Terrorism has been a threat to the United States for a long time. Initially, terrorists and terror groups focused on attacking American citizen and allies in other nations, but, the trend has changed. The terror attacks now happen in the American soil. In this paper I will look on why Al Qaida terror group was able to have successful activities in the American soil prior to 9/11 attacks, how those attacks contributed on the formation of the Department of Homeland security and the current state of terrorism in the United States.
Al-Qaida terrorist group was able to have terrorist cells in the United States land due to several factors. These includes; focus on the international terrorism, the communication gap in concerned intelligence units and lack of monitoring activities of suspected terrorists while on the American land (PBS, 2009).
The focus was outside United States.
The American foreign intelligence agencies, that is, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), were concentrating on attacks that could touch American overseas. The threat of a terrorist attack was there, but, no one could think it could happen on the American land. CIA and NSA thought it could have been similar to what had happened on the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on August 7, 1998. This made the terrorist to plan, prepare and perhaps carry out drills for the attack without any interference within America (PBS, 2009).
Disconnect in the flow of intelligence information
The agencies, the CIA, the NSA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), responsible for collecting security intelligence had a disconnect in sharing information. The intelligence information one unit had, did not flow to other units for necessary action. This made the terrorists like Hazmi and Mihdhar to have an interrupted meeting with Al Qaeda agents in Kuala Lumpur and travel to America without being questioned or monitored. Also, the communications of Khaled, the terrorist who was operating in the American soil, to Al Qaeda in the Middle East was not shared, investigated deeply and no action was taken. The intelligence “information flood” at these units made the necessary information to be buried without being worked on. This must have contributed on the formation of the terrorism cells that made 9/11 attack a success and are still a threat to the Americans security (PBS, 2009).
Terror suspects were not monitored.
The biggest blame on the intelligence agencies is that the suspects were not monitored while on American soil. They were left to live in America freely, their interaction with Americans was not monitored. Who knows whether they radicalized Americans in order to have enough people to carry out their mission? The $270,000 that is believed to have been spent in America by the terror operatives’ like Hazmi and Mihdhar is a clear indication that their movements and what they were doing was not monitored (PBS, 2009). The question is, how did Hazmi and Mihdhar, terrorist suspects, enroll for flight training without thorough investigation? Does it mean also that NSA does not know what is going on around them, if the Duo can plan attacks in Maryland?
The Mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The DHS was established in 2003 and its formation was influenced by the occurrences of 9/11. The main mission being to counter terrorism and homeland security threats. This mission is meant to ensure American citizens are safe. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the depart engages in four core areas. One, collecting, analyzing and sharing intelligence information with responsible stakeholders for decision making. Two, detecting and disrupting terrorism threats, the department and its partners works together in thwarting attacks before they happen. Three, protecting top elected leadership, visiting head of states and special national events. Lastly, the department works to counter the weapons of Mass deprecation that may threatened the security of Americans (DHS, 2019).
White supremacy.
The DHS is currently faced with a challenge of handling domestic terrorism which is dominated by white supremacy. The 2018 attack of Tree of Life synagogue was more of white supremacy. The attacker had insulted the Jews on the internet before going on to shoot them. The El Paso Walmart shooting in 2019 is also associated the same idea of white supremacy. Also, when Black people went to the streets to hold peaceful demonstration dubbed “Black Lives Matters” after the shooting of George Floyd, the white supremacists incited chaos that resulted to looting. The extent the white supremacy has reached is worse compared to other terror groups (BROOKINGS, 2020).
In conclusion, though, the 9/11 attacks claimed lived of Americans and led to the destruction of properties, it made the American administration to wake up. The idea of an enemy within was not in the hearts of prior administrations. Right now the Americans are a bit safer than before and the security agencies are alert and well prepared to handle homeland threats.
Al-Qaida terrorist group was able to have terrorist cells in the United States land due to several factors. These includes; focus on the international terrorism, the communication gap in concerned intelligence units and lack of monitoring activities of suspected terrorists while on the American land (PBS, 2009).
The focus was outside United States.
The American foreign intelligence agencies, that is, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), were concentrating on attacks that could touch American overseas. The threat of a terrorist attack was there, but, no one could think it could happen on the American land. CIA and NSA thought it could have been similar to what had happened on the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on August 7, 1998. This made the terrorist to plan, prepare and perhaps carry out drills for the attack without any interference within America (PBS, 2009).
Disconnect in the flow of intelligence information
The agencies, the CIA, the NSA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), responsible for collecting security intelligence had a disconnect in sharing information. The intelligence information one unit had, did not flow to other units for necessary action. This made the terrorists like Hazmi and Mihdhar to have an interrupted meeting with Al Qaeda agents in Kuala Lumpur and travel to America without being questioned or monitored. Also, the communications of Khaled, the terrorist who was operating in the American soil, to Al Qaeda in the Middle East was not shared, investigated deeply and no action was taken. The intelligence “information flood” at these units made the necessary information to be buried without being worked on. This must have contributed on the formation of the terrorism cells that made 9/11 attack a success and are still a threat to the Americans security (PBS, 2009).
Terror suspects were not monitored.
The biggest blame on the intelligence agencies is that the suspects were not monitored while on American soil. They were left to live in America freely, their interaction with Americans was not monitored. Who knows whether they radicalized Americans in order to have enough people to carry out their mission? The $270,000 that is believed to have been spent in America by the terror operatives’ like Hazmi and Mihdhar is a clear indication that their movements and what they were doing was not monitored (PBS, 2009). The question is, how did Hazmi and Mihdhar, terrorist suspects, enroll for flight training without thorough investigation? Does it mean also that NSA does not know what is going on around them, if the Duo can plan attacks in Maryland?
The Mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The DHS was established in 2003 and its formation was influenced by the occurrences of 9/11. The main mission being to counter terrorism and homeland security threats. This mission is meant to ensure American citizens are safe. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the depart engages in four core areas. One, collecting, analyzing and sharing intelligence information with responsible stakeholders for decision making. Two, detecting and disrupting terrorism threats, the department and its partners works together in thwarting attacks before they happen. Three, protecting top elected leadership, visiting head of states and special national events. Lastly, the department works to counter the weapons of Mass deprecation that may threatened the security of Americans (DHS, 2019).
White supremacy.
The DHS is currently faced with a challenge of handling domestic terrorism which is dominated by white supremacy. The 2018 attack of Tree of Life synagogue was more of white supremacy. The attacker had insulted the Jews on the internet before going on to shoot them. The El Paso Walmart shooting in 2019 is also associated the same idea of white supremacy. Also, when Black people went to the streets to hold peaceful demonstration dubbed “Black Lives Matters” after the shooting of George Floyd, the white supremacists incited chaos that resulted to looting. The extent the white supremacy has reached is worse compared to other terror groups (BROOKINGS, 2020).
In conclusion, though, the 9/11 attacks claimed lived of Americans and led to the destruction of properties, it made the American administration to wake up. The idea of an enemy within was not in the hearts of prior administrations. Right now the Americans are a bit safer than before and the security agencies are alert and well prepared to handle homeland threats.
