Second Policy Memo

Second Policy Memo

Description and Significance of the Issue under Examination

The United States is now more than ever exposed to dangerous terrorist elements particularly because it has ceased to be an external affair considering the threats posed by internal players, who are majorly American citizens. The reality of this position is validated by the increased incidences of radicalization among American citizens, who have then been used to launch attacks in the country. Accordingly, there is a dire need for the country to pursue and implement practical measures to curb the growing threat by constricting the internal and external environments and rendering it difficult for the execution of terrorist operations.

Hence, measures must be pursued to enable the U.S. government to procure and transfer false documents, curb the ferrying of terrorists between different locations and impede the laundering, funding and transferring of funds directed towards terrorist operations. It means cracking down on internal and external operational cells and financial and logistical support networks that threaten the country. The significance of this issue is paramount, considering the international and transnational nature of contemporary terrorist operations. Consequently, there is a need for the U.S. to cooperate with other countries and especially those perceived to support terrorist networks to develop solid counterterrorism measures..

Evidence of the scope of the issue

The United States is currently dealing with the significant threat posed by internal terrorists especially because of the continued radicalization of its citizens. The implication is that with this current state of affairs, it is impossible that the United States will design a single inclusive counterterrorism technique that will enable it to contain the internal and external terrorist threats it faces wholly. As such, the country can only seek international cooperation to invest in efforts that help it decipher the entrenched causes of the extensive spread of this predicament within its borders. In light of the need for international cooperation, one resolve that the country can pursue is to seek ways it can collaborate with perceived threat actors and specifically, Iran. Owing to its vast knowledge on terrorist operations across the world, Iran can help the United States understand the command structures, logistics networks, operational cells, recruitment and training spaces and communication capacities utilized by the internal and foreign terrorist actors.

Factors contributing to the problem

One of the factors contributing to the difficulties encountered by the United States in forming international collaborations with to resolve terrorism is the inherent misconceptions both countries have of each other. Chew (2019) highlights this fact by presenting the sentiments expressed by Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Zarif. Zarif posited that although Iran would be willing to engage America in the fight against terrorism, the U.S. is to blame for failed talks because of the economic terrorism it uses against Iran. The implication is that unless the U.S. stops the economic war it engages against the Iranian people, any positive discourse with the country would be impossible.   There is also the widespread belief in America that Iran is the world’s leading country supporting terrorism. However, this is evidently contrary to Iran’s ideology because as Zarif noted, Iran is committed to ensure that terrorist groups such as Isis do not thrive. Hence, the U.S. could reconsider its erroneous perception and seek ways to repair its relationship with Iran.

Recommendations

The U.S. must stop peddling misconceptions about Iran and its involvement in terrorism and insinuating that Iran is always violating international peace terms and agreements. If the U.S. fails to adjust this faulty perception, it is unlikely that Iran will agree to engage the United States on any level. Additionally, just as Hasan, 2019 notes, the perpetration of falsehoods by the United States against Iran is what led to the extermination of thousands of Iraqi citizens. In light of this, another recommendation would be to persuade American journalists to examine the facts, decipher the myths and challenge the fabrications against Iran, and only then can the two countries pursue cooperative means to curb internal and external terrorism.

Counter Argument

The United States should not collaborate with Iran because as Levitt (2019) posits, it is widely known that it has provided weaponry, funds and other logistical support to organizations determined as terrorist by the United States, and especially Hezbollah and Hamas.

Rebuttal to Counter Argument

Despite providing such support, the United States government must understand Iran’s commitment to curbing terrorism as seen in Zarif’s assertion that Iran applauded the defeat of Isis. The implication is that with meaningful political considerations and engagements, Iran could direct its resources and support towards a more meaningful course in fighting against terrorism, just as noted by Zarif in the need for international cooperation in that regard.

Implementation issues for any recommendations (i.e. political, economic, environmental, technical, etc.).

One pertinent issue that would hamper the attainment of the advanced recommendations would be the weak position that the United States has with Iran, which would impede any efforts in collaborating to address the pertinent issues in curbing terrorism.

References

Chew, A. (2019). Iran’s Zarif to Trump: Drop ‘economic terrorism’ before talks. Retrieved on 10^th March, 2020 from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/iran-zarif-trump-drop-economic-terrorism-talks-190829061054099.html

Hasan, 2019. Here are five lies about Iran that we need to refute to stop another illegal war. Retrieved on 10^th March, 2020 from https://theintercept.com/2019/08/14/trump-iran-worst-lies/

Levitt, M. (2019). Hezbollah’s Procurement Channels: Leveraging Criminal Networks and Partnering with Iran.Volume 12, Issue 3. Retrieved on 10^th March, 2020 from https://ctc.usma.edu/hezbollahs-procurement-channels-leveraging-criminal-networks-partnering-iran/