Anti-terrorism legislation involves various types of laws that are passed in order to fight terrorism. The international measures that were introduced to combat terrorism in America after the 2001 terrorist attack has led to serious consequences and armed conflicts around the globe. The measures introduced were meant to end the short-term imperatives of reducing security threats, neglecting the long-term benefits of achieving justice and equality among nations. The implementations have fueled the increase of racism in the continent where Americans have been branded racists. In America, there has been an increase in the hard security approach to conflicts, which has greatly favored the military and judicial engagement at the expense of soft power dialogue and diplomacy. This paper reviews the impacts of anti-terrorist legislation on the peace process and the increase in racism between different states and non-states. After 2001, the UN and its member states passed different anti-terrorist legislations. Their major role was to disrupt the activities of the terrorists by criminalizing their members and cutting off their access to funds. They included; United Nations Security Council Resolution, US Patriot Act, UK Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill, and the EU Council Common Position.
The human rights community criticized the policies introduced as their imposition violated fundamental rights such as the right fair trial, free speech and association, right to be heard and to be informed. The anti- terrorism legislations led to war in Europe and North America due to the armed conflicts that took place. War was also experienced in Turkey, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Columbia and Uganda. The war brought racism in different nations in the world. Anti-terrorist policies shrink the space for international peace facilitation in intrastate conflicts.
Annotated bibliography:
Ganor, Boaz et al. Hypermedia seduction for terrorist recruiting. Amsterdam: IOS Press in cooperation with NATO Public Diplomacy Division, 2007. Print.
The Muslim community was linked with most the terrorist attacks in America. There was a rise in religious language and sensibility in terrorism. Religious groups such as Islamic Jihad in Egypt, the Army of God in the U.S, and Aum Shinrikyo in Japan were ready to use religion to justify violence.
Pantuliano, Sara, et al.; Counter-terrorism and humanitarian action: tensions, impact and ways forward. London: Humanitarian Policy Group, 2011. Print.
The introduction of the foreign students monitoring system discriminated students from other countries apart from America. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in America, the executive branch and science and technical communities tightened their security measures. This was enhanced through the passage of PATRIOT/USA Act, P.L. 107-56 that had been signed on October 26, 2001 by the president. This was done to counter terrorism in America.
Carlile, Charles A., The definition of terrorism. London: TSO, 2007. Print.
The US military troops that were sent to Afghanistan and Somalia to attack terrorists further fueled the terrorists’ activities. The aim of America was to end the al Qaeda group. The al Qaeda claimed that Muslims should not be taken to the courts in US. The attack by America led to increase in racism between the al Qaeda group and the Americans, the Christians and the Muslims. In order to combat terrorism, the government should first understand what drives certain groups of people or individuals to take part in terrorist activities. After identification of the drivers of terrorism, the government will be able to target terrorism at its roots rather than fight those who have rather been radicalized.
Weisburd, David. To protect and to serve policing in an age of terrorism. New York: Springer-Verlag, 2009. Print.
The intervention of America in Iraq and Afghanistan to counter the Qaeda was a main cause of hatred between America and Iraq. The local population in Iraq and Afghanistan allied with the terrorists. Americans wanted to spread their ideologies, but they lacked support.
Perl, Raphael. Trends in terrorism: 2006. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 2006. Print.
The decision of the US government to impose sanctions against the Iraqi people after of the Gulf war portrayed racism. The U.S launched a devastating air assault against Iraq in January 1991. The Iraqis lost 200,000 troops and civilians in the war. The Attorney General of the US said that the goal was to cripple Iraq’s infrastructure to make the life of civilians unsustainable. Evidently, the U.S counter-terrorism legislation led to great racial profiling and racism.
Conclusion
The US government has done a great implementation to counter terrorism activities in America. Some of the methods that have been applied have undermined certain communities and nations leading to increase in racism. Anti-terrorism legislation has endangered democracy through the creation of a state of exception in America.
Works cited
Carlile, Charles A., The definition of terrorism. London: TSO, 2007. Print.
Ganor, Boaz et al. Hypermedia seduction for terrorist recruiting. Amsterdam: IOS Press in cooperation with NATO Public Diplomacy Division, 2007. Print.
Pantuliano, Sara,et al.; Counter-terrorism and humanitarian action: tensions, impact and ways forward. London: Humanitarian Policy Group, 2011. Print.
Perl, Raphael. Trends in terrorism; Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 2006. Print.
Weisburd, David. To protect and to serve policing in an age of terrorism. New York: Springer-Verlag, 2009. Print.
