The intent of this policy memorandum is to propose that policy on counterterrorism in the United States of America be manufactured. Defining counterterrorism in a Western democratic sense is extremely difficult. This is due the uniqueness of each terrorism case. According to Jason Rineheart, what makes this defining process so difficult is that these democracies must take into consideration certain civil liberties and the rule of law. As stated by the U.S. Army Field Manual, counterterrorism can be defined as offensive actions taken in efforts to “prevent, deter, preempt, and respond to terrorism.” What is most important when defining counterterrorism is the focus on its offensive nature. It is also necessary to focus on the nature …show more content…
Despite its illegality and inefficiency, racial profiling is used to execute the processes of counterterrorism. Therefore for the purposes of this memo, counterterrorism will be defined as the execution of offensive actions in order to prevent, deter, preempt and/or respond to terrorism by way of racial identification of targets. Racial profiling as method of counterterrorism is a major problem in the United States. Due to the damaging effects of 9/11 on the moral of the country and the present threats from ISIS, the Muslim-American society as a whole is being depicted in a way that classifies them as extremist terrorists. This fear of the Muslim society has become so dominant that the term “Islamophobia” has been adopted to communicate “fear, hatred and hostility towards Islam and Muslims.” As seen in a 2011 report on the West’s respect for Muslims, 52% percent of the American citizens who answered this poll voted that Western societies do not respect Muslim societies. (See figure 1.) The analysts of Gallup attribute this disrespect and fear of Muslim societies to differences in religion and political interests. (See figure 2.) America needs to reevaluate its counterterrorism strategy in order to account for and respect the human rights of its targets. If not, an entire society of people, Muslim-Americans, will be targeted as terrorists. The targeting of an entire group of people based on
Racial profiling impacts the lives of African Americans, Asians, Latinos, South Asians, and the Arab communities (Persistence of racial and ethnic profiling in the United States: a follow-up report to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 12). Profiling based on race stems from racism, and has lastingly marked and structured the society of the United States (10). In some aspects, it is considered a violation of human rights; therefore, acts then started to develop (12). For example, the United States introduced the Subsequent End of Racial Profiling Acts to Congress in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2009, but they
Although racial profiling often times affects blacks more than any other race on a day to day basis, many other races and ethnic groups are faced with racial profiling in more sever situations such as terrorism. Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Arabs and Muslims have been racially profiled
One of the most imminent threats looming within American society is race relations. America is a melting pot of different races, cultures, and religions, yet the matter of racial profiling still remains prominent today. By definition it is considered “an activity carried out by enforcers of the law wherein they investigate or stop any individual in traffic or round up people of the same race or ethnicity for crime suspicion” (NYLN.org ). This profiling has become a significant catalyst in the tension that has been ensuing between minorities and the government. Hostility has grown due to the apparent and intentional targeting of “brown people”, and
Another troubling consequence of the Patriot Act and the expansion of surveillance powers is the use of profiling. In order to efficiently gather intelligence information for the safety of this country, it would be common sense to develop a target of sorts to better focus the efforts made. Many believe that Muslims in this country have become the unfortunate targets of profiling. The monitoring of those with family and business ties to countries rooted with terrorism is a logical direction for
Even the United States struggles with issues of racial discrimination despite being a society highly based on immigrants and multicultural diversity. On one hand, people frown on treatment based on race, whether that is on an individual or group level. On the other, people are tired and annoyed by the seemingly constant call of discrimination. All of these feelings culminate into the debate pertaining to the use of racial profiling. Likewise, there are some individuals that hold a certain level of acceptance in regard to racial profiling. However, what is lost in the process because of that acceptance? There are many components that need to be thought about in reference to the use of racial profiling. In addition, it can be viewed
The United States is a media driven society and controversial topics are enhanced because of the resources available in the American civilization facilitating communication and awareness. Racial profiling is a complex topic that mostly affects minorities, however, everyone is affected by this issue in today’s society. After the attack on the World Trade Center, racial profiling has been used to presumably stop or prevent terrorism. It has come to light that this approach has had a diminutive progress, no terrorist has been caught through this technique. To this day some Americans are still distrustful of Muslim and Middle Eastern individuals. Some argue that racial profiling has the potential to catch terrorists, but social profiling can sometimes justify terrorist acts and its discrimination. The recent eradication of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has affected thousands of recipients in a comparable way, but it has taken a toll on their social life. The DACA program was launched as an attempt to provide a means by which persons who do not have a legal status, but were brought to the Unite States as minors, could apply for legal permanent status, leading to neutralization (“A Brief History”). Although it is very common for our community to think of racial profiling as an absent or past issue, the obstacle is still present and is currently being contemplated to analyze its effect on the American society along with discrimination.
