States as far as terrorism is concerned. The government can share intelligent information with select countries in a bid to consolidate leads to specific terror threats and perpetrators of such attacks. Security partnerships are also necessary for initiating arrests of terror suspects. It may be difficult to execute an arrest of a terror suspect in another country’s jurisdiction. International criminal laws do not permit a country to initiate an arrest of a civilian in another country’s boundaries. Such laws tend to protect terror suspects who escape punishment. It is, therefore, necessary to create security partnerships with as many countries as possible to ease the process of arresting terror suspects.
In summary, security strategies are key in ensuring security both within and outside borders of the United States. Homeland Security and Homeland Defense are tasked with specific responsibilities which promote the provision of security to the American homeland. Additionally and just like all other security agencies, Homeland Security and Homeland Defense are guided by specific missions. Their missions revolve around the provision of security. Specifically, their security focus is on the lives and properties of the people of America. These two security departments also have certain roles and responsibilities which intertwine. In such cases, they have to work together to provide America with security.
Setting up security and counter-terrorism strategies is a process guided by the law. There are specific themes set by the national security strategies which must guide the making of national strategies for counter-terrorism. The counter-terrorism unit can employ a variety of strategies including but not limited to, making security partnerships, focusing on jihadist groups, among others.
References
Gaines, L. K., & Kappeler, V. E. (2019). Homeland Security and Terrorism . Pearson.
Lucas, N. J., & McInnis, K. J. (2016). The 2015 National security strategy: authorities, changes, issues for congress . Congressional Research Service Washington United States.
Palmer, D., & Whelan, C. (2006). Counter‐terrorism across the policing continuum. Police practice and research , 7 (5), 449-465.
Sheehan, M. (2017). The Evolving Threat And Effective Counterterrorism Strategies. Hampton Roads International Security Quarterly , 13.
