Anti-terrorism versus counter-terrorism

Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.

The concept of anti-terrorism emerges from a thorough examining of the concept of terrorism as well as an attempt to understand and articulate what constitutes terrorism in Western terms. In military contexts, terrorism is a tactic, not an ideology. Terrorism may be a tactic in a war between nation-states, in a civil war, or in an insurgency.

Counter-terrorism refers to offensive strategies intended to prevent a belligerent, in a broader conflict, from successfully using the tactic of terrorism. The US military definition, compatible with the definitions used by NATO and many other militaries, is " Operations that include the offensive measures taken to prevent, deter, preempt, and respond to terrorism." In other words, counter-terrorism is a set of techniques for denying an opponent the use of terrorism-based tactics, just as counter-air is a set of techniques for denying the opponent the use of attack aircraft.

Anti-terrorism is defensive, intended to reduce the chance of an attack using terrorist tactics at specific points, or to reduce the vulnerability of possible targets to such tactics. " Defensive measures used to reduce the vulnerability of individuals and property to terrorist acts, to include limited response and containment by local military and civilian forces."

The UN combats international terrorism by coordinating counterterrorism activities among member states, supporting victims of terrorism, and creating frameworks to assist those nations most critical to the disruption and weakening of global terrorism.

By uniting nations under the Global Counterterrorism Strategy -- a common strategic and operational approach to fighting terrorism adopted by all 192 member states -- the UN has provided a comprehensive system for preventing terrorist financing, enforcing travel bans, launching joint law enforcement and intelligence missions against terrorist attacks, and harmonizing criminal justice standards.

Since terrorism represents a threat to the security, freedom and values of the European Union and to its citizens, EU action aims to provide an appropriate, tailored response to combat this phenomenon. Prevent, protect, pursue and respond are the four pillars of its overall approach. The EU is working hard on preventing and cracking down on terrorist acts and on protecting infrastructures and citizens. It is also tackling the causes, resources and capacities of terrorism. Coordination between the law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities within the EU and international cooperation are also essential to ensure the effectiveness of combating this transnational phenomenon.

Global terrorist threats remain strong and there are no indications that these threats and acts of violence will lessen in the next decade or so.

One of the primary difficulties of implementing effective counter-terrorist measures is the waning of civil liberties and individual privacy that such measures often entail, both for citizens of, and for those detained by states attempting to combat terror. At times, measures designed to tighten security have been seen as abuses of power or even violations of human rights.

3. Post-reading discussion.

1. What is the Anti-Terrorist Coalition?

2. Do you think any war, which was supposedly begun in order to fight terrorism, is justified? Why/not?

3. Is it possible to stop terrorism by killing or imprisoning terrorist leaders?

4. It’s said that the only way to eradicate terrorism is to remove its cause – the (justified or unjustified) feeling of injustice. Do you agree? Why/not?

5. Would you go to war to protect your country from terrorists? Why/not?

6. What are your seven ways to stop the terror?