Sunday, January 8, 2017

APUS Focus Group Response Number 2 Week 1 Homework Response To: Post 911 "Counterterror" Tactics Why or Why Not


1-8-2017



APUS Intl: 500



From: Miss. Bayo Elizabeth Cary, AA, BA, MLIS

Intelligence Officer In Training

APUS: 2nd Master’s Degree



Response: Counter Terror After 9/11 Within the US

Focus Group Online Discussion

Assignment Due Week 1



Response Follows:



        In regards to counterterrorism, in the US, in response to: 9/11-one major problem, has to do primarily, with US regulations, and permissions, about: identification, of terrorists, who live in the US, and/or, who have been naturalized, as: US citizens (Lowenthal and Clark 2016, 11). In the United States, we have certain laws and prohibitions, to protect American citizens, from un-due: surveillance and harassments-which, prohibits US intelligence agents, and severely limits the ability of US intelligence. Terrorists, domestic or not, need to be: tracked, followed, and their activities recorded, regardless of citizenship.

        There are terrorists, which are US citizens, and domestic to the US. Although it is obvious to many, and, from my own intelligence information collection along the West Coast of the US-specifically: Seattle, WA-I can honestly substantiate: “there are in fact active terrorist cells-who, supported the 9/11: disaster and attacks, and, who admit to guilt, with impunity. Terrorist living along the West Coast of the US, falsely believe, that with US laws protecting American citizens, that they cannot be: implemented, accused/prosecuted/judged, or brought to trial-anywhere in the world.” Instead, of writing and talking about the real threat, of: “home-grown terrorism”-which is not legally allowed, US intelligence professionals, deflect the conversation, to a safer, and legally allowable topic, such as: “International terrorism,” and how it affects the US-which, is only half, of the true story:



The vast majority of terrorism studies are predicated on, or at the very least, take for granted, the notion that terrorism represents one of the main threats facing states today. This is certainly the case with several of the books under review here (see Bar,2006;Nesi,2006; Sloan,2006).Some terrorism scholars go so far as to suggest that terrorism is the premier international security threat today (Sageman,2004,p.vii),and that it threatens the existence of the entire international system (Mendelsohn, 2005, p. 45). (Jackson 2009, 174)



           It is too difficult, for: FBI, CIA, and other secret service intelligence agencies, to deal with domestic terrorism, with “counterterror” efforts-or in any other ways, while, the US government, is actively legally prohibiting a conversation, by US intelligence professionals, about how-US citizens, contribute to domestic terror (Lowenthal and Clark, 2016, 11). In order to resolve, a serious problem, with usable intelligence tactics, such as: “counterterrorism,” the problem situation, needs to be approachable, by at least a legal discussion. Because, the US prohibits conversation, by US intelligence, about our: “domestic citizen active terror cells”- a popular conversation, about: “religious terrorism,” has become the foremost shared: “headlining news” and information-by US media, etc. instead:

Predicated on the popular notion of ‘religious terrorism’ first articulated by David Rapoport (1984) and galvanised by the identities of the 11 September 2001 attackers and the massive media coverage given to al-Qa’eda, an extremely large literature on ‘Islamic terrorism’ has developed in the past six years (Jackson, 2007a). (Jackson 2009, 177)



              It was presumed-and by many, that the new, post-911, anti-terrorism: rules, laws, and regulations, that the George W. Bush Administration, signed into place, would in many ways, loosen the constraints, restricting open discussions, regarding the: epistemology, and existence, of domestic terror, within the US. I think, the George W. Bush Administration, were sincere in their efforts, to begin the employment of: “counterterrorism,” in the US-against domestic terrorists, by signing: “The Patriot Act:” http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-w-bush-signs-the-patriot-act (A and E Networks, History Channel Online Oct.

 26, 2001):

The USA PATRIOT Act, as it is officially known, is an acronym for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.” Bush hoped the bipartisan legislation would empower law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent future terrorist attacks on American soil. (A and E Networks, History Channel Online Oct. 26, 2001)



However, there are no indications, that anything George W. Bush, signed into place, after 9/11- to prevent a second domestic terror attack, within the US, has benefited the US-in anyways at all-including, new Gitmo “prisoner of war” legislation. In my opinion, not being able to discuss, the serious problems related to: 911, and domestic terror within the US-is a major part of the problem, and, most likely, the primary reason why, effective: “counterterrorism” measures, have not been domestically applied.







References


A and E Networks. Oct. 26, 2001. “George W. Bush Signs The US Patriot Act.”

                   History Channel Online. Accessed January 8, 2017. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-w-bush-signs-the-patriot-act



Jackson, Richard. 2009. “The Study of Terrorism after 11 September 2001: Problems,

                Challenges and Future Developments.” Political Studies Review. vol. 7: 171-184.



Lowenthal, Mark M. and, Clark, Robert M. 2016. The 5 Disciplines of Intelligence Collection.

                    CQ Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc.




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