Domestic and International Terrorism Domestic

Domestic and International Terrorism

Domestic Terrorism vs. International Terrorism: Benefits and Disadvantages to Homeland Security

The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre reshaped the concept of terrorism in the global community. Although, international terrorist organizations and other fundamental Jihadi groups already posed a grave threat to the United States' security, prior to the incidents. These attacks started a new debate about the international terrorism and its implications on the internal security of the United States. Previously, terrorism was classified in to two broader categories by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence. The first category was of domestic terrorism, which referred to any terrorist activity that is committed within United States without the aid of any foreign terrorists. The second category was of international terrorists who are determined to organize events like 9/11 from outside United States. (Brannan 2002)

Today is the age of Globalization where the state boundaries have virtually been eliminated. Due to advance communication systems, ease in the international travel, and interdependence of international economies, a terrorist act is much easier to commit and its effects on the international economies can be far reaching than expected. As a result to the incidents like John Walker Lindh, the line of distinction between domestic and international terrorism has faded away. A movement surging in one country can give rise to another movement in another part of the world, without getting linked together. (Brannan 2002)

The distinction between these two categories of terrorism at this stage is supposed to adversely affect, the counterterrorism role of the Department of Homeland Security. There is a strong possibility that if the distinction between the two is given importance, most of the law enforcement officers and personnel may stereotype terrorism according to their individual perspectives. There is a chance, that a potential terrorist threat is not considered dangerous due to racial or religious preferences. Terrorism cannot be associated with a certain group of people with specific demographic resemblance. Any act, which threatens the lives and properties of the people, carried out by a local citizen or a foreigner is considered to be equally dangerous.

Globalization is melting the territorial differences and boundaries between the countries. There is a need to develop new working relationships, locally and abroad. The evolutionary process of terrorism requires that DHS should incorporate the international dimensions of security, as the economies and are globally interconnected together. To fulfill this purpose, DHS has established an Office of International Affairs (OIA) for its international activities. Despite of bureaucratic layers and turf problems with other intelligence agencies, DHS is still striving to achieve its primary goal that is security provision. Terrorist Screening Center and Terrorist Threat Integration Center established by the former President are providing a platform for FBI, CIA and DHS to share the intelligence and act together, without any distinction regarding the origin of the terrorist threat. (Carafano, Heyman 2004)