Counterterrorism Strategies by the FBI

Counterterrorism Strategies by the FBI

Summary of the History of law enforcement operations in Relation to Counter-Terrorism Measures

Domestic terrorism can be elaborated as terrorism that is carried out by groups or people who are associated with or encouraged by preliminarily U.S.-based movements that embrace

ideologies that are considered extremist of a religious, political, racial, environmental or social

nature. In America, the FBI closely operate with many agencies and associates to hinder terrorist

cells. Also, the FBI destroys network of extremist worldwide and prevents their supportive

techniques and financing for terrorist groups which are external. The FBI founded a Counterterrorism Center in 1996 to fight terrorism.

Additionally, the Effective Death Penalty and Antiterrorism Act was implemented in 1996, including various measures focused on terrorism. It strengthened the power of the federal

government to turn down visas of individuals who are part of the terrorist groups and eased the

deporting procedures of aliens sentenced with crimes. The Joint Terrorism Task Forces,

controlled by the FBI, bring local, state and federal agencies together to curb and interfere with

terrorist attacks in the country.

The collaboration of these agencies is crucial to America fighting

terrorism.

Moreover, another current issue in recent operations of the police is gang activity and drug. Gang refers to a group of people who have a known sign and name. Gangs establish and are devoted to a main purpose and unlawful acts. The FBI is among agencies of law enforcement

that deal with gangs. In 2005, the FBI, at the guidance of Congress, initiated the National Gang

Intelligence Centre (NGIC) so as to prevent the gangs from growing and becoming bigger.

The NGIC unites gang intelligence from law enforcement across local, state, and federal on the migration, growth, association, and criminal activity of gangs that presents a threat to the

United State. It encourages law enforcement through sharing accurate and timely information

and by giving intelligence analysis. NGIC categorizes gangs that are considered a threat to the

society and utilizes their investigative techniques, intelligence and investigative resources

racketeering statuses as well as federal to aim at organized crime.

During the 1960s, the agencies that dealt with drug law enforcement were the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) and the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control (BDAC). The attempts to normalize drugs use and the narcotics in the culture began to affect the nation. In 1973, the Drug

Enforcement Administration (DEA) was developed by President Richard Nixon via executive

order that came up with a consolidated command structure to fight drugs. Currently, the DEA is

present in the United States and other sixty-three foreign countries and is working on a budget of

approximately $2.3 billion. Its mission is to administer the substances regulations and laws of the

United States. Drugs are controlled through the utilization of international courts and U.S.

criminal and civil courts of capable jurisdiction.

The Key Law Enforcement Agencies Responsible for enforcing law

related to Counterterrorism

The fundamental agency of law enforcement that responsible for implementing laws

connected to terrorism is the FBI. The preliminary concern of the FBI is to protect the United

States from terrorist attacks (Bjelopera, & Randol, 2011). The two types of terrorism combated by the FBI is domestic and

international. International terrorism is done by groups or individuals that are associated with or

encourages by selected foreign terrorist nations or organization.

The DEA’s mission is to implement the controlled substance regulations and laws of

America and to present to the civil and criminal justice system, or any other capable jurisdiction,

those core members of the organizations, that are involved in distributing, manufacturing and

growing of controlled substances and are aimed at illicit trafficking. Its mission is also to support

and recommend non-enforcement programs targeting the reduction of availability of illicit

substances both on international and domestic market.

Major Change to the FBI in Effort to Counter Terrorism

The FBI has made various efforts in a bid to counter terrorism since September 2001. Some of the efforts made to fight terrorism include provision or necessary resources, strengthening intelligence, rising number of counterterrorism agents and linguist. there number of multiagency counterterrorism task force is also in the rise.  Specifically, the number of the task force has risen from 71 to 103 since 9/11 when it was created (Foley, 2016). Some of the factors that compelled the FBI to change its tactics are extensive use of internet, social media platform and increased cases of internal violent extremist.

Extensive use of internet and social media platforms has enhanced international and domestic presence of individuals. This promote radicalization of persons who are interested in joining the terrorist groups. The availability of extremist messages and information is available to social media users especially the young population who are committed to use the platform. As a result, the media has promoted the access of the terrorist groups to people throughout the world, and achieve internal attack. For instance, ISI encourages their supporters and sympathizers to carry out attack on the soft target within their location.

The FBI has realized this trend of using social media to encourage sympathizers of the terrorist group to conduct homegrown attack. The Bureau has termed the individuals as HVEs. It has defined HVEs as individuals who live in America and yet have been aspired by terrorist groups who operate in other areas. It is worth noting that the group is passive, and does not collaborate directly with terrorist groups. Therefore, it is not easy to track them down and identify them because they are normal individual who live amongst the population. The Bureau should strengthen the tactics to track down these individuals in every state. Moreover, there is need for monitoring social media platforms to identify communication between HVEs and terrorist groups.

Opinion on Whether the change improved police operations in dealing Terrorism Attack

The change in counterterrorism strategies by the FBI has improved the police operation in fighting terrorism. The strategies have enabled the police to detect, identify and disassemble terrorist activities within the country. The culture has promoted intelligence, and security organization. The Bureau plays a key role in connecting intelligence and the law enforcement. As a result, all criminal justice apparatus collaborates in protection of citizens from terrorist attacks.  The change in the tactics of the Bureau has promoted coordination, intelligence and effective response plan to any threat.

Requirements Related to Training that Local and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Must Require to Counter Terrorism Attack

The Bureau collaborated with Department of Homeland Security to develop with training ideas that will enhance coordination, contingency plan and effective response plan (Waxman, 2009). The strategy is part of the mission to promote intelligence and cooperation with other public sector to adopt effective threat response.

Tabletop exercise was conducted with agents of the Bureau and other state and private personnel. The training involved mall managers and other individuals in the public sector to equip them with skills and knowledge on identifying and reporting suspected terror attack in their local areas. The other training exercise was planned for Bureau agents to ensure effective response plan and improve their capabilities in disseminating sensitive information with other internal and external partners.

The lessons learnt from the first phase and second phase was incorporated into the third phase of the training. During the third phase, the officers with the DHS conducted ground exercise with other public partners at various locations such as mall and other business areas. All training exercise are regional based and the Bureau agents incorporate national resources in cases of occurrence of attack.

In conclusion, incorporating training and exercise is essential in counterterrorism strategies. The training promotes coordination and effective response plan among relevant agencies. The training equipped the agency with skills in identifying and fighting any threat.

References

Bjelopera, J. P., & Randol, M. A. (2011, December). The Federal Bureau of Investigation and terrorism investigations. Washington DC, WA: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Foley, F. (2016). Why inter-agency operations break down: US counterterrorism in comparative perspective. European Journal of International Security, 1(2), 150-175.

Waxman, M. C. (2009). Police and national security: American local law enforcement and counterterrorism after 9/11. J. Nat’l Sec. L. & Pol’y, 3, 377.