IntroductionTerrorism is a systematic method to cause terror. Terrorism is most defined as violent acts as a means of coercion. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts that are intended to create fear and are perpetrated for a religious, political or, ideological goal; to deliberately target or disregard the safety of civilians. One of the main components of most definitions of terror includes some type of violence or intimidation with a political goal in mind. Beyond this, the definition is very controversial and even these characteristics are very vague. This violence can range from killing thousands of innocent civilians to an arguably much lesser degree of cyber attacks. Another big issue is the fact that an act considered one of terrorism by a certain party, is typically viewed as justified by another party. The way American citizens view the act of American troops entering the Middle East is significantly different than the way the people in those respective countries do. The statement one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter is a great way to understand the difficulties with the word .Even if there is no universally acceptable definition, it is very important to have an accepted one within the United States and as many countries as possible. This would help to keep the word from being used for motivational purposes in incorrect ways. Unfortunately, the word can currently be used in many different ways and is often a cop-out way of trying to win an argument. The word terrorism is a very scary and powerful word. Because of this it is a very political word and needs a working definition. This would help to keep the word from being used illegitimately because a definition can be referred to. A word that once seemed very definable has become a major issue in todays world.

Genesis of terrorismTerrorism has existed as long as mankind. Today terrorism is systematic; it has evolved with the growth of resources and technology. These changes and the development in the world have added efficiency to the success of terrorists; however, the national security deficiencies can be credited for the majority of these attacks. Different countries have different procedures laws to deal with national security issues. This is one reason there are heavier activity in different areas of the world. Terroristic activity is often higher in certain areas of the world because those areas most likely have ethnic groups that do not get along with each other. This is the case in the Middle East and other countries like France where there are various ethnic groups with conflict. America is also a country where different ethnic groups reside, but as previously mentioned, the level of National Security is higher in some countries like the Unites States, and thus terrorist attacks are fewer. Terrorism motiveUnderstanding motives is a part of understanding terrorists. When the motives are clear, it becomes easier to classify terrorists and the type of sites they are prone to attack. The most common sites where terror occurs are political buildings, churches, and large events where a specific or mix of ethnic groups gathers. Most sites involving terrorist activities are commonly trains, planes, buses, subways, and restaurants. Modern-day attacks feature car, roadside, and other types of bombs, known as improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Since 2002 to present, thousands of car bombings, suicide bombings, and other attacks have taken place on civilians in Iraq, usually because of the mix of religious beliefs. Government buildings like consulate offices and other government facilities have been attacked. If the terrorists motives are government retaliation, most likely a government asset will be attacked. This was the case in 2004, when armed assailants breached U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, resulting in five deaths. If a terrorist act is religion based, most likely a place of worship may be targeted or an event where terrorist believe inhuman or ungodly things occur. Terrorists target a large variety of places; they do it year round, on special events or dates. The one thing attacked sites have in common is that they are places where government or religious population reside or operate. There is heavy activity in certain areas of the world because of the intimidation or the political and ideological goals in those regions. Efforts made to fight terrorismAfter the 9/11 attacks on America, it became obvious that new laws and procedures, national and international were necessary to prevent future terrorist attacks. In America, the People who should determine what sorts of laws are more effective should be the department of homeland security. Some countries have just one department for many government functions. Those countries need to create a department specialized to homeland security. Americas department of homeland security was created many years ago, yet it was not enough to prevent the 9/11 attacks. An obvious statement after the 9/11 attacks and others worldwide, was that need for more fundamental and specialized security agencies or organizations was vast; specifically speaking about a multinational committee, or agency under the United Nations command. The day after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), by consensus of the 189 member states, called for international cooperation to prevent and eliminate acts of terrorism. They discussed the need to hold accountable not just the perpetrators but those who support them as well. That same day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously determined, for the first time, that any act of international terrorism to be a threat to international peace and security. This determination would lay the foundation for Security Council action. To bring together the international community, under a common set of obligations in the fight of terrorism. United Nations unanimously adopted resolution 1373 under chapter VII of the UN in the same month of 9/11 attacks. For the first time, the establishment of a body of legally binding obligations on all UN member states occurred.Investigating terrorismThis binding defined the common center of a new international campaign to deal with terrorists worldwide and any who support them (Federal Bureau Of investigations 2004). As a international leader, the United States has always used their power to become involved in the security of other nations. As much as America is criticized by its citizens and other nations of sticking their noses where it should not, as an individual I believe that American leaders have done the right thing. It is obvious that many countries including America are economically challenged, but a nation has to step forward and lead. Not another country has represented a moral obligation to lead and become involved in stopping terrorism I other countries. Countries that have been affected by terrorists attacks are obligated to devote resources to stop terrorism. It is necessary to secure a nation to prevent terrorist attacks, but the need to cut the weeds from the root is even greater; meaning that other countries should be obligated to invade, and stop terrorists activities in countries where terrorism expands from. I believe this because terrorism not only impacts and compromises national security and its interests, but also the interests of affected individual in those countries. In America, the 9/11 attacks affected the lives of its citizens. One of the simple ways it has affected individual Americans is in at the airport. Terrorism preventive measuresTravelers are required to check in two hours before their flight. The restrictions on what travelers can bring are greater. Passengers are selected at random for more intense screenings. Airport security has different types of searches and screenings and introduced new equipment. Passengers are not allowed to kiss goodbye at the gates, or waiting for them at the gate. Although many physical aspects have affected the lives of Americans, the biggest effect comes simply by the idea of terrorism. Americans have never felt as vulnerable as they have after 9/11. In places like Washington DC, New York, and other popular states, citizens live with fear and are often reminded of the horror that can happen any day. It does not matter how many organizations or agencies are created, or what priorities a country has to prevent future attacks, Americans will never feel completely safe again. The priorities of America have changed severely to protect and prevent terrorist attacks. After 9/11, the bush administration spent many resources and efforts revising national security protocols. By October 2001, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act. This measure gives law enforcement officials sweeping new powers to perform searches without warrants, monitor financial transactions, monitor phone calls, and other communications. In addition, they can detain and deport, in secret any individuals suspected of committing terrorist acts (Brinkley, (2012). The world looks up to America as a safe, secure, and free nation. I believe terrorists knew that a successful attack in top the United States would prove that America is not great, safe, secure, and invincible. The government wants to restore that credibility, not only for the world to know that America is strong, but also for its citizens to know they are safe. The Measures, laws policies and new organizations created to protect national and international security have provided ten years without a successful terrorist attack in the United States by an international terrorist group. It is the duty of a powerful, safe, and prosperous country to share those characteristics with the rest of the world. America as an international leader has not disappointed and continues to share those god-given freedoms with the rest of the world. Although terrorism is a forefront issue in todays world, it is in many ways indefinable. There are many reasons as to why it is extremely difficult to define terrorism, but the biggest is the wide variety of tactics and motives of so called terrorist attacks. Because of this variety, it is difficult to assign one definition to a word. The idea that the word terrorism is essentially indefinable makes it alarming that the word is used so often in outlets such as politics and the media. It is such a powerful word it can persuade the opinions of people who are not entirely informed. Due to this, the political implications of the word can be huge and it is important that the issue be addressed. Investigating terrorismThere are four basic approaches every investigator needs to know when dealing with terrorists groups. These techniques can give an investigator the information that is needed with different situations. These techniques are mail cover, the investigative task force, undercover operations, and technical investigative techniques. Of these four techniques the technical investigative is the only one that is not used to prevent an attack. Mail cover is used to obtain information that is on the outside of correspondences that is sent through the United States Postal Service. These techniques are normally preformed by postal workers and the mail is never opened. Suspicious mail is photographed or copied and then the copy is given to the investigators. The investigators then look for any possible coded message. They also learn to recognize the handwriting. This technique can be used to prevent or intervene in an attack. For example, times for meetings are often written in code on the envelope and once the investigator has this information they can be at this meeting as well. An investigative task force is another technique that is used. This is when two law enforcement agencies pool their resources to combat terrorists and criminals. Each agency may have different and important information that the other agency needs. Attacks can be prevented when valuable information is shared. For example, one agency has the time and date of the meeting and the other agency knows the location. When they combine this information they can raid the meeting. The undercover technique is the most basic of all techniques. This is when a member of law enforcement acts as a terrorist or criminal. The agent will then infiltrate the criminal or terrorist group and earn their trust. Once their trust is earned the agent will be able to gather information. This information can then be used to obtain arrest warrants. These arrests will prevent any attacks the group is planning. The technical investigative technique is when certain technology is used to gain information. These techniques will invade the personal and privates lives of the person they are being used on. Due to this problem the government has restricted the use of these techniques. They can be used only when all other resources have been exhausted or in life and death situations. Due to this restriction this techniques is not normally used to prevent or intervene in an attack. These techniques are valuable tools for any investigator in the fight against terrorism.

