U.S Response to Terrorism - Research Paper Example

? U.S Response to Terrorism Prepared for Dr. Erin Clair Technical Writing Arkansas Tech By Aziz Almughyirah April 18, 203 Arrowwood Ln Russellville, AR 72801 April 18, 2013 Dr. Erin Clair Assistant Professor in English Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR 72801 Dear Dr. Clair: The following research report was provided by you as a final assignment in the Technical Writing class to improve our writing skills and to be better prepared for our future careers. I have chosen the topic of Terrorism as my research report because I had a Terrorism class two semesters ago that I enjoyed where it opened my mind to the world. In addition, doing a research about this subject will give me a chance to expand my knowledge and be up to date of the current events in the global environment. By working on this paper, my primary goal is to find better ways of defining and dealing with terrorism. This research report provides useful information about Terrorism where it discusses different ways of handling terrorist events, such as Boston booming. The research report consists of three major subtitles, created to engage the audiences and give a general idea of the content of each body paragraph. In the introduction, there will be a gnarl description and history of terrorism followed by the threats of domestic and international terrorism. Last but not least, I will provide some facts about U.S policy response to any terrorist threats followed by how I think they should response to these threats. My only hope after completing this report, the audience would have a better understanding of terrorism and realize how the world would be more peaceful if we used different strategies in dealing with terrorist threats. Sincerely, Aziz Almughyirah Aziz Almughyirah Table of Contents Table of Figures iv Abstract v INTRODUCTION 1 Description and History 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Target Audience 2 THE THREAT OF TERRORISM 2 Domestic vs. International 2 U.S. POLICY RESPONSE 3 Boston Booming 3 International Relations 3 DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW 4 CONCLUSION 5 WORKS CITED Abstract Terrorism is a terminology that has being around since the existence of our kind. We as humans created terrorism from our shameful historical events where we failed to live in peace and decided to play the dominance role over each other. We sow the seed of fear in our souls, which became a barrier against our desire of peace. Our fears and doubts of others intents created an aggressive reaction against any threat or belief that could challenge our countries or its interests. Then, we apply direct or indirect pressure on the source of threat, which create a fertile environment for many terrorist acts in lieu of eliminating the threat. These terrorist acts usually associated with four vectors of action, which are political, psychological, violent and deliberate. The main aspect of most terrorist acts is concentrated on political goals. When a society experiences some form of injustice for a long period of time where all efforts to bring justice are demolished, some form of violence starts to cut its way through in this oppressed society. If the concerned party does not take immediate action for the quest of reform, the violence could escalate to reach the political authority. The escalation of the situation can be extremely dangerous where it becomes out of control and terrorist acts trying to take the lead. Here is where the situation takes the opposite direction and different tactics. At that time, the terrorist groups work hardly to harness all the circumstances to their benefit where they support the insurgency and pave the way for guerrilla warfare. These terrorists would apply whatever it takes from offensive strategies, defensive measures and terrorist threats, which can have a severe psychological impact over that society or the region as whole for the purpose of achieving terrorism objectives. INTRODUCTION Description and History The idea of terrorism has been around since the creation of our kind where nations used to terrorize each other for the basic needs of living, such as sources of water and food. Although the act of terror has been violently used in the humankind’s history, the term of “terrorism” has not been known until late 17th century where people in the political parties just started labeling the act of terror as such. Lately, after the long struggle with terrorism and radical organizations, the governments all over the world are not yet able to defeat or control the spread of terrorism. Many countries considered terrorism as a major threat to their existence and stabilization; however, all their attempts to have a global definition of terrorism were unsuccessful. After the event of September 11, 2001 where some terrorists hijacked four U.S. airplanes to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, United States decided for this very reason to take the lead on the fight against the global terrorism. They promised to do whatever it takes to track and take down whomever responsible for these deadly attacks. The U.S. government declared the highest level of emergency for the whole country and started preparing for the war against terrorism and radical organizations. In addition, the U.S. government convinced other countries to take action and be side by side with U.S to fight terrorism all over the world. For the sake of antiterrorism success, the U.S government decided to clarify the meaning of terrorism where they dedicated themselves to provide a defection that would be agreeable globally. With all efforts, the U.S. government could not come up with a universally accepted defection of terrorism (terrorism 2002-2005). Statement of Purpose The main idea of this report is to answer the question of how U.S. government responded to global terrorism after the event of September 11, 2001. To answer this question, I provide some feedback from others point of view beside my own opinion. Target Audience The primary audiences intended for the paper are Dr. Clair, classmates, and any other faculty members of the Department of English who are interested. The secondary audience might be ATU students who are concerned about the way U.S responded to Terrorism. THE THREAT OF TERRORISM Domestic vs. International Threats of terrorism include explosions, biological threats, chemical threats and nuclear blasts. These are in general usually a surprise and thus nobody usually can determine the time or place which they will