In Asra Q. Nomani’s article “Airport Security: Let’s Profile Muslims” she acknowledges that, “Data in reports released over the past several months from New York University’s Center for Security and the Law; the Congressional Research Service, and the Rand Corporation reveal that over the past decade not only are many defendants in terrorism cases Muslim, but they trace their national or ethnic identity back to specific countries.” In this article, Nomani asserts her interest of Racial and Religious profiling for passengers boarding among U.S Airports. Opposing this article is Nafees Syed’s article, “Airport Screening for ‘Flying while muslim.’” Syed imparts how offensive and frustrating profiling can be for those who are “randomly selected.” A topic like this is very sensitive to discuss but it 's a concern of many people. Should racial profiling be enforced in U.S airlines? If you contrast the two articles it is evident that Nomani’s article possesses a stronger argument.
This paper discusses the establishment of terrorism as a crime that can be committed domestically has changed policing, how and why it has changed policing, along with examples. Next, this paper explores whether or not the number of victims of racial profiling has increased over the last decade. This paper also discusses the laws and services which are available for victims of racial profiling. What other actions might be taken on behalf of victims of racial profiling will also be explored in this paper. Lastly, has the Department of Homeland Security helped fight terrorism, or has it simply duplicated the efforts and jurisdictions of other agencies and how has it helped, will be discussed in this paper.
Racial profiling occurs every day. It is a longstanding and deeply troubling national problem despite the claims that the United States has entered a “post-racial era.” “Racial profiling is patently illegal, violating the U.S. Constitution’s core promises of equal protection under the law to all and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. Racial profiling affects a wide array of communities of color. More than 240 years of slavery and 90 years of legalized racial segregation have led to systemic profiling of blacks in traffic and pedestrian stops. Since September 11, 2001, members of Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities have been profiled by airline personnel, federal law enforcement, and local police.” (Racial Profiling, n.d.)
Newman, Deborah Wilkins, and Nikki-Qui D. Brown. "Historical Overview and Perceptions of Racial and Terrorist Profiling in an Era of Homeland Security: A Research Note." Criminal Justice Policy Review. SAGE, 3 Dec. 2009, http://cjp.sagepub.com/content/20/3/359.full.pdf .
Racial profiling is a futile method in preventing domestic and international terrorism. But regardless of this fact, the United States has attempted to employ this technique in its counter-terror and espionage efforts dating back as early as World War II. And as long as this has been present in has been a point of contention and discussion amongst the American populace, as this country has well documented accounts of this throughout their history that include: the internment of Japanese-Americans in WWII, the profiling of minorities and low-income areas during the War on Drugs,
Since the attacks of 9/11, Muslim communities have been “targeted” by methods such as racial profiling, according to the Toronto Star (1). In America, the FBI have detained over 400 Muslim-Americans to bring them in for questioning. Although the claims of Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller say that these detainments have nothing to do with religion and ethnic background, many say this is, in fact, racial profiling. Some believe that it is appropriate, some believe it is not appropriate. How is it not appropriate? It is not appropriate because, one, it is a form of discrimination, if directed at one culture; two, not all people of Arabic descent agree with the beliefs of the common Islamic terrorist; and three, by
Racial profiling is an epidemic. It has negatively impacted communities for generations. THe use of race by American police in their policing activities has received much attention across the world. Social media have exploded the daily news people consume and trends are now visible to those that previously didn’t notice it. Countless studies were released on that epidemic and yet, in 2016, nothing seems to have changed. There are those who will support the idea, but quite often, it’s because it doesn’t affect them. While it’s true that African Americans have a particular past with racial profiling in America, it’s has always been much broader experience. Anyone with Arabic look or with Muslim affiliation would be constantly set aside for extra searching and questioning at airports. As a journalist so well explained “People like
The mass media selectively promotes racial profiling. The assumptions driving terrorism profiling are not any different than “street-level” profiling—in that, a particular crime (in this case, terrorism) is most expected to be committed by members of a particular religious, ethnic, or racial group and that the members of that group (in this case, Muslims) are, in general, likely to be implicated in that manner of criminal activity…These assumptions are highly defective. The assumption that terrorist acts are inevitably perpetrated by Arabs or that the architect, of a terrorist act, is likely to be Islamic is a faulty assumption. While all the men, believed to have been, involved in the September 11th hijackings were of Arabic nationality, Richard Reid, who on December 22, 2001, attempted to ignite a volatile device on a trans-Atlantic flight, was a British citizen of Jamaican ancestry. This furthermore coincides with my line of reasoning that extremists exist throughout all cultures. In fact, prior to September 11th the deadliest act of terrorism on United States soil was initiated by [Oklahoma City bomber] Timothy McVeigh. Even non-Arabs like John Walker Lindh, a Californian, can be linked to the Taliban, al-Qaeda and
Counterterrorism: to neutralize terrorist cells and operatives in the United States and to help dismantle terrorist networks worldwide.