ConclusionTerrorism has existed as long as the history of man. Today with the growth of resources including technology, there are only so many measures governments authorities can do to prevent attacks; but those measures can make the difference between an attempt and a successful attack. After the 9/11 terrorists attacks in the United States, the world felt more vulnerable and powerless against attacks.Given the growing global threats of terrorism, it is significant that an understanding of the history, nature and mechanism-premises under which terror operates is obtained. This is significant as it would shape the perspective of policy makers when addressing issues of this nature. Terrorism, as it is understood is the action of none-state weak actors, individual or groups, who for some reasons feels suppressed, marginalized and, or denied what they may view as the basic human right. All terrorism has political objectives, even though the perpetrators may use religious relics to appeal to a wider existing audience, and invoke a response through violent act to prove or propagate their point.

ReferencesCastagnera, J. (2013). Counter Terrorism Issues: Case Studies in the Courtroom. Boca Raton: CRC Press.Cole, D. & Dempsey, J. (1999). Terrorism & the Constitution: Sacrificing Civil Liberties in the Name of National Security. Tallahassee: First Amendment Foundation.Crank, J. & Gregor, P. (2005). Counterterrorism After 9/11: Justice, Security, and Ethics Reconsidered. Cincinnati: LexisNexis Anderson.Dyson, W. (2001). Terrorism: An Investigator's Handbook. Cincinnati: Anderson.Epstein, L. & Walker, T. (2004). Constitutional Law for a Changing America. Washington DC: CQ Press.Heymann, P. (2001). Terrorism and America: A Commonsense Strategy for a Democratic Society. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.McCormack, W. (2007). Understanding the Law of Terrorism. Newark, NJ: LexisNexis Matthew Bender.

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