How “Homeland” Helps Justify the War on Terror article analysis
Summary
The article How “Homeland” Helps Justify the War on Terror by Rozina focuses on America’s war on terrorism. The 9/11 terrorist attack changed many security aspects in the country. The department of homeland security, for example, was incepted as a result. Different security agencies in the U.S. function under the directive of the DHS. Efforts aimed at fighting terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, and Iraq have, over the years, resulting in civilian casualties. These civilians are considered collateral damage in the anti-terrorism war. Drone attacks, for example, which have been used by the U.S., have not only resulted in civilian deaths but have also targeted the wrong people. The writer seeks to bring to focus on the moral and ethical issues revolving around the country’s fight against terrorism. As such, the writer focuses on Homeland, a television series themed around terrorism. Several themes are brought forth in this regard.
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Impact of the Continuing Conflict on the Homeland Security Narrative in the United States
All security agents function under the directive of the department of homeland security. The article for example focuses on the CIA as showcased on the series. The CIA is integral in intelligence and information gathering beyond the U.S. borders. The information gathering effort is all geared towards thwarting terrorism actions on U.S. soil. The continuing war on terror is one that has no likely end (Daalder & Lindsay, 2001). In this regard the security agents in the U.S. have to instill measures geared towards fighting terrorism. Customs border patrol units at ports of entry, airports and country borders have been increased since 9/11. An increase in law enforcement and security personnel, equipment and technology translates to an increase in federal budget spending. Government organization and private companies have been enlisted to deal with counter terrorism in the country (Ali, 2015). It not only shows the seriousness accorded counter terrorism efforts but the likely damage on the target countries. The series for example showcases drone attacks and torture of Muslims by agents contracted by the government.
It is important to note that despite the assumption that terrorism threats are foreign based threats are equally domestic. The article showcases the conflict between the different stakeholders involved in the security issue. For example the Senate is interested in the events that led to the bombing of a hospital mistaken for a terrorist hideout. The DHS agent involved seems to support the action indicating the bigger picture as far as winning the war on terror I concerned (Ali, 2015). Such actions translate to an unending war in terror scenario. Muslim sympathizers and victims are likely to carry out retaliatory attacks hence rendering the war on terror cycle an unending situation.
The U.S. views itself as continuously under attack as the writer points out in the Homeland series. The perception translates to the U.S. continually looking for seeming attacks that do not necessarily exist. As a result the war continues. Discriminative efforts such as anti Muslim and Arab actions equally fuel the war unnecessarily.
Themes in the Article
Hypocrisy
The U.S. comes across as hypocritical as it purports to fight and stand for civil rights (Shah, 2013). In carrying out the attacks the U.S. tramps on the very same rights it purports to support. Drone attacks for example result to loss of innocent human life. The loss of life goes against the very same American lives the U.S. seeks to protect. In this regard it would seem as though American lives are deemed more important than the lives of the people in the targeted terrorist countries. The criminal justice system and emergency management service seeks to promote citizen well being. When the well being of innocent civilians is not upheld due to attacks then hypocrisy is showcased.
Moral and ethical standards
When the U.S. kills innocent civilians in the war countries and seeks to justify the actions (Ali, 2015), the moral standing of the country is questioned. The country seems to justify its attack on the wrong targets despite killing innocent people. The Homeland series also justifies actions taken by the U.S. against the Muslim targets. Justification of actions that cause the loss of lives of innocent people is unethical and morally wrong. The loss of life is unethical and immoral. When the criminal justice system plays a role in the loss of life, injury or emotional abuse of an innocent person it fails to protect and uphold its mandate.
Torture of Muslim suspects as the writer mentions in the article (Ali, 2015) based on the Homeland series is unethical. The torture subject has and still elicits debates as regards upholding human rights. The torture of suspects is deemed inhuman. However some DHS agents argue that it is necessary in maintaining security. Even though some torture victims’ end up giving useful information that assists security agents quell terrorism acts, there are those that are wrongfully identified as suspects.
Discrimination
The series depicts Muslims as terrorists and people who cannot be trusted. Even though the series is not based on reality, the issues showcased are real as far as the fight against terrorism is concerned. Americans view Muslims as enemies out to get them and generalize terrorism actions based on ethnicity and religion. The type of perception has encouraged discrimination against Muslims and Arabs in general with anti Muslim actions being taken in the U.S. the ban on Muslim immigrants is an example of generalized action that is discriminative.
The criminal justice system such as the law enforcement department (police) infuses profiling in its responsibility. Profiling equates to misconduct and as such is unethical. Emergency management professionals equally discriminate as regards people of Arab descent on grounds of being terrorists. Discrimination thus is rampant and seeps into different facets meant to protect and promote citizen well being.
Paranoia
Both the Arab and Muslim world view the U.S. as an enemy. The U.S. equally views the Muslim and Arab world as an enemy. The perception means that both parties view one another with suspicion. The heightened suspicion fuels terrorist actions which are now predominantly domestic. The mistaken labeling of the Arab world as terrorists has an adverse effect on Arabs not only in America but worldwide. Arabs across the globe have had to live with stigmatization in non Arab environments. It is such perceptions for example that have resulted in police use of unnecessary force when dealing with Muslims of Arab descent. The criminal justice system in this regard tramps on the very rights it is meant to safeguard and uphold. The criminal justice system includes the law enforcement and courts.
Conclusion
The article focuses on the other side of the coin as far as the fight on terror is concerned. It gives insight into the collateral damage involved in the anti terrorism war. It also focuses on the misplaced perceptions on terror. Overall it is an informative article and the writer articulates the issue in a manner that is easily understood. The relation to a popular television series makes it more sensible to the reader. In this regard I would give it a five star rating. It is also an article that I would recommend to anyone interested in knowing more about the war on terror as well as civil rights activists.
References
Ali, R. (2015). How “Homeland” Helps Justify the War on Terror. The New Yorker. Retrieved 7
April 2020, from https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/how-homeland-helps-justify-the-war-on-terror.
Daalder, I., & Lindsay, J. (2001). Nasty, Brutish and Long: America’s War on Terrorism.
Brookings. Retrieved 7 April 2020, from https://www.brookings.edu/articles/nasty-brutish-and-long-americas-war-on-terrorism/.
Shah, A. (2013). War on Terror. Globalissues.org. Retrieved 7 April 2020, from
https://www.globalissues.org/issue/245/war-on-terror.
