Participant number Age Gender Profession Party Affiliation Definition of terrorism
1 37 Female Bank Teller Democrat An angry act done from a foreigner
2 28 Male Correction Officer Democrat An invasion attack from those who are from a different country
3 57 Female Property Manager Democrat When people try to destroy a country based on political reasons
4 26 Male Licensed A.C Technician Democrat When someone invades the U.S with malicious intent
5 43 Female Assistant Principal Republican When someone or a group from one country is trying to do harm to another country
6 18 Female Starbucks Cashier Democrat An evil act done to the U.S by other countries.
After being able to speak with and connect with a plethora of people from different age groups, generations, professions, and mindsets to ask them how they defined terrorism, I quickly learned that everyone has a different concept on it. After thorough analyzation and research, I come to find that the pattern here is that when people hear the word “terrorism” it is identical with the concept of anger and destruction. While that may be due to 9/11 or other malicious terrorist acts, people have immediately grouped terrorism in with being a severe threat. While I do understand where they are coming from, terrorism is deeper than just destroying a country, it’s very much so political just as much as it can be a threat to a country.
This is why after the research I came up with a universal definition that states that terrorism can be defined as a group of people that believe the same things, same morals, and same political stances that take the initiative to commit violent acts against civilians of a country to get their political point across.
Part 2.
Hoffman and Eikenberry point out several difficulties that the US is encountering in its efforts to combat insurgency and terrorism, specifically in Afghanistan. A challenge that Hoffman recognizes is the diffusion and globalization of terrorism. According to Hoffman (2017), he claims that the transnational character of terrorism renders it more challenging for any individual country to effectively combat. The example provided by Hoffman (2017) about the Islamic State (IS) highlights its success in attracting and ideologically transforming people from diverse regions, thereby posing a truly international risk. Effectively grappling with this challenge has posed difficulties for the US, mainly because it demands international cooperation and coordination.
On the flip side, Eikenberry underscores the obstacle of constrained resources and the diminishing returns of counterinsurgency theory. Eikenberry (2014) makes the case that the US has invested a notable quantity of resources into its counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, nonetheless, the returns have shown a decline. Eikenberry emphasizes that even though they have worked towards stabilizing the nation and defeating the insurgency, the Taliban remains an ongoing threat. The limited resources in terms of both finances and personnel available to the US compound this challenge even further (Eikenberry, 2014).
Also, both writers emphasize the difficulty of fighting against a slippery adversary. In order to effectively combat terrorism, Hoffman places emphasis on understanding its ideological motivations and roots. Hoffman’s (2017) point is that the United States must dedicate efforts towards understanding the intricate workings of terrorist groups and their methods of recruiting members.
Furthermore, Eikenberry underscores the significance of gaining insight into the local context and grievances as crucial elements for effectively carrying out counterinsurgency efforts. He demonstrates how inadequate understanding of tribal dynamics in Afghanistan by the United States caused obstacles in gaining endorsement and reliance from local populations. This deficiency in comprehension has posed challenges for the US counterinsurgency efforts.
To recap, the US is confronted with multiple challenges in its endeavors to address insurgency and terrorism, as stated by Hoffman and Eikenberry. Difficulties we come across include terrorism spreading globally, scarcity of resources, and the challenge of combating an enemy that is hard to find. Solving these difficulties involves people from all over the world cooperating and considering the specific situations in different places. It is also important to understand why terrorist organizations have their ideas.
Sources:
Hoffman, B. (2017). The Global Terror Threat and Counterterrorism Challenges Facing the Next Administration. Prism, 6(3), 31-53.
Eikenberry, K. W. (2014). The Limits of Counterinsurgency Doctrine in Afghanistan. Foreign Affairs, 93(6), 119-129.
REPLY TO THE STUDENT PROMPT ABOVE
Compare your findings with another student’s findings on the definition of terrorism. How do you explain the similarities and the differences? (at least 150 words)
Choose another student’s answer on the challenges the U.S. faced in the War on Terror, what lessons can we learn from the challenges identified by the student? (at least 150 words)
