counterterrorism, science homework help

Introduction

The massive attack recognized as 9/11 led to the establishment of counterterrorism measures that would prevent a similar attack to the US nation. The attack came as a surprise to the nation as it was not prepared for such terrorist acts. However, the nation was able to establish preparedness measures through creating the homeland security department. This department has been able to develop counterterrorism approaches to prepare for the potential terror attack. According to Herik and Schrijver (2013), over the years after the 9/11 attacks, counterterrorism strategies have made adequate progress in the nation against terror groups like al Qaeda (p. 43). Counterterrorism strategies comprise of policies to the state that increased protection against, recovery from and response to attacks. Moreover, these methods limit the vulnerability of the state to terrorism. This paper addresses the evolution of counterterrorism strategies and their effectiveness in the state.

Evolution of Counterterrorism Strategies since 9/11

Over the past decades, terror groups across the country have continued to multiply. This is because new advanced technologies create opportunities for terrorists to increase and modify their structures. In accordance to Salinas, Samuel, and White (2012), American counterterrorism policies, as well as those of ally countries, have made terrorist increase their bases so as to attack their enemies (p. 427). Nevertheless, America’s counterterrorism approaches continue to limit the capacity of terror groups to initiate attacks. The USA has been able to destroy the safe haven of one of the most influential terror group al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Moreover, it has been able to demolish the leadership of the group by killing key leaders like Bin Laden.

The USA today has a strong security force including police stings and raids. It has been able to apply drone strikes in capturing leaders of terror groups. Counterterrorism approaches today have been able to demolish terrorist networks and reduce vulnerability to massive attacks. Therefore, today the USA has prepared adequately for any massive terrorist activity as compared to the past.

Influence of Historic Counterterrorism on Contemporary Counterterrorism Strategies

Historic counterterrorism approaches were a lesson to the state thus leading to stable and more efficient contemporary strategies. In the past counterterrorism, approaches were not as helpful for that matter as they are today. This is why the nation was unable to avoid the massive attack of 9/11. After the 9/11 attacks, the state learned that its current strategies to fight terrorism were limited. This is why the contemporary counterterrorism techniques are beyond traditional practices.

Effectiveness of Counterterrorism Strategies

The modern counterterrorism approaches have the capacity to prevent massive terrorist attacks, recovery from them in case they occur and even respond fast to them. According to Wiil (2011), there have been significant improvements made to the counterterrorism techniques (pg 2). There are more resources within the security department to be used in fighting terrorism. However, in as much as the counterterrorism approaches are effective towards massive attacks the approaches have ignored simple attacks as they are centered mostly on complex and massive attacks.

Conclusion

Today aggressive measures to prevent, deter and respond to terrorism are more efficient as compared to past counterterrorism techniques. The USA learned a lesson from its inability to respond and recover effectively from the 9/11 attacks. Thus it made efforts to increase its measures in demolishing terrorism and reducing the vulnerability of the state to terrorism.

References

Herik, L. J., & Schrijver, N. (2013). Counter-terrorism strategies in a fragmented international legal order: Meeting the challenges. New York: Cambridge University Press. Retrieve from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=_1JNBAAAQBAJ&p… terterrorism+strategies+have+evolved+since+9/11&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepa ge&q=how%20U.S.%20counterterrorism%20strategies%20have%20evolved%20since% 209%2F11&f=false

Salinas, . F. A., Samuel, K. L. H., & White, N. D. (2012). Counter-terrorism: International law and practice. Oxford [etc.: Oxford University Press. Retrieve from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=mhC7TNrTGmcC&p… xtent+to+which+contemporary+counterterrorism+strategies+are+effective&hl=en&sa=X &redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=explain%20the%20extent%20to%20which%20contempora ry%20counterterrorism%20strategies%20are%20effective&f=false

Wiil, U. K. (2011). Counterterrorism and open source intelligence. Vienna: Springer Wien New York. Retrieve from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=M50I9CFepiYC&p… n+of+Counterterrorism+techniques+since+9/11&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage &q=Evolution%20of%20Counterterrorism%20techniques%20since%209%2F11&f=false

“Good post. Do you really think that the U.S. Destroyed Afghanistan as safe haven and killing bin Laden destroyed al Qaeda ? I think it was just switched to different country, mainly to Pakistan, and new goals and leadership broken in small cells made al Qaeda no less dangerous terrorist group.”

Respond to the questions in the bold paragraph ABOVE base on the section above it… in APA format with At least two reference…..