The new Terrorism: How to fight it and defeat it, by Van Hipp
The Significance of September 11, 2001
The date of September 11, 2001, is considered important because of the attacks that happened on that particular date in the USA. The 9/11 attacking involved several airlines hijacks with suicide bombers that were carried out by nineteen militants connected to Islamic extremists’ group Al Qaeda targeting the United States of America. The attack was deadly in the history of the country, causing significant losses to its’ people, with cities like Washington D.C. and New York getting destroyed massively. Nearly two thousand seven hundred and fifty people perished in the attack in New York, the Pentagon lost a hundred and eighty, while forty more were killed in Pennsylvania where a plane that had been hijacked crashed.
The date is significant as many of the police stations, together with fire stations, were most affected by the attacks of September eleven, 2001. The incident shows how a terrorist can penetrate any region of the world and attack even the states that think are superpowers like the USA. The Al Qaeda group demonstrated its prowess, which shook the security system of the country. It explores extensive planning the terrorist had in mind, taking vital target-locations to attack, and using the weaknesses in the security department of the USA to launch their attacks. Some of the plotters trained in aviation schools in the U.S. went to college there, and some lived in the country, planning how to carry the attacks. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Why was September 11, 2001, chosen to attack the American public?
The date is associated with Islamic fighters launching attacks to the USA. It is a date connected to the religious beliefs of Muslims who intended to make a sacramental offer to appease their god, against the enemies of Islam. The attack was for the purposes of humiliating the people against the desires of the god of Islam. It was on September eleven, 1968, when the armies of Islam were held and thrown back at the gates of Vienna, and the Ottoman conceded defeat, which they never recovered from. Christians then took dominance over Muslims, what the latter never wanted to happen. The leader of the public intelligence in the U.S., Congressman Gary Condit, was in danger of losing his seat on the house intelligence committee.
Why is it important to know this information?
The data is significant to know because it highlights the state of security in the country, how the terrorist groups plan and carry out their attacks, highlighting the extents they go to in fulfilling their attacks. The current generation requires to have ideas about terrorism, how to counteract and prevent it, and the effects of terror attacks on a country. Training about counter-terrorism is vital in the fight against the vice as many countries are facing challenges and threats from many illegal groups fighting in the name of religion, others having personal hatred and motives against a particular race, while others for fun. Technology is expanding rapidly, and terrorists are using vital gaps and vulnerabilities in it to launch attacks on many states in the world. Having knowledge on that topic will equip individuals and prepare them for future attacks.
What motivates Islamic extremists/fighters
A motive is linked to many factors ranging from extreme translation, interpretations, and understanding of the Quran with the Hadith. The retribution by Jihad who are armed for the believed injustices of the unbelievers against Muslims. Believing that killing of non-Muslims is needed for violating their teachings. The desire to bring purity, restoration of Islam, and establishing Sharia laws. These are the reasons the Islamic fighters are motivated to carry out attacks on non-believers in their religion. They want to restore the glory and get rewards of martyrdom, which is the supremacy of Islam in the whole world.
How to protect ourselves from this
The focus requires to be on the ways to counter the activities of terrorists is solving the problems arising in the intelligence departments, FBI operations, and other security agencies. The porous borders need to be guarded, and the immigration control department has to review their operations and ensure that people coming in and out of the USA are appropriately vetted. Accurate data needs to be relayed to security agencies and acted upon faster without delays. The aviation department has to ensure its security system is protected from exploiting by terrorists, and use modern technology to counteract terrorism. The defense forces need adequate funding to elevate its operations, and the emergency response bodies need sufficient training to prepare well in times of crisis and attacks. Unity is needed on various agencies fighting terrorism in the country and ensure they work collaboratively in combating terror.
Responsibility of the current generation to take action by Van Hipp
The responsibilities that Van Hipp suggested in ensuring terrorism is countered include colleges creating programs and funding scholarships on training about cyber-security so that future generations can fight terrorism effectively. Van Hipp pointed out the need for the U.S. government to adapt and analyze new technologies that keep changing rapidly in order to fight the war on terror successfully. Another suggestion he gave was creating a situational awareness hotline, which a person can use to send a message reporting suspicious terror activity, and that the number should be different from the typical 911. The borders require an effective and functional immigration department to vet the people coming in the country, reporting any suspicions they encounter. Sharing of data about intelligence and other security agencies to ensure there are collective measures in place for fighting the vice. Being prepared to fight any terror activity in the country by using undercover agents to spy on terrorist activity, screening people in and out of public places, or in planes. Ensuring emergency response teams are ready and adequately trained to handle situations, and the homeland security adapting intelligent systems to strengthen teamwork during a crisis.
The dilemmas to the components discussed include where to get the funds that will facilitate the fight against terrorism. Also, identifying the specific terrorist is a challenge with the increased numbers of immigrants entering the country from many different countries that are facing challenges like droughts, war, and violence. The very people or students who get trained to counteract terrorism could likely be a danger themselves when they decide to leak information to secret terror groups about the strategies they have in place, giving terrorists an upper hand to attack. The fight against terrorism could be the basis for discrimination against minority groups in society, causing more divisions in the country. The reasons for people deciding to join terrorism are many ranging from political ideologies, religious beliefs, fun, racism-hatred, among other reasons, which are difficult to identify. All these reasons are a dilemma requiring attention and research to combat terrorism in the USA.
The suggestions put forward include proper understanding and planning of the recommendations that are available to fight terrorism. Creating effective channels and engaging with other countries to fight the major terrorist groups. Engaging in peace-talks with these terror groups and solve the disputes that the terrorists claim is existing. Collecting proper intelligence information in the community levels regarding terror-activities and methods. Evaluation of the students joining secret agencies to fight terrorism so that they do not leak information to the enemy. The policies of the USA have to strongly focus on the nations believed to be supporting terrorism activity, and stop them from advancing their methods. Imposing sanctions to these countries can be an alternative way to ensure the efforts of fighting terrorism succeed.
The vulnerable areas of U.S.’s Security
Among the weakest areas in the national security is the internal threats coming from the very people living within the U.S.’s soils, and can access the military-grade weapons easily. People who are not afraid of dying and are proud of their heinous acts to kill and bring mayhems are challenging to detect quickly. Some of the terrorist leaders who rose to replace the ones killed are devising newer ways to revenge killing of their leaders, posing a significant threat to the national security. The prolonged fights and misunderstanding between different security agencies in the U.S., making it more vulnerable and an effective opportunity for terrorists to attack the country.
Can we defeat the bad guys? The bad guys could be overcome if effective measures are installed, and different agencies working on terror combine their data and efforts of fighting terrorism. Exploring new technologies that could prove vital in the process to defeat them. Revising the policies of intelligence, laying better training methods, co-operation of all agencies will bring victory on the fight against terrorism.