Counterterrorism and Intelligence Framework - Assignment Example

 Counterterrorism and Intelligence Framework Terrorism is a future warfare that requires intelligence corporations to be fought against. Gathering information on terrorist requires professional and specialized intelligence agencies on terrorism like the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Counterterrorism are measures taken to lessen to terrorism while framework is the underlying structure of the agencies (Henderson, 2001) In the United State of America, counterterrorism is regarded as a special undertaking. To construct a counterterrorism and Intelligence Framework that will create the most “robust” intelligence system and strategically efficient counterterrorism operations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Central Intelligence Agency, and the Defense Intelligence Agency must co-work to help combat terrorism. As much as this may not seem an easy task, it may be accomplished by setting new policies to govern the single body of different agencies, which will in turn govern the integrated agencies. Discussed below, are the anti-terrorism agencies, how they work and their functions. The FBI or the Federal Bureau of Investigation is a major branch on the United States department of justice. It is and intelligence-driven and a threat-focused national security organization that comprises of Federal Criminal Investigations and internal intelligence agency or counterintelligence responsibilities. Their mission is to protect and defend the United States of American against the terrorist attack and foreign intelligence threats. Additionally, they ensure that the criminal laws of the United States are implemented. Moreover, it gives leadership and criminal justice to society. The second agency is the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which is an independent US Government agency that provides national security intelligence to senior US policymakers. Its sole mission is to eliminate threats and enhance national security objectives by safeguarding the secrets that help keep the U.S. nation safe. With an agency that works solely for the president, it analyzes information from all sources as directed by the president. The agency is portioned into five major departments of divisions. Finally, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is a counterterrorism agency that gives intelligence to military warfighters, defense policymakers, and force planners in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. In addition, it offers support to U.S. in military planning and operations and acquisition of weapons. The agency carries out all activities regarding operations of the agency during times of war and crisis. According to my opinion, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), is well structured and no change ought to be made to them. They should work to strengthen and perfect the policies they already have and offer. Addition of more agencies might bring a burden to the economy of the nation, as these agencies need financial funding from the government. Removing some agencies will create loopholes and weaken the security of the nation making it vulnerable to attacks. The above-mentioned agencies are sub-divided into divisions. The divisions are specialized to work on different missions and accomplish specific tasks. This makes the agencies more effective in carrying out their tasks and accomplishing goals and objectives. Specific functions of these divisions are outlined as follows. FBI Headquarters, in Washington, D.C, support five divisions that work hand in hand to bring into order both national and international operations and carry out the bureau's mission, vision and objectives. It is divided into five branches that have a major role to play in the homeland security as stipulated below. FBI National Security Branch specifically protects the United States against weapons of mass destruction, terrorist attacks, foreign intelligence operations, and use spies to get terrorists or political secrets. To attain their mission and objectives and in providing their services, they focus on emerging and current security threats. Secondly, they give useful and timely and analyzed information to the national security and communities that enforce laws. This department is further sub-divided into three divisions namely, anti-intelligence, anti-terrorism and directorate of intelligence. FBI Criminal and Services Branch is responsible for investigating financial, white-collar, and violent, organized, public corruption, violations of individual civil rights, and drug-related crimes. In addition, it oversees all computer-based crime related to counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, and criminal threats against the U.S. It is composed of criminal divisions like Investigative, cyber, critical incident response group, international operations division, and office of law enforcement coordination. FBI Information Technology Branch meets and or exceeds customer's expectations for computer and telecommunications services in terms of quality, service delivery, and responsiveness through cost effective IT technologies for the FBI. It sustain FBI's activities by maintaining the technology, assist FBI's expansion by providing needed technology, enhance FBI's productivity by reviving the available technology as well as phasing off old machinery and equipment. The aforementioned intelligence agencies should collaborate and work hand in hand pulling resources and efforts in order to facilitate and strengthen security. In this regard, the Department of Homeland Security must provide necessary assistance and resources to federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments, coordinating multiple agencies and programs into a single, integrated effort aimed at protecting the American people and their homeland. This will bring a change in intelligence capabilities that will cut across all the agencies. As discussed below, these methods may enhance integration if implemented (“Strategic plan 2007-2012 leading the defense intelligence enterprise”, 2007). The Homeland Security should aim at creating coalition congresses like the National Counterterrorism Center with experts from the CIA, FBI, Defense Department, and other agencies. With these coalition, different personnel skilled in special knowledge and from different fields come together to provide solution. In the case of ambushing Osama Bin Laden, the U.S. military and the CIA combined efforts, as a team, for one fight and one operation. This led to success of the mission. It was not about the type of uniform or the badge, but teamwork. Secondly, in order to accomplish missions at the front-end, the coalesced agencies should share information, pertaining to the mission, between himself and herself. The purpose of sharing information is to ensure that during operations, all agencies, the CIA, the FBI, NSA, DIA, and others, working together in a