Are anti-terrorism efforts used by our country adequate to protect us?

Counterterrorism Measures: Protecting Property and Civilians

Any act of aggression against civilians and property while pursuing ideological, religious, or political goals is considered terrorism.(Daniels, Macklem, & Roach, 2016). In my view, the counterterrorism measures used in our nation are sufficient to protect property and civilians from harm. Attacks by radicals on our nation come from both within and outside of it. The state is making a lot of effort to guarantee that its citizens and property are adequately protected.

The Role of Technological Advancements and Globalization

Many terrorist organizations have been able to use foot soldiers to continue their activities as a result of technological advancements and globalization (In Bárd, Sieber, & Guild, 2015). The government has embarked on strategies for capturing and eliminating the foot soldiers to reduce their influx of recruitment into terrorist activities. Halting the supply of well-educated recruits to the terrorists’ groups has minimized the terror attacks. Also, the government has worked hard in preventing possession of high technology weapons by the terrorists.

Disrupting Financial Support and Money Sources

Funding to the countries with prominent terrorists has been withdrawn which is an excellent step in preventing the terrorists from purchasing and transporting machines and weapons used to continue the existence of the terrorists’ groups. The fruitful disruption of money sources and canceling of mechanisms used by terrorists to acquire and transfer money has led to starving terrorists of materials they might need for their operations(United States, 2012).

Tightening Security and Mobility Restrictions

Terrorists have been denied the entry to the country, and the local ones have been denied international travel permission. This measure has dramatically declined the mobility of terrorists and consequently has led to ineffectiveness in their activities. Tight security and technologies have been installed in the ports, borders, railways, skies, roads and partnering with other nations to tighten the security to curb the terror attacks. The government has worked hard in putting measures of improving aviation security, ensuring documents used in traveling and identification are secure, strict visa screening and promoting the international exchange of information to combat mobility of terrorists.

Defending Vulnerable Areas and Critical Infrastructure

Defending areas prospective of terror attacks is another measure that shows the adequateness of the country in protecting her civilians and property. Security has been tightened in official government resources, schools, worshipping areas, restaurants and stations of public transport. These are areas where many innocent citizens converge, and in most cases, the places are not adequately secured. Security and advanced technologies have been installed in vital infrastructures and resources such as water, energy and telecommunication industries, government facilities, banking and finance, monuments and nuclear reactors (United States, 2012). Destruction of the named resources and services would lead to destabilization of security and other sectors in our country.

Preventing Acquisition of Weapons of Mass Destruction

The government has denied weapons of mass destruction to unreliable countries and allies of the terrorists. Aggressive activities have been performed to prevent terrorists from acquiring the WMD weapons and any related materials or expertise. This has been done through integrated operations at all the levels of the government together with private sector and international allies. In July 2006, a global initiative to fight nuclear terror attacks was launched to establish a universal design to promote cooperation, capacity building and involve all countries all over the world to combat atomic attacks (United States, 2014).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the government’s anti-terrorism activities are efficient and adequate to protect the country from both the internal and external attackers. Incapacitating the terrorists from continuing with their activities has been done through denying the rogue nations from accessing weapons of mass destruction, withdrawing financial support to the nations inhabited by terrorists and capturing and eliminating the foot soldiers. Also, significant improvements have been done in both local and international travel systems such as roads and airlines and defending of areas prone to terror attacks.

References

Daniels, R., Macklem, P., & Roach, K. (2016). The Security of Freedom: Essays on Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Bill. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

In Bárd, P., Sieber, U., & Guild, E. (2015). The rule of law and terrorism.

United States. (2012). Department of Homeland Security appropriations for 2013: Hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, second session.

United States. (2014). Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014.