Research questions and inquiry methods

¶ … 911 terrorist attacks changed the international scene as that had been established following the end of the Cold War. It gave the concept of security a totally new dimension and the notions of asymmetric threat are now a common element in the strategies of defense for most nation states. However, the U.S., viewed as the most important player on the political arena has taken a leading role in confronting the terrorist flagellum. In this sense, the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism presented by President Bush in February 2003 represents the sum of general guidelines for the actions all state agencies would undergo in the effort of preventing, deterring and destroying all forces that use terrorism as a means to undermine the authority of the state.

In terms of preventing and protecting the homeland from security threats, a major role is played by the actions undergone under the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, from the Department of Homeland Security. Aiming to insure a proper coordination between all the governmental sectors that deal with terrorist threats, it represents the framework for establishing a matrix for information gathering and sharing, for developing actions for prevention and protection, as well as issuing variables for response at state, regional, and local level. In essence, it offers the background for the federal agencies to intervene.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been appointed as a major component in the overall plan for combating terrorism. Therefore, its most important actions follow the guidelines of the NSCT. Taking into account that the 2003 document pointed out the need to defeat terrorists and their organizations (by identifying, locating, and destroying them), to deny sponsorship, support and sanctuary to terrorists (by ending state sponsorship, cooperating with nations in term of responsibility to counter terrorism) and to help the weak nations to strengthen their ability to defer the terrorist threat, FBI has seen, following the reconsideration of its role, considerable results. In this sense, it identified the 9/11 hijackers, a mission that was considered to be the largest investigation undergone by the Bureau. Also, in their attempt to protect the country from further attacks, of any kind, they successfully dealt with the issue of the anthrax threat that appeared soon after the 9/11 attacks. Moreover, the Bureau captured several members of different terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah or even Al Qaeda.

2. Terrorism is a global issue and the response must represent a concerted action. As a leading partner in the fight against terrorism, the UK has taken increased measures to support the global efforts to deter terrorist attempts. However, Great Britain has faced particular threats as well. In this sense, the most important threat is considered to be Al Qaeda due to its immense potential to attack and its large human and technological resources. The Home Office Minister pointed out in one of his addresses that "the most significant terrorist threat to the UK and to UK interests abroad comes from Al Qaida and associated networks. Senior AQ members, including its leader Osama bin Laden, have stated publicly that the UK and UK interests are a priority target for them. There have been a number of attacks specifically targeting UK interests based overseas. In November 2003, five people died in an Al Qaida car bomb attack on the British Consulate and HSBC in Istanbul." (Home Office, 2007)

Therefore, the role of the agencies in the UK is essential, taking into account the need to prevent the threats, pursue their authors, protect the population from any attack, and prepare in the eventuality of one.

3. Latin America is as well a rather vulnerable area, prone to the increasing power of the terrorist groups. At the same time however, it represents a space in which fundamentalist groups can evolve and proliferate. This is why the area is considered to be unstable and hard to control through international dialogue and cooperation.