Terrorism Essays

Terrorism Essays Terrorism Essay Terrorism Essay Terrorism Name: Institution: Date: Terrorism The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on U.S soil made the country realize its vulnerability to terrorist attacks. A decade later, the terror threat remains present despite the efforts made by the United States to thwart terror agents across the globe. The Western countries such as the UK, Spain and the US have been some of the major targets. Israel being aligned to western ideals has also been an object of terror attacks. Terrorism in U.S soil in 2001 changed the face of the United States in terms of domestic security and foreign policy. Terrorism in the world varies since terror attacks are heavier in other areas as opposed to others. Areas that are the most vulnerable are countries that harbor terrorist and extremist groups and the countries next to them. Pakistan, for example, saw one of the highest terror attacks in 2011 with 1,436 attacks (NCTC 2011, p10). The country’s proximity to Afghanistan makes it more vulnerable to terror attacks since the Afghanistan harbors the Taliban extremist group. The only other countries with high terrorist attacks were Afghanistan and Iraq. The sites of terror activities usually enjoy freedom from government interference. An example is the Taliban in the mountains of Afghanistan or the Al-Shabaab in Somalia. The lawless nature of these countries gives them the opportunity to operate freely within these countries. The failed attacks of an Israeli jetliner, for example, the terrorist were said to have come in through Somalia where lawlessness makes it impossible to control terror groups (Shinn 2004, p33). As a result, several terror attacks have taken place because of the operational freedom terror groups have to further their causes. Laws and procedures need to be applied stringently to ensure that terror groups are not allowed to operate. The Wars on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan by the international community are some of the efforts made to ensure that countries have legitimate governments that protect the rule of law. United States have embarked on a scheme to monitor the communication among its citizens after the events of September 11, 2001. If law enforcement agencies were monitoring communication, in realtime, maybe the attacks would have been averted. However, the most important thing is to advocate for strengthening terror laws in countries where these laws do not exist. Government should be at the forefront of designing policy, law and organizations to carry out the procedures requirements set out in the laws and policies. The government has the mandate to provide security to its citizens. It is only right that they should be accorded the mandate to determine anti-terror laws and agencies fit to enforce such law. However, while the government play a major role in anti-terror activities, it is also necessary that it includes other parties such as the public and private sector since the laws directly affect them. It should also liaise with other countries to ensure that terror attacks involving terror attacks on American people in foreign lands are under control (Shinn 2004, p37). The moral obligation or practical reason of the United States has been questioned with regard to being involved in terror activities in other countries. However, they have both a practical reason and a moral obligation to fight terrorism in the world. A practical reason would be that America cannot stand by yet they have felt the full effects of terror on their own soil. America standing by means that they leave room for the terror groups to strengthen and cause more harm to the world and to the American people at home and away from home. In 2004, armed assailants stormed into the American embassy in Jeddah Saudi Arabia resulting in five deaths. If America is not concerned with the terror implications to its people from other countries, then it will have failed in its mandate to protect its citizens. Morally, the United States is obliged to interfere in terror activities in other countries since these activities usually perpetrate human rights violations. The vast military resources are unwarranted if they cannot be used to safeguard global citizens who have the right to a peaceful existence. Since 9/11, the idea of terrorism has affected every American in one way or the other. The immediate impact was the fear that gripped the nation and the many lives lost in the bombings were unbearable. Security measures have been felt across the country so that people can feel much safer since the terror attacks inspired fear. This fear has had negative effects to the Islam community living the United States and abroad (Elshatain 2003, p20). These Americans have been considered enemies in their own countries despite the fact that they had no involvement in the attacks and were as equally shocked like other fellow Americans. In this sense, the events of 9/11 have brought about racial tensions between people of Mid East Asian descent and other American people (Elshatain 2003, p33). The terror attacks also destroyed the picture Americans had about how the country was perceived around the world. The American people realized that they were not a beloved nation all over the world. The nati on also entered into two wars that have been some of the longest wars the U.S has ever fought. As a result, American lives have been lost in these wars leaving loved ones behind. The American people are now concerned with how safe they are. Security remains among the top priorities for the American people. This has made the government increase expenditure on security issues both internally and externally. Its main aim is to ensure that terrorism in the world is finished. The United States have recorded successes in the battle against terror. For example, the killing of the Osama Bin Laden, the leader of the Al-Qaeda showed the commitment of the country with regard to terror. The levels of terrorism in the world have reduced by 12% in 2011 (NCTC 2011, p9). America has been an effective contributor in achieving these results. References Elshtain, J. B. (2003). Just war against terror: The burden of American power in a violent world. New York: Basic Books. National Counter Terrorism Center. (2011). The National Counterterrorism Center Report on Terrorism. The U.S Government. Retrieved from nctc.gov/docs/2011_NCTC_Annual_Report_Final.pdf Shinn, D. (September 2004). â€Å"Fighting Terrorism In East Africa and the Horn†, Foreign Service Journal, pg 36-42. 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