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Currently, the American nation is the super power. The aforementioned nation is the most sophisticated nation in terms of war ammunitions and in the means of safeguarding the American soil and the citizens from its enemies such as the al-Qaeda. Over the past three or four decades ago, the American presidents have given the issue security top priority. They have a belief that security is the basis of a strong nation in terms of economy. Despite the measures and procedures that the American government has put in place to counter terrorists activities, it is all over the news that the American nation is always under the treats of attacks from its enemies. For instance, the above described story of a Jose Papilla who planning to bomb the Americans using the so called Dirty Bomb. However, the world’s super power nation has not given up in fighting the terrorists every now and then. The American government has no any higher priority other than safeguarding its citizens through fighting terrorism. The American government has no option rather than to go hand in hand with the governing the constitution. The constitution of the American nation guarantee that the civil liberties its citizens to be protected and safeguarded under all means. The following are the lawful tools that the American nation has used to keep the Americans safe namely; use of the armed forces, intelligence, addressing the differences between the Western nations and the Middle East nations, homeland security and law enforcement. Last but not least, are partnerships with both the law enforcement departments and the intelligence departments as well as with the allies oversees in combating terrorism.

Partnership among nations to fight terrorism

The case of Jose Padilla changed the strategy that the American nation was to fight terrorism. The American security departments started viewing the burning issue of terrorism as a transnational threat and not as a national threat. It is without doubt that the issue of security in the American soil was to be addressed as a transnational issue. This could only be addressed fully and effective through a combined effort of the international community at large. For instance, Jose Papilla terrorism case, it is clear that terror networks are managed and planned in other counters that are beyond the reach of the American security governments in terms of access and influence. From the article ‘The Case of the Dirty Bomber’ it depicts that the Dirty bomb was made in the Pakistan nation. The masterminds were in the Pakistan nation and plans to attack the most powerful nations were carried out in this same nation. If the American nation had collaboration in matters of surveillance and security with the Pakistan nation, maybe the culprits could have been arrested before commencing the terrorism activities.

Currently the American nation is working hand in hand with several nations especially from the Middle East to reduce any chances of attacks. In addition, the American government is currently working with the world organizations such as the United Nations. This partnership has proven very important especially in amplifying and widening the reach of the counter- terrorism efforts started by the American nation. The fundamental mission of the United Nations is to bring every nation into a single platform where they can all share resources as well as information. You can agree with me that information is power. In such a scenario where the nations are willing to share their intelligence information they have on matters of terrorism activities. From such a collaboration where such sensitive information is share among the member states, it is an opportunity for those to boost their surveillance from any planned attacks from the terrorists. The United nation is almost welcomed by most of the nations which the United States lack a strong bilateral relationships.

Together with the United States and the member nations, the United Nation has formed several organizations to fight terrorism. The first organization is the “UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee”. The aforementioned organization is working with the member states such as the United Nation to weaken the financial and logistic capabilities of terrorist groups that over or assists terrorism activities in the member nations. This is done through freezing the assets of the terrorism organization as well as banning their travels in every nation.In addition, the member states have deployed several counter terrorism experts especially of American origin to boost in fighting terrorism activities. This is an upper for the security off the United States of American especially in fighting terrorism. Their terrorism experts are representing the American nation in other nations and the same time they are sharing sensitive information about security of the United States.

The second organization of the United Nations it the “Non-Proliferation Committee” that governs weapons of mass destruction as well as means of delivery. The organization limits the chances of the terrorists groups from having easy access to these destructive weapons such as nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. The third organ of the United Nation of matters of security is the “Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee.” This aforementioned body limits any travels of the terrorists through banning traveling permits as well as financial implementation. This limits the chances of terrorists moving from country to country in order to conduct their terrorism activities. Last but not least is the “Counter-Terrorism Treaties” which has greatly enhance the American’ fight against the international terrorists. The treaties are meant to prevent financing activities to the terrorism groups. This involves carrying out joint operations in the member states in Areas of law enforcements and surveillances. In addition, intelligence activities are also shared among the member states. By so doing, the United Nations contribution has formed an integral part for the American government to eradicate terrorism activities.

