Domestic Terrorism: The Forgotten Threat

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Response by fire, police, medical personnel
Identifying critical target facilities
Supply Manpower to regional task forces
Equipment and communications technology for first responders
Long term response and planning for continued assistance
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Terrorism is one aspect that poses the greatest risk to global security today (Pastor, 2009, p.27). In fact, even the world’s highly rated destinations security-wise i.e. the United States have not been spared either. The most recent and the worst terrorism attack on the United States of America; and which perhaps caught the nation by surprise were the September 11 terrorism attack on the world trading sector. The latter posed as a great challenge to the United States preparedness and effectiveness in handling such eventualities. Following the attack, federal law enforcement has taken center stage particularly for risk assessment in relation to terrorism for early intervention and preparedness to handle future such eventualities. They also introduced the office of state and local government corporations and preparedness. The fundamental responsibilities of these departments were to coordinate the first-responders. The main objective in this case was to enhance preparedness in relation to terrorism attacks as well as work in close relations with state and local first responders with an objective of fostering terrorism preparedness in matters of training, exercises, and equipment aid (Pelfrey, 2007, p.314).

Consequently, the main objective of law enforcement as part of terrorism risk management is enhancing federal preparedness in terms of effectiveness of the first responders, equipment availability & appropriateness for such responses, as well as enhancing terrorism risk assessment to be safe. Ideally, it can be argued with a great degree of confidence that law enforcement regarding terrorism became more expressive after the 9/11 terrorism attack. This paper therefore looks at the various aspects of law enforcement as part of terrorism risk management.

Response by fire, police, medical personnel

Ideally, both biological and biochemical or terrorism attacks in any form poses a fatal danger to the target. As a result, both the terrorism risk assessment and the absolute preparedness in terms of attack eventualities are essential across all departments and institutions both in terms of psychological alert and adequacy of equipment (Corona, 2005, Para. 3). The greatest test of such preparedness particularly in the United States of America was the attack of the world trading center on September 11 2001. Irrespective of above average ability in response to the attack particularly by the fire, metropolitan police departments, and the medical personnel during the attack, the federal authorities recognized the need for better preparedness pertaining critical departments across the United States, so as to ensure even better response in cases of such eventualities in the future.

Consequently, both the state and local law enforcers have responded by instituting legal provisions aimed at ensuring adequacy by the fire department police and medical first responder for effective responses to eventualities such as terrorism attacks. In cases of terrorism attacks the latter recognizes that the role of the three departments mainly the fire, police, and medical care services is critical since they are the very important first responders in such a case. Therefore, law enforcement in this regard ensures beyond reasonable doubt that the departments are best prepared in terms of personnel capabilities and appropriateness and adequacy of equipment to present the best response ever in cases of terrorism attacks (Funk, 2007, p.1115).

For instance, the Terrorism Working Group typically referred to as TWG and which was formed in 1998 was mainly aimed at addressing the concern of the first responders’ safety; enhance incident management and the most suitable approach to managing repercussions of general public health as a result of terrorism attacks or rather from weapons of mass destruction (Michael, 2005, Para. 3). According to Michael, the entire three departments which are critical for first response are members of the TWG as it includes the law enforcement, fire agencies, the public or environmental health departments, the US emergency health services agencies, the federal bursarial investigation unit, the bomb squad, hospitals, ambulance companies, vector control units, animal control, coroner as well as volunteer local law enforcement advisory components.

Generally therefore, the integration which brings together varied components of first responders in events of terrorism attacks aims at enhancing preparedness among the first responders as well as ensuring the best and the most efficient response by the latter in case of an eventuality in terms of speed, results and risk assessment for early intervention/prevention (Michael, 2005, Para. 5). Irrespective of the high level of ability in response to the September 11, the departments were actually overwhelmed hence the response efficiency and effectiveness was not optimum. Consequently, they have since been beefed up to maximize their ability and preparation in case of similar or even worse attacks. However, despite the fact that preparedness is critical, it is wiser to concentrate on disaster management in respect to terrorism risk assessment for early intervention and prevention.

