terrorism - responses

Question 1

what are the UKs responses to terrorism?

Answer 1

• CONTEST
• M15 JTAC
• role of the police

Question 2

explain CONTEST and give an example

Answer 2

• the UK government’s counter terrorism strategy is called ‘CONTEST’ and works to stop terrorism before it occurs
• ‘CONTEST’ has four main aims, to prevent, pursue, protect and prepare​
  FOR EXAMPLE, schools have a statutory duty to the prevention of terrorism
• this enables schools to embed safeguarding against radicalisation and report to police and social work any vulnerable pupils they suspect of engaging in terrorist activities ​

Question 3

explain M15 JTAC and give an example

Answer 3

• the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) is an intelligence organisation which provides advice to the british government ​
• JTAC works to gather and assess all information related to terrorism – Foreign or Domestic
  FOR EXAMPLE, JTAC is also responsible for setting the UK terrorist threat level, which is currently substantial

Question 4

explain the role of the police and give an example

Answer 4

• today, police forces have officers that are trained specifically in counter terrorism.
• the police also monitor and check for online terrorist activity (cyberterrorism)
  FOR EXAMPLE the metropolitan police force have an ‘Anti-Terrorist Hotline’ where the public can report incidents or suspicions, and the police moniter blogs, chatrooms and websites for cyberterrorism

Question 5

what are international countries (USA) responses to terrorism?

Answer 5

• trumps muslim travel ban
• guantanamo bay

Question 6

explain trumps muslim travel ban and give an example

Answer 6

• in 2017 US president Donald Trump banned immigrants and refugees that come from six mainly Muslim countries from entering the US ​as an attempt to tackle islamic extremism
• unless they had a clear relationship with America either through family, schools or a job - those from these countries could not travel to america
  FOR EXAMPLE those from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen all faced trumps muslim travel ban

Question 7

explain guantanamo bay

Answer 7

• a major response to global terrorist from the USA has been the capture and interrogation of suspected terrorists at its facility, Guantanamo Bay
  -Guantanamo Bay is a US run ‘detention camp’ or prison based in Cuba​
• the prison is highly controversial as it detains suspects without trial and has been accused of torturing detainees for information
  FOR EXAMPLE there are currently 40 people held at Guantanamo, some of the 40 have been there for years, without ever having been charged

Question 8

what are international organisations that respond to terrorism?

Answer 8

• the EU
• NATO

Question 9

explain the EU (successes)

Answer 9

• The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. these countries work together on many issues, including terrorism
• an EU database lists the resources and assets which nations could mobilise in the case of a terrorist attack, these might include military personnel, medical supplies and food or shelter aid. ​
• When a terrorist attack happens in an EU country, other member nations co-operate to assist with the response. E.g the major ISIS attack on Paris in 2015 where 130 died

Question 10

what are the failures of the EU against terrorism?

Answer 10

The EU and Europol have failed to prevent major terror attacks in recent years in countries such as france germany and spain and many terrorists have been able to travel between nations across Europe to carry out their attacks as there are no borders between many countries

Question 11

explain NATO

Answer 11

• NATO is made up of 32 countries that have a military and political alliance with each other. The idea is that countries that are part of NATO will defend each other against attack and work together to increase security and peace

Question 12

what are the successes of NATO against terrorism?

Answer 12

Since 9/11 NATO has a new role in fighting terrorism around the world. Until 2021, NATO was involved in Afghanitan. This included creating a political system with free and fair elections as well as training the Afghan police and military to ensure the rule of law in society

Question 13

what are the failures of NATO against terrorism?

Answer 13

• As of 2023 there are around 0 NATO troops in Afghanistan – all have been removed.​
• The Taliban have come back stronger than ever in recent years and are back in control of huge areas of Afghanistan. It is almost impossible to defeat the Taliban who fight using terror tactics and who know the land and terrain so well

Question 14

what are the military responses to terrorism?

Answer 14

• the war on terror
• drone attacks

Question 15

explain the war on terror and give an example

Answer 15

• The US and the UK no longer have a large military presence in Afghanistan, but both are still fighting the Taliban without ‘boots on the ground’, through the use of the RAF and US airforce
  FOR EXAMPLE The UK, along with the US and other Western nations, have been bombing ISIS in Syria over recent years. This has led to ISIS losing territory and influential leaders

Question 16

explain drone attacks and give an example

Answer 16

• The UK has increasingly used ‘unmanned aerial vehicles’ , known as drones, to target terrorist groups living in remote areas in countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Pakistan. ​
• Drones have multiple uses – they are able to gather intelligence through surveillance, listening to phone conversations and also actively attacking targeted terrorists
  FOR EXAMPLE, through the use of drones, top terrorist commander reyaad khan was killed