What Can We Do?: Terrorism and Homeland Security

Class: EMH360 History of Terrorism and Homeland Security in the US
What can we do?

As you’ve learned throughout this course, terrorism is a centuries-old problem. Based on what you’ve learned, what improvements would you make to counterterrorism strategies? Is it possible to eliminate terrorist ideologies given the social, political, and religious differences between different cultures? Final Question (Answer separate from above as it relates to it.) Address the difficulties in balancing individual freedoms and security.

Useful Links:

The US Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism's mission is to promote U.S. national security by taking a leading role in developing coordinated strategies and approaches to defeat terrorism abroad and securing the counterterrorism cooperation of international partners. Scan the latest news statements and policy issues sections.

• U.S. Department of State. (n.d). Bureau of Counterterrorism. One of the DHS’s top priorities is to resolutely protect Americans from terrorism and other homeland security threats by preventing nation-states and their proxies, transnational criminal organizations, and groups or individuals from engaging in terrorist or criminal acts that threaten the Homeland. Review the subsections to learn about DHS’s counterterrorism goals.

• Homeland Security. (2019, Dec 13). Counterterrorism and homeland security threats. Although this strategy is from 2018 and the Trump administration, it is still valid until rewritten under a new administration. Building on the National Security Strategy, the National Strategy for Counterterrorism outlines how the United States will combat terrorism at home and abroad and keep America safe.

• Office of the Director of National Intelligence. (2018, Oct). National Strategy for Counterterrorism of the United States of America. The Biden administration will face a new raft of national security challenges. Counterterrorism, as with the previous three administrations, will once again be a central concern. The administration will be forced to grapple with old threats, including from the Islamic State and al-Qa`ida, as well as a rapidly changing—and deteriorating—domestic terrorism landscape. Despite 20 years of the so-called war on terror, the battle for the safety of the American homeland remains fraught with challenges and risks. Managing this war will require enduring vigilance and energy, as well as a new set of counterterrorism policies, to more effectively address the totality of the new terrorism threat.

• Hoffman, B., Ware, J. (2021, Jan). Terrorism and Counterterrorism Challenges for the Biden Administration. CTCSentinel, Vol 14 Issue 1. Jen Easterly, Bruce Hoffman, and Matthew C. Waxman provide insight into counterterrorism efforts to combat extremism and propaganda and policies to better safeguard the United States, with Amy Davidson Sorkin moderating. (Video)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jnemEGSGsU