Fusion Centers and Counterterrorism Research Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 5287 words ( 18 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 12

Page 1 of 18

19Combatting Terrorism Using Fusion CentersTerrorism is one of the major global security issues in the modern society, particularly due to technological developments and globalization. The 9/11 terror attacks on the United States highlighted the devastating impacts of terrorism as well as the lack of an effective national, comprehensive framework for combatting it. These attacks also demonstrated the ability of terrorists to easily coordinate and execute their activities and the lack of a thorough fusion program.[footnoteRef:1] Since then, numerous efforts have been undertaken by various security agencies to deal with the threat of domestic and international terrorism. These measures have included the development of state and federal fusion centers mandated with the responsibility of coordinating measures to deal with terrorism. Fusion centers have been established as part of reform on intelligence and institutional innovations on efforts to combat terrorism. The creation of state and federal fusion centers has failed to combat terrorism effectively due to operational challenges. [1: Tricia Devine, “An Examination of the Effectiveness of State and Local Fusion Centers Toward Federal Counterterrorism Efforts”, University of Texas at El Paso, December 8, 2014, https://www.utep.edu/liberalarts/nssi/_Files/docs/Capstone%20projects1/Devine_State-and-Local-Fusion-Centers.pdf]Background InformationThe 9/11 terror attacks on the United States is one of the major indicators of the growth of terrorism in recent years. While terrorism has existed for a long period of time, 9/11 attacks proved that it has continued evolve in recent years. Terrorism has evolved due to different factors including globalization and rapid technological advancements. The security situation in some parts of the world such as the Middle East has also contributed to the evolution of terrorism. As shown in the 9/11 attacks, terrorist have capitalized on changes in the society to develop sophisticated means for planning, coordinating, and executing their activities. These sophisticated means have in turn exacerbated the impact of terrorism on societies worldwide.At the same time, the 9/11 attacks highlighted the significant challenges security agencies face in anticipating and dealing with terrorism. These attacks illuminated several gaps in efforts of many security departments and agencies mandated with the responsibility of securing the United States. One of these gaps was the lack of a national, comprehensive intelligence fusion program that would help in coordinating counterterrorism efforts through enhanced intelligence gathering. Even though the strategies employed by security agencies remained concealed, they were seemingly ineffective because terrorists continued to carry out their activities or operations boldly and with significant impacts.[footnoteRef:2] [2: Ibid., 1]The 9/11 terror attacks also demonstrated lapses in information sharing between the various state and federal security agencies in the United States. At the time of the attack, the nation lacked an effective interagency and intergovernmental information sharing framework for terrorism.[footnoteRef:3] The lack of information sharing between the United States Intelligence Community (USIC) and law enforcement agencies at the macro-level is regarded as one of the major factors that contributed to the execution of the 9/11 attacks.[footnoteRef:4] The cultural and systemic factors at that time did not facilitate information sharing between these relevant security agencies, which in turn limited their abilities to anticipate and thwart the 9/11 terror attacks.

Stuck Writing Your "Fusion Centers and Counterterrorism" Research Paper?

View All Our Example Fusion Centers and Counterterrorism Research Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

[3: Jeffrey V. Gardner, “A Duty to Share: The Opportunities and Obstacles of Federal Counterterrorism Intelligence Sharing with Nonfederal Fusion Centers”, Walden University, 2017, https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4873&context=dissertations] [4: Edward F. Scott III, “Integrating Fusion Centers and Law Enforcement in Utilization of the Intelligence Cycle”, American Public University System, November 2014, https://digitalcommons.apus.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1093&context=theses]Role of Information Sharing in Combatting TerrorismThe United States Intelligence Community (USIC) plays a vital role in securing the nation through analyzing and providing critical information regarding potential and actual security threats. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has established a national strategy for information…

[…… parts of this paper are missing, click here to view the entire document ]

…continue to face challenges in information sharing to combat terrorism effectively. There is need for standardized and comprehensive processes for intelligence gathering and sharing between relevant security agencies. Such processes would help in the achievement of a suitable balance in intelligence collection, analysis, and sharing. The creation of state and federal fusion centers is the first step toward achieving this balance and enhancing the fight against domestic and international terrorism in the United States. This would require making some improvements in the structure and operation of state and federal fusion centers. Some progress has been made in recent years to fix the problems facing these centers, but there is still room for more improvements.State and federal fusion centers need to continue evolving by adopting better measures for intelligence collection, analysis and sharing. They also need to address the civil liberties concerns that have characterized their operations by ensuring compliance with relevant privacy policies during intelligence gathering. Protection of civil rights and liberties is crucial in the successful operations of these centers since they are intimately involved with communities and require public support in order to be effective.In conclusion, terrorism is a major global security issue in the modern American society given the increase in terrorism threats because of rapid technological advancements and globalization. The 9/11 terror attacks demonstrated loopholes in intelligence gathering and sharing capabilities of different local, state and federal security agencies. As a result, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security adopted various measures to enhance intelligence gathering, analysis and sharing including creation of state and federal fusion centers. These centers were mandated with the responsibility of collecting and sharing relevant information that could help in dealing with crime, particularly terrorism. However, the creation of state and federal fusion centers has failed to combat terrorism effectively because of operational issues......

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Fusion Centers And Counterterrorism" (2018, May 21) Retrieved June 4, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/fusion-centers-counterterrorism-2181601

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Fusion Centers And Counterterrorism" 21 May 2018. Web.4 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/fusion-centers-counterterrorism-2181601>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Fusion Centers And Counterterrorism", 21 May 2018, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/fusion-centers-counterterrorism-2181601
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example