occur as is the case for all terrorism attacks. The United States is a big country with vast diversity of background and immigrants; this is precisely why we cannot tell if one is exactly for the government or against it. The United States government established the homeland security to enable the citizens to be informed of threats from terrorists and adjust accordingly. This is in a bid to protect the citizens or in the worst scenario to reduce the number of fatalities. The American medical has also formed worthy partnerships with groups like red-cross to enhance awareness on terrorism attacks and workshops for citizens on how to respond and act to such scenarios. The increasing number of extremist movements and militia is also a cause to be wary of terrorism in the U.S.A (Bjelopera). In the international front, the United States is becoming more and more vigilant especially to the Islamist countries where extremist group Al-Qaeda is suspected to be operating from. Such countries-for instance Iran- has been denied the right to use any nuclear equipment for any purpose be it electricity generation or whatever other reason they may have. This was not the countries fault but speculation that the Al-Qaeda could be operating from the middle-eastern countries is a barrier to their progress. The United States ever since 9/11 will not loosen their grip on matters terrorism. U.S POLICY RESPONSE Boston bombing The recent terrorist attack that occurred on April 15th 2013 at the finish line of the Boston marathon was caused by two suspected Russian brothers. The elder of them died but the younger one survived and is now being charged on the same scenario. The United states was however too quick to judge and conclude that a Saudi man who was in the scene was responsible. This was a stereotypical conclusion brought about by the advent of the Al-Qaeda in the middle-east. This however tainted the image of the Saudi man as he was not related in the bombing in any way whatsoever. USA responds to these terrorists by use of diplomats thus promoting anti-crime and counterterrorism goals through bilateral, regional and multilateral mechanisms. Such efforts are always spear headed by the U.S Department of State and may include initiatives developed by its regional bureaus for instance, the Bureau of Counterterrorism. Another response is the programs used to train foreign law enforcement officials so as to develop a legal network in partner nations so as to combat terrorism and its activities; they also try to support institutional capacity building for foreign securities. Several unilateral and multilateral policy mechanisms are put in place to stop transactions and freeze assets that are associated with terrorists or criminal entities. Unilaterally, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control administers and also enforces financial sanctions on targeted lists of foreign individuals; especially on designated nations including Middle East terrorist organization found to be posing a threat on the peaceful civilians of the same. International Relations The Boston bombing has caused quite a fuss between the United States and Russia. This is basically because the two main suspects in the above said attack had a Russian origin although they lived in the U.S.A. A number of diplomats have been sent to Russia to investigate if the attack was planned or not. Primary results from the investigations prove that the attack was not planned and the junior of the two brothers was implicated in the attack and was not aware of his accomplice’s plans. The fact that the USA went to Russia to investigate two terrorists of Russian origin has obviously raised tension among the Russians mainly the two implicated were emigrants of Russia. The USA however had to do this because international terrorists can at times collaborate to cause havoc to a common assailant (Rollins). Stereotypes brought about by religion for instance have caused less international ties between the United States and the Arabic countries (Rollins). The attack at the Boston marathon further severed their interactions since the two suspects were of Islamic religion. This is because the USA knows that the Al-Qaeda is out to make sure that they suffer both economically and physically through any means possible whether through land or sea. DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW Terrorism, to some communities, is not a word found in everyone’s dictionary; if found then it does not have the same meaning as defined by the USA. Some Islam scholars from around the world said that it spelled out all acts of aggression, unjustly committed by individuals, groups or nations against human beings which could be achieved by attacks on religion, life or property. But they described the attacks of the Palestinians against Israel occupants as an act of Jihad and should be considered as an act of self defense rather than terrorism. After a six-day conference at the Islamic Academy, the Muslims called to show the difference between terrorism and sheer acts of self-defence. The Jews in Palestine are terrorists as they are out to acquire Palestine land without their consent by forcibly moving them out of their land. These Jews later establish fortresses within Palestine land. The act of Palestinians attacking them is then sheer self- defence in action (Jihad) (pappe). CONCLUSION I can thus conclude that the United States of America is out to maintain peace in the world around by trying to monitor suspect terrorist groups and the likes. She is also educating her citizens on disaster management as she is fully aware that they a target of the Al-Qaeda. The US’s foreign policy is out to ensure common good for the world and as such it is adequate. The Paranoia that the country has however has led to killing of economic ties with many Islamist countries especially those of the Middle-east. Works Cited Bjelopera, Jerome P. "The domestic terrorist threat: Background and issues for congress." 2013. pappe, Ilan. "the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestine." Joural of palestine studies (2006): 6-20. Rollins, John& Liana Sun Wyler. "Terrorism and transnational crime: foreign policy issues for congress." 2012. http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/terrorism-2002-2005 www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL33600.pdf http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/cphpdr/04_terrorism.pdf https://www.gov.uk/terrorism-national-emergency/terrorism-threat-levels http://www.arabnews.com/node/217562 Read More