HIST405N-Week 8: America and Terrorism in the 21st Century

QUESTION

Required Resources for HIST405N-Week 8: America and Terrorism in the 21st Century assignment.

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 32
Lesson
Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions

Consider a few terrorist activities since the 1980s until today. Here is a starting point:

1983: United States Embassy in Beirut and Kuwait is bombed
1988: Osama bin Laden re-organizes Al Qaeda in Pakistan to carry out attacks
1993: World Trade Center Bombing (first time)
1995: Oklahoma City Bombing
1998: United Stated Embassy bombings Nairobi and Sar Es Salaam
2001: 9/11 Bombing of the World Trade Centers
2001: Bio Terrorism begins (anthrax letters and Bill Gates’s warnings on bio terrorism)
2013: Boston Marathon Bombings
2018: Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

Then, address three (3) of the following and craft a response, as a whole, for your selections:

Explain if you think that global terrorism can be stopped.
Analyze the responsibility of the United States today to be the world’s “policeman.”
Assess if peace and stability in the Middle East are vital to the U.S. economy and national security.
If the United States withdrew its troops from the Middle East tomorrow, would the terrorist threat end? Why or why not?
Assess if using military force is the only way to prevent terrorism. Are there other possible alternatives? Which strategy is best and why?

TEXTBOOK REQUIRED IS https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/1-introduction

Global Terrorism is a complex issue that cannot be resolved with a single strategy. Nevertheless, it is possible to mitigate and reduce the effects of Terrorism. To combat the proliferation of Terrorism, numerous nations, organizations, and individuals must coordinate their efforts. In the prevention of terrorist attacks, measures such as intelligence gathering, enhanced border control, and military force against terrorist organizations have been implemented (Kaunert & Léonard, 2018). However, these measures are insufficient to eradicate Terrorism. As long as poverty, social inequality, and political instability continue, Terrorism will remain an issue. To reduce the prevalence of Terrorism, the global community must address these fundamental causes.

United States as Global Policeman

The United States’ function as the “world’s policeman” has been debated for decades. Some argue that the United States is responsible for maintaining global peace and security. In contrast, others argue that the United States should not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. Through its military, diplomatic, and economic influence, the United States has historically played a vital role in sustaining global security (2023, U.S. History). There is a developing sentiment that the United States should focus more on domestic issues and less on international affairs. The responsibility of the United States to act as a “policeman” is ultimately a decision that must be made by the United States government and its citizens. However, the United States occupies a unique position globally, and its actions substantially affect global peace and security. Nonetheless, it is essential to consider the consequences of its actions and to ensure that they are carried out in a manner that promotes democratic and human rights values while respecting the sovereignty of other nations. In addition to acting unilaterally, the United States must collaborate with other nations and international organizations to promote global peace and security.

Impact of Peace and Stability in the Middle East on U.S. Economy and national security

The United States has historically regarded the Middle East as a strategically significant region, primarily due to its substantial oil reserves. The United States has thus established and sustained solid diplomatic relationships with various nations in the area, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (Ugwueze & Onuoha, 2020). The significance of peace and stability in the Middle East cannot be overstated, as it holds immense importance for the economy and national security of the United States. The potential for instability within the region may result in disturbances to the worldwide oil supply, thereby exerting a significant influence on the economy of the United States. The area in question has been a focal point for terrorist operations, and political instability may contribute to the emergence of terrorist organizations that threaten the security of the United States. Hence, the United States holds a significant stake in advancing tranquillity and constancy in the Middle East, and it is imperative to persist in pursuing this objective.

References

Kaunert, C., & Léonard, S. (2018). The collective securitization of Terrorism in the European Union. West European Politics, 42(2), 261–277. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2018.1510194

Ugwueze, M. I., & Onuoha, F. C. (2020). Hard versus soft measures to security: Explaining the failure of counter-terrorism strategy in Nigeria. Journal of Applied Security Research, 15(4), 547–567. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361610.2020.1811936

U.S History, U. S. H. (2023). 26.3 the Second new deal – U.S. History. OpenStax. Retrieved April 9, 2023, from https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/26-3-the-second-new-deal