Defending America: Redefining the Conceptual Borders of Homeland Defense: A New U.S. Strategy for Counter-Terrorism and Asymmetric Warfare

• NCJ Number: 190522
• Author(s): Anthony H. Cordesman
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: Ctr for Strategic and International Studies
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded September 24, 2001

Annotation

This document states a new strategy for the United States for counterterrorism and asymmetric warfare.

Abstract

Since the attack of the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon, the United States must carry out a multidimensional struggle, with many aspects, that will play out over decades. Some of these aspects are: to create a focused diplomatic strategy to deal with key “problem” countries (such as Iran, Iraq); to restructure the present counterterrorism program; to deal with the current financial crisis and reassess broader financial and civil vulnerabilities; and to revitalize United States intelligence by reducing the barriers between law enforcement and intelligence. Other aspects are: to restructure United States military forces to strengthen their capability to conduct surveillance and targeting against terrorist leaders and cells; reassess the proliferation program on a world-wide basis; develop and fund a comprehensive Homeland Defense program; protect against immediate follow-on attacks; and carry out a diplomatic effort focused on the Arab and Islamic world. There are four keys to success in the struggle to fight a short-term series of battles against the terrorists and leaders of any country involved in the attacks. The first is the need for leadership that is both domestic and international, and is focused on the task at hand. The second is the need for persistence because it will take months and years of effort to find the right operational “time windows” for strike opportunities. The third key to success is the need for focus on those who can be shown to be truly guilty. The major constraints that reinforce the need for both focus and persistence are that diplomacy cannot force the transfer of key terrorists to the United States; military efforts to “compel” the Taliban to turn over the terrorists may fail; and most targets can easily disperse and hide and have no vital physical assets. The fourth key to success is lethality, which is only an answer in dealing with enemies on hostile territory. Lethality is ultimately the only effective tool unless coercion can force host countries to halt support of the terrorists and turn them over to the United States.