MOD 16: US Foreign Policy - Terrorism and Counterterrorism Study Notes

GOV 312L: US Foreign Policy - Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Central Questions

  • What is terrorism?

    • Definition and distinguishing features of terrorist organizations.

  • Political Violence:

    • Reasons for resorting to violence by terrorist groups.

  • Counterterrorism Dilemmas:

    • Costs and benefits of defensive measures (e.g., domestic intelligence, increased security).

    • Trade-offs associated with external military force used to counter terrorism.

    • Challenges in deterring terrorist organizations.

  • 9/11 and its Aftermath:

    • Impact of the 9/11 attacks on U.S. foreign policy, especially leading to the invasion of Afghanistan.

    • Discussion on distinguishing between terrorists and states harboring them, along with domestic reactions and concerns about future attacks.

    • Exploration of the path from 9/11 to the Iraq War.

  • Trade-offs of External Wars:

    • Examination of external military engagements as counterterrorism measures.

Defining Terrorism

  • Terrorism Defined:

    • Terrorism is an universal yet contested and politicized concept without a single definition.

    • International Relations Definition:

      • The use or threatened use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political aims.

    • Distinguishing Factors of Terrorism:

      • Goals: Political intent behind the violence.

      • Target: Non-combatants aimed at instilling fear in a broader audience.

      • Nature of Perpetrators: Primarily conducted by non-state actors.

Goals and Strategies of Terrorist Organizations

  • Motivations for Political Violence:

    • Terrorist foot soldiers driven by psychological and sociological factors.

    • Leadership adopts strategic perspectives to use attacks for influencing opposing state behaviors.

  • Rational Actors in Terrorism:

    • Defined as goal-oriented behavior, even when goals are misguided.

    • Political violence is viewed as a credible means to achieve specific outcomes, acting as costly signals.

  • Historical Example:

    • The 1983 Beirut barracks bombing resulted in U.S. withdrawal from Lebanon, illustrating effectiveness of terrorism as a strategy.

Common Strategies Employed by Terrorists

  • Provocation:

    • Aim to elicit an overreaction from the target state.

    • Example: Al Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks.

  • Spoiling:

    • Undermining peace efforts through violent acts.

    • Example: Hamas acts against Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

  • Outbidding:

    • Competing for supporters through violent actions.

    • Example: ISIS versus Al Qaeda.

Counterterrorism Measures

  • Types of Measures:

    1. Defensive Measures:

      • Domestic Surveillance: Monitoring citizens to detect terrorist activities and the associated trade-offs (liberties vs. security).

      • The Patriot Act:

        • Enacted post-9/11 (October 26, 2001) to broaden government surveillance powers; aimed at preventing terrorism.

        • Critiqued for potential violations of Fourth Amendment rights.

      • Law Enforcement:

        • Intelligence operations to disrupt terrorist cells; trade-offs include excessive coercion targeting ethnic groups.

      • Increased Security measures:

        • Enhanced protocols (airport screenings); examined costs against efficacy.

    2. Deterrence:

      • Utilizing threats of retaliation; difficult due to lack of identifiable locations for terrorist groups.

    3. External Wars:

      • Engaging countries harboring terrorists on foreign soil.

Defensive Measures - Details

  • Domestic Surveillance:

    • Aimed at identifying potential threats; balance between civil liberties and safety.

    • Examples include NSA mass surveillance practices.

  • Law Enforcement Post-9/11:

    • Detention of 1200 Muslims without charges; community informants in mosques.

    • Special registration program for Arab and Muslim males initiated by the U.S. Government.

  • Increased Security:

    • Examples: Fortified screenings, border checkpoints.

    • Impact analysis of security measures estimated costs in excess of $589 billion in a 2011 study.

Deterrence Challenges in Counterterrorism

  • Deterrence strategies pose unique challenges:

    • Terrorist groups operate without fixed locations.

    • Actions aimed at leaders could lead to collateral damage, fostering more radical replacements.

Transition from 9/11 to War in Afghanistan

  • Immediate presidential response to declare war following 9/11.

  • Key Decisions:

    • No differentiation between terrorists and states harboring them.

    • Quick military readiness due to concerns about further attacks.

    • Public address outlining the commencement of military operations on October 7, 2001.

Transition from Afghanistan to Iraq War

  • Political Pressure:

    • Immediate calls post-9/11 to engage Iraq due to perceived threats and regime changes.

  • Weapons of Mass Destruction Concerns:

    • Saddam Hussein’s potential capabilities used as justification for war; linkage to terrorism.

    • Concept of aligning democratization efforts in Iraq with broader U.S. foreign policy aims.

  • Long-Term Strategy:

    • Addressing terrorism via democratic transformations within the Middle East.

Implications of Foreign Wars as Counterterrorism

  • American Military Operations:

    • Both wars seen as attempts to dismantle terrorist organizations while addressing root causes.

    • Trade-offs Identified:

      • Casualty impacts on local populations that may increase support for terrorists.

      • Potential damage to U.S. international standing and domestic political support.

      • Risks of overextending military resources and attention.