Intelligence and Surveillance

The next measure is to improve anti-terrorism intelligence.  Averting terrorist attacks is depended almost completely on intelligence.  Apparently, if the terrorists can keep themselves and their targets to, it is impossible to stop them.  The nightmare for the United States or any other state threatened by terrorism is a series of unpleasant terrorist surprises like of “The Case of the Dirty Bomber,” Jose Papilla was a practical example. It is without doubt that the challenge of improving counter-terrorism intelligence is one of the central concerns of homeland security in United States. This challenge can only be overcome by accumulating the necessary raw intelligence materials. Intelligence data require a thorough analysis and integration with other intelligence and assessments techniques. More extensive surveillance of suspicious groups and individuals has to be put into practice to avert future terrorists’ attacks. It is believed that the individual who was to carry the attacks had lived, travelled, and trained in the American soil. In fact some of them had been identified as suspicious figures. This measure has made the American body politic more tolerant of empowering the government to engage in more aggressive and closer surveillance towards the potential threats. It is paramount for the home security department to keep closer surveillance on the visitors to the America in order to avert any possible terrorists’ attacks.

Western nations and the Middle East

The impact of the Jose papilla attacks led to formulation of a strategy that would focus on the critical infrastructure. This approach was meant to limit the protective effects to a manageable and especially important subset of potential targets. The fields of concern that required a national security strategy include agriculture, water, energy, transportation, backing and finance, the chemical industry, information, and telecommunications. The aforementioned fields a very vital for a country’s economy and therefore defining critical infrastructure so broadly and widely will protect the country’s economy. The American nation has adopted measures trade treaties, educational partnerships as well as military partnerships with the Islamic nations to address the Huntington theory as a means of enhancing security. The Huntington’s theory of “Clashing Civilizations” postulates that the past rivalries that were experienced during the first and the second world wars, were coming to an end. The entire globe was edging to a new era that was characterized with cultural differences and entities. The new era was to embrace both local and global politics. The local politics will be focused on ethnic factors while the global politics will be characterized with civilizations. This theory argues that the rivalries and the tensions of superpowers are outdated and a new era of clash of civilizations is dominating the entire globe. This is an era where conflicts such as between the poor and the rich, and economies between nations are outdated. The conflicts that will take over will be ethnic conflicts and tribal wars.

The Huntington’s theory of “Clashing Civilizations” postulates that the past rivalries that were experienced during the first and the second world wars, were coming to an end. The entire globe was edging to a new era that was characterized with cultural differences and entities. The new era was to embrace both local and global politics. The local politics will be focused on ethnic factors while the global politics will be characterized with civilizations. This theory argues that the rivalries and the tensions of superpowers are outdated and a new era of clash of civilizations is dominating the entire globe. This is an era where conflicts such as between the poor and the rich, and economies between nations are outdated. The conflicts that would take over will be ethnic conflicts and tribal wars.

The aforementioned theory is more persuasive than the theory of Orientalism which postulates that there is no elemental and inbuilt dispute between Islamic and Western cultures. The Huntington theory explains what the real meaning of civilization is. Civilization is described as an intellectual entity which comprises of communities, traditions, race, religious beliefs, and geographical areas. It is without a shrewd of doubt that the traditions and cultures of an ethnic group from Western Nations such as the United States might be different from the cultures and traditions of another ethnic group from the Middle East. When Huntington said that civilizations will clash in the future, he was very right. The author postulated that the future world will be outlined to a large extend by the interrelations among the major civilizations. The major conflicts that will take place will be based on cultural fault lineages and this will separate such civilizations from each other. Firstly, it is the high time you appreciate that civilization is both real and basic. The major pillars that are mounting the wave of civilization are; history, traditions, cultures, language and religion. Different civilizations will have difference relations between human beings and supreme beings, person and crowds, native and state, peers and siblings, man and woman as well as differences in views of rights and duties. The aforementioned differences have already generated long lasting and cruel conflicts. It is without doubt the animosity between the Western nations is at the pick. When the American nation had an encounter of the Islamic terrorists during the 9/11 attacks, they responding by taking war to their enemies. The described phenomenon was to solve the problem at that particular moment.