tactical operations center supporting a given command. If this is not adhered to, there might raise confusion in the field thus giving the combatants an advantage over the agencies. In addition, in some case some agencies might have a tendency of exercising more power than the others which offend the team (“Strategic plan 2007-2012 leading the defense intelligence enterprise”, 2007). In addition, the Homeland Security should come up with a method of promoting people to higher ranks but in different military services, with a different service of joint command. That is, in case there is a promotion. People should be transferred to other agencies or within the community for promotions. This will make the promoted personnel acquire additional skills hence become more resourceful. By interacting with different things, one develops more skills. In order to counter terrorism, effective intelligence and counterterrorism tools need to be employed. The suggested six candidates that meet these standards are system integration technologies, biometrics, non-lethal weapons, data mining and link analysis technologies, nanotechnology and directed-energy weapons. System integration technologies. In order for technology to support adopted approaches to counterterrorism, innovations is the key factor. That is getting the most out of it with the available resources. Therefore, networking sensors should be created to generate increased operational effectiveness. These networks should warn, give response, offer forensic analysis, facilitate passage of secure digital data, integrate database, link communication systems, and create ad hoc networks (Carafano & Washington, 2005). This Homeland Security should employ use of biometric technology for identification, especially in sensitive areas like airports. A recommendation of these technologies includes iris hand geometry, fingerprints, face, and recognition of voices. With research, emerging biometric technology like vein scans, facial thermography, and DNA matching and shape recognition among others can be put in place so to tighten security. In a battlefield, where civilians and terrorists are all present, use of non-lethal weapons against the terrorist should be used, as this will not endanger civilians, minimizing fatalities, and undesired environmental damage. In this regard, military may control people, prevent them from accessing some buildings and areas of operation. In addition, they may disable means of transport and bar vehicles, vessels of aircraft from entering some areas. Lastly, they can disable facilitate and systems especially weapons of mass destruction. Data mining and link analysis technologies. The current world is amassed with information and getting it is very easy. However, it has become very hard to acquire information about terrorism. With implementation of data mining and link analysis technology, the task of verification of people becomes easier. This technique work by analyzing and exploiting enormous volumes of information. With this technology, historical and current data is compared to make informed decision with the aim to predict and describe by identifying patterns from a dataset. The data collected is analyzed and a relationship between organizations, individuals and other entities is established. This will enable smooth coexistence and lessen terrorism (Carafano & Washington, 2005). In addition, the Homeland Security can employ use of nanotechnology as a counterterrorism measure. This technology involves using micro-devices, smaller than an atom or molecule to investigate or capture terrorists. It is efficient since one can never know what is being used as bait and it is fast and cheap to acquire. This can be well demonstrated by use of Nano devices like sensors. Finally, use of directed energy may be employed. For instance, lesser beams, microwave energy. This option however should be used when there is no alternative as it is destructive to human and other living organism. The main advantage of them compared to kinetic or chemical energy is they are powerful and fast. In addition, the effects they cause are not adverse as those of chemical weapons. In order to combat future terrorism, Homeland Security should establish a security that is enduring and efficacious, guiding them to the future. They should empower local and state authorities are responsible in case of disaster and domestic counterterrorism operations. They should also ensure that the state and local community is allowed to contribute to the national policies. This is because most terrorist work at a local and communal level until they become a threat to the nation. As a result, the community knows a lot concerning their environment and them they live with as opposed to how the government knows (Mayer & Carafano, 2011). Moreover, the federal government allows inflow of immigrants without investigating them. Immigrants find their way into the country using valid passports. However, they continue living in the country even after their visas have expired. The government should work to enforce laws and actions to secure the border and tighten visa policy. In addition, policies for deportation against immigrants should be put in place. Failure to do so will lead to increased terrorism. In addition, state and local government will be burdened financially as the illegal immigrants will need their support. The government should therefore adopt a fair and honest approach that will encourage legal border crossing and unlawful presence (Sauter & Carafano, 2005). Current policies and programs of Homeland Security, for declaring federal disasters and distributing grants, waste resources and do not promote preparedness. Therefore, the federal government should clearly show how they function to combat terrorism. For instance, the come up with a policy for keeping bad person out of a certain city, publish unclassified information pertaining to current and emerging challenges to the national security. This will create awareness to society who will then appreciate them. As to conclusion, the CIA, FBI, and DIA should work hand in hand to foster security and protect the state against terrorism. They should also come up with policies that enhance their operations and not policies that impair them. Finally, any method of combating terrorism should not to bring damage to the environment or civilians. References Strategic plan 2007-2012 leading the defense intelligence enterprise. (2007). Washington, D.C.: Defense Intelligence Agency. Carafano, J. J., & Washington, D. (2005). The future of anti-terrorism technologies. Washington, DC: Heritage Foundation. Henderson, H. (2001). Terrorism. New York: Facts on File. Mayer, M. A., & Carafano, J. J. (2011). Homeland security 4.0: overcoming centralization, complacency, and politics. Washington, DC: Heritage Foundation. Sauter, M., & Carafano, J. J. (2005). Homeland security: a complete guide to understanding, preventing, and surviving terrorism. New York: McGraw-Hill. Read More