Counterterrorism includes all actions, tactics, strategies, and techniques employed by government agencies, police departments, militaries, and corporations in a bid to respond to terrorist threats or acts. The main aim of counterterrorism stems from the broader objective of war against terror. The mission of these agencies includes neutralizing terrorists’ operatives and cells in the United States and also dismantling their networks. In the US, the agencies responsible for combating terrorism include the FBI, CIA, State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security.
The threats of terrorism include the factors that might work in one way or the other lead to terrorist attacks. The threats can be classified into three main elements including political, religious, and socioeconomic aspects. Regarding the political reasons, it comes about when people attempt to write what they feel is either politically or historically wrong. Religion is also a major threat of terrorism as seen with the number of attacks witnessed worldwide in the name of religion. Religious radicalism is a critical factor for terrorism as has been recognized with some members of the Muslim religion who perceive acts of terrorism as defending their religious integrity. Concerning the socioeconomic threats, forms of deprivation such as lack of education, poverty, and little economic freedom can inspire rebellion through terrorism.
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Some of the counter-terrorism strategies include attacking and camping on the countries hosting the terrorist groups. The United States has employed such a move in countries like Iraq. Secondly, an increased corporation and communication with allied countries with influence a collaborative approach in tackling terrorism. Intelligence gathering is a proactive measure that assists in countering acts of terror in a country by determining the plans of the terrorists. Developed nations such as the US support the developing nations hence preventing their citizens from radicalization and a subsequent linkage with terror groups.
Combating terrorism is both the duty of the government and the citizen. According to Noordegraaf et al . (2017), the government agencies must invest in intelligence services, the use better weapons and technology in dealing with the terrorists and enhancing International Corporation. Immigration policies should also be strengthened to avoid infiltration. The citizens must be made aware that they have a duty with regards to countering terrorism by reporting any malicious activity in the country.
It is also critical to appreciate that technological advancement has been witnessed in countering terrorism across the world. Holt (2012) pointed out that the United States, for example, uses drones to carry out attacks on perceived terrorist bases. Sophisticated computers are now used to enhance intelligence sharing by infusing data and diplomatic reports so that they can be conveyed to the relevant parties in a real-time fashion. The use of satellite videos by the intelligence agencies continues to be a reliable method of monitoring and predicting terror activities.
Abdul Ghafur and Khin Maung (2015) stated that efforts to thwart terrorism have also been down to a spirited war that employs the use of the military. However, this has come with little success as many nations today are investing in intelligence to counter their activities. Some of the major terrorist groups include Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS), Boko Haram, Taliban, and the Al-Shabab. Domestically, some of the terrorist groups include Alpha 66, Omega 7, and Army of God among others (Vick et al . 2017).
The media is doing tremendous work in enlightening the general public on various aspects concerning terrorism and terror groups. Some of the questions that the media attempts to answer through their live coverage and publications include who the terrorists are, why they do what they do, and how the attacks can be stopped. Through social media platforms such as Facebook Live, the public has been able to witness real-time terror actions and their aftermath.
In conclusion, terrorism remains a major problem in the world today, and the only way to deal with it is to develop better ways of combating the problem. The government agencies responsible such as the FBI and CIA must protect the citizens of the country by gathering prior knowledge and using it to thwart any planned act of terror in the country.
References
Abdul Ghafur, H., & Khin Maung, S. (2015). Combating Terrorism and the Use of Force against a State: A Relook at the Contemporary World Order. Journal Of East Asia & International Law , 8 (1), 107-131. doi:10.14330/jeail.2015.8.1.05
Holt, T. J. (2012). Exploring the intersections of technology, crime, and terror. Terrorism and Political Violence , 24 (2), 337-354.
Noordegraaf, M., Douglas, S., Bos, A., & Klem, W. (2017). How to evaluate the governance of transboundary problems? Assessing a national counterterrorism strategy. Evaluation , 23 (4), 389-406. Doi: 10.1177/1356389017733340
Vick, K., Shuster, S., Malsin, J., Edwards, H. S., Berenson, T., & Elliott, P. (2017). The New Terrorism Comes to Ground Zero. Time , 190 (20), 7-10.