However the Muslim community viewed the measures as means to threaten them. It was thistime when they recruited Jose papilla to carry attacks in the United Sates soil. In fact, Jose Papilla attack was to take place approximately six months after the 9/11 attacks. Currently, there has been a notable change on the strained relationships of the American and the Middle East countries. The two opposing sides are investing in education, trade, and military exchange programs that are helping to ease the hostility between them. This action has helped the United States nation to acquired vital information regarding terrorism activities in such countries hence boosting their security measures before attacks occur in their homeland soil. In addition, many inhabits of Islamic origin in the United States has reduced many attacks from the Islamic terrorists. May be the terrorists are also afraid to suffer the loss of losing one of their own in case they attack the American soil.

Homeland Security

In the meantime, the Congress has to consider the idea of adopting up to date homeland security legislation which has the capacity to bring down any form of terrorists activities in the American soil. There is need by the United States to formulate an effective and sophisticated homeland security strategy by the end of 2015. Initially, the American government had proposed for a new homeland security strategy and the parliament had approved the new cabinet-level department, the Department of Homeland Security. The creation of the department of homeland security represented the largest reorganization of the US federal government in more than half a century. In the rest of America, homeland security was now the vital issue for the citizens. The quick respond terrorists attacks was by enhancing efforts to protect the America was received as both an extraordinary and understandable issue of common interests.  Additionally, it was both rational and accountable to explore what steps and measures that can be cautiously and possibly be taken to trim down the exposure of American society to terrorism.  It was also appropriate to invest governmental and monetary resources in such a venture of national security. An effective and sophisticated homeland security department is paramount to America as a country especially in fighting the war against terrorism attacks. 

The fundamental nature of homeland security can be confined in three words: prevent, defend, and respond.  The ideal purpose is to avert terrorist attacks.  It is also advantageous that possible objectives of terrorism are not left entirely defenseless to attacks, that protection is increased to the extent potential.  And if prevention is unsuccessful, it will be imperative to be able to respond successfully to terrorist attacks.  It is paramount to understand the consequences of management in the result of a terrorists attack can reduce unfavorable effects in many imaginable scenarios.  Generally speaking, in other words, the homeland security programs of the United States Administration sought to reduce the probability of terrorist attacks and to bind the impact of any attacks that could occur in the future. In the field of national security and of prevention, the very important is to recognize and prevent possible attacks and to refute them the means of showing aggression. This could be accomplished through undertaking and contemplating several measures of combating any activity that seems to be a threat to the national security.

Conclusion.

In summation, fight against terrorism is a global issue. It is without shrewd doubt that the issue of security in the American soil was to be addressed as a transnational issue. This could only be addressed fully and effective through a combined effort of the international community at large. For instance, Jose Papilla terrorism case, it is clear that terror networks are managed and planned in other counters that are beyond the reach of the American security governments in terms of access and influence. Last but not least, United States being a large country and will require a large and ambitious homeland security program that has the capacity to minimize the vulnerability of the country to terrorist attacks. It is a great achievement that United States has accomplished several desired innovations and improvements. However, some areas remain open vulnerable to terror attacks and extra measures must be put in place to avert the dangers of terrorism.

References

Huntington, Samuel P., and FouadAjami. 2008. The clash of civilizations?: the debate. New York: Foreign Affairs.

Cook, A. H. (2009). Emergency response to domestic terrorism: How bureaucracies reacted to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. New York: Continuum.

Fink, G. (2010). Stress of war, conflict and disaster. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press. Fink

Bodden, V. (2006).The 9/11 terror attacks. Mankato, MN: Creative Education.

Neria, Y. (2006). 9/11: Mental health in the wake of terrorist attacks. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.