Identifying critical target facilities

Terrorism risk assessment is critical for risk management as measure of preventing / protecting the nation from terrorism attacks. As a result, the very basic responsibility of the local law enforcement in regard to early intervention and prevention of terrorism attacks is the identification of critical target facilities with an objective of safeguarding them from attacks. The responsibilities in this regard therefore include but not limited to identification of Potential Terrorist Targets carrying intensive risk assessment Risk Assessment and ensuring Critical Infrastructure Protection, Physical Security, and Prevention of Terrorist Attack against a Facility controlling the access and Biometrics employment of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to identify terrorism intentions well in advance (Funk, 2007, p.1114), fencing the critical area, beefing up security using physical barriers for vehicle and police check points (Willoughby & Tully, 2002, Para. 6), use of HVAC security systems, employing intensive surveillance to identify possible terrorism, thwarting cyber terrorism, identification of improvised explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction at the earliest opportunity among other measures to protect the critical target (Pelfrey, 2007, p.316).

Supply Manpower to regional task forces

Adequacy of personnel or rather effectiveness of human capital is critical for effectiveness of response in events of terrorism attacks. As a result, the supply of manpower particularly to the task forces that the law enforcement has lined as the first responders in events of such attack is vital (Kvetan, 2007, p.871). For success in the later therefore, the regional law enforcement as part of risk management in relation terrorists’ attacks preparedness is involved in identification and training of first time responders as well as supplying and coordinating them while responding to such attacks. Irrespective of the – above – average response during the 9/11 terrorism attack, the task forces were characteristically overwhelmed. The local law enforcement therefore while planning and formulating strategies must put measures in place to ensure that there is an adequate supply of manpower and skills in relations to first responders. Ideally, such arrangement should be in each and every country but more so in areas of high vulnerability.

Equipment and communications technology for first responders

Availability of sophisticated equipment backed by state-of-the-art technology in aid to response to disasters is critical if at all the first responders are to optimize efficiency in response to sudden terrorism attacks the likes of the 9/11 attack on the world trading center in 2001(Pelfrey, 2007, p.316).To a greater extent, the challenges that the immediate and first responders faced during the 2001 posed as an eye opener and an opportunity for law enforce to beef up the response teams in terms of modern response equipment and incorporate modern technology all with an objective of making such response more effective. Ideally, preparedness for response in terms of the availability of such equipment and technology is key as part of risk management in relation to terrorism.

Long term response and planning for continued assistance

Basically, the role of the first responders in events of terrorism attack is to contain the situation, mitigate the events, and respond to emergencies while saving on –the- line lives. Pragmatically, it is the responsibility of the immediate local authorities to plan, prepare as well as present themselves adequately in responding as the first responder while awaiting a back up plan from else where. In events such as the September 11 terrorism attack, the responding departments particularly from the New York City was expected to contain the situation as the first responder prior to a coordinated rescue plan the latter of which is expected to take a little longer. If the immediate responding teams fail to live up to the expectation or are not adequately prepared, the effects of the attacks are likely to escalate to uncontrollable heights. However, in cases of highly intense attacks such as 9/11, the local authorities alone may not be adequate to solely contain the situation. Consequently, plans and strategies of coordinating a national wide response teams in events of attacks must be put in place as part of preparedness and long-term assistance in terrorism risk management. The work of local law enforcement in this case therefore is clearly cut out i.e. to plan, communicate, organize, and coordinate national wide response teams and first responders to achieve optimal response and effective terrorism risk management (Pelfrey, 2007, p.316).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the underlying principle in law enforcement as far as terrorism risk is concerned is the need for effective risk management i.e. adequate risk assessment to identify areas of high terrorists attack vulnerability for early intervention as well as preparedness in terms of manpower, equipment, strategic ness of first and long term responses as well as ICT for optimal efficiency in events when terrorism unexpectedly strikes e.g. 9/11

References

Corona, M. (2005). Orange County’s Response to Terrorism. Guest Commentary Orange County Sheriff. Web.

Funk, W. (2007). Electronic surveillance of terrorism: the intelligence/law enforcement dilemma–a history Lewis & Clark Law Review, Vol. 11 Issue 4, p1099-1139.

Kvetan, V. (2007). Critical care medicine, terrorism and disasters: Are we ready? Critical Care Med. 19; 27(5):873–874.

Pastor J, F. (2009) Terrorism & Public Safety Policing: Implications of the Obama Presidency New York, NY: Taylor & Francis pp23-29.

Pelfrey, W. V. (2007). Local law enforcement terrorism prevention efforts: A state level case study. Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol. 35 Issue 3, p313-321.

Willoughby, E. L. (Bud) & Tully, E. J. (2002). Terrorism: the Role of Local and State Police Agencies. Chapter one. Web.

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