The Department of Homeland Security was created after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with the mandate to protect America from the threat of terrorism. However, terrorists have been increasingly using diverse tactics in their war against the U.S. in particular and western civilization in general (Pinkowski, 2008). Despite this, the performance of the Federal Homeland Security System has proven that it is adaptable for countering the new form of warfare posed by terrorists.
Since 2001, terrorists have managed to carry out devastating bomb attacks in several European capitals including London, Madrid and Paris. In comparison, terrorists have not succeeded in bombing any American city since September 11, 2001, despite the fact that America is their biggest enemy and they are ceaselessly scheming to bring the country to its knees (Pinkowski, 2008). In fact, numerous attacks have been foiled in the U.S., most of which never come to the attention of the media. However, terrorists have scored minor victories in America courtesy of mass shootings by U.S. citizens sympathetic to the terrorists’ cause. The inability of terrorists to hit the U.S. shows that the Federal Homeland Security System has made great strides in securing the country against the threat of terrorism.
One measure that the Federal Homeland Security System has implemented is the frustration of terrorist financing and travel. The U.S. has entered into agreements with different countries to hamper the ability of international terrorist groups to move their operatives and resources. The financial and travel restrictions remain an effective means of combating terrorism, even when terrorists devise new forms of warfare (Alexander, 2002). This is because no emerging form of terrorist warfare can compensate for the inability to travel and a lack of financing. Another way that the Federal Homeland Security System remains adaptable for countering new forms of warfare posed by terrorists is by maintaining a multi-layered security strategy. For instance, the Federal Homeland Security System is continuously tracking terrorists irrespective of their location in the world. This enables the U.S. to learn the plans of terrorists when they are still outside its borders (Dodaro, 2010). Consequently, the federal Homeland Security System is able to take the necessary pre-emptive actions to thwart the terrorists’ plans.
The Federal Homeland Security System remains adaptable to combat new forms of warfare posed by terrorists because it recognizes that it is fighting determined and innovative enemies. The system also tries to remain ahead of terrorists because it recognizes that a single terrorist event can change the course of history. With this in mind, the Federal Homeland Security System shuns complacency and avoids focusing on its successes against terrorists (Dodaro, 2010). This is highlighted by the fact that the Federal Homeland Security System rarely publicizes its successes. Instead, the system focuses on constant evaluation and analysis of terrorist threats to close any loopholes that terrorists may exploit.
As mentioned earlier, the U.S. has suffered attacks by its own citizens. However, this does not demonstrate the fallibility of the Federal Homeland Security system. Instead, it highlights the impossibility of achieving total protection against all threats and vulnerabilities (Pinkowski, 2008). This is because the detection of locally planned attacks is extremely difficult as they usually involve very few individuals. Furthermore, the attacks mounted by terrorists at home have only involved guns so far, which points to other issues in American society such as the presence of lax gun laws. Therefore, preventing terrorists from using guns to kill Americans requires political will and a change in American citizens’ attitudes towards guns.
References
Alexander, Y. (2002). Combating Terrorism: Strategies of Ten Countries. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Dodaro, G. L. (2010). Combating Terrorism: U. S. Efforts to Address the Terrorist Threat in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas Require a Comprehensive Plan and Continued Oversight. Collingdale: DIANE Publishing.
Pinkowski, J. (2008). Homeland Security Handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
