6 of 6

Write now Article Tools

Since September 11, 2001 the United States has not only been active in military action in the Middle East but has also been actively responding to the threat of terrorism within the U.S. borders. These actions are often referred to collectively as the "domestic war on terrorism." In some cases these initiatives have been quite successful; in others there have been undeniable failures. The government is constantly looking for ways to enhance the domestic war on terror, and avoid potential obstacles.

Defining the issue
What exactly is included in the "domestic war on terror"? Any government activity aimed at combating the threat of terrorism that takes place within the United States is a part of the Domestic War on Terror. Perhaps the most important agencies in this war are the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was proposed and established just a short time after the terrorist attacks, and the FBI (Senna, j, & Siegel, 2006, 102-104). For the FBI, counter-terrorism is a new task not dealt with heavily in the past; for DHS, counter terrorism is its main purpose. Together they perform such tasks as training law enforcement officials to combat terrorism, enhancing antiterrorist technology, investigating potential terrorist activity or terrorist cells within the United States, protecting border and transportation safety, and preparing for emergency response to terrorism and other national disasters.
There have certainly been some advantages resulting from these actions. All successes of the war on terror are successes because they have increased citizen safety. Primarily, the United States has been quite safe since the September 11 terrorist attacks. The reason for this is expressed in various ways, but the fact remains that the purpose of the domestic war on terrorism is to prevent terrorism and, for one reason or another, terrorism has been prevented. There are those who not only are running successful terrorist operations in other parts of the world, but who also would love to do likewise in the United States. These terrorists have been successfully hindered from carrying out attacks within the United States.
Another related success is that of safety in transportation. It was of course through U.S. transportation that the original attacks were carried out, along with foreign attacks including those that took place on British trains. Because of this the United States has made transportation safety a high priority. In the year

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Domestic war on terror?
We want to hear your view. Write now!