As President Obama stated in the June 2011 National Strategy for Counterterrorism, the United States, "continues to face a significant threat from al-Qa 'ida, its affiliates, and its adherents." And while the death of Usama Bin Laden substantively affected the strategic and operational capability of the terrorist organization, al-Qa 'ida 's pervasive reach and insidious spiritual influence into East Africa continues to pose a significant security threat to the both the United States and throughout the region. This paper will recommend a counterterrorism strategy based upon Harry R. Yarger’s explanation and definitions of objectives (ends), strategic concepts (ways), and resources (means) to successfully defeat terrorism and bring about stability
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led 15-year fight in Afghanistan has taught the international community and policy makers the importance of putting an “indigenous face” on solving regional problems and crises. It is with that in mind that the U.S. must rally other western nations to collectively invest into East African businesses, infrastructure, free markets, and governments. This new, presumably U.S. led, “Coalition of the Willing” must be prepared to fund and enable East African officials and businesses to provide the services, employment opportunities, and upgrades to infrastructure within each nation’s U.N. accepted borders. It is essential that East African nations administer these civil and economic programs and make a concerted effort to create a positive public perception of the local governments and establishments. In order to defeat al-Shabaab and groups loyal to extremist ideologies, the U.S. led coalition must help East African countries organize, train, and equip their local security forces and militaries. The coalition must advise, assist, and monitor counterterrorism, humanitarian, and peace-keeping efforts and operations. Furthermore, through the East African nations, the coalition must enact both a transregional and local information campaign that engages the various populations and clearly explains the efforts taking place. Communicating, monitoring and changing public perception when necessary, will be vital to success. Finally, the coalition must work with local governments to strengthen or establish democratic practices and policies. While extremely difficult, the coalition must help East African countries transcend deep-seated tribalism as it often creates cronyism, corruption, and zero-sum sectarian competition. Maintaining territorial integrity of East African states is essential to truly representative bodies as it helps ensure tribal populations that cross local and state boundaries all have the opportunity to be proportionally represented which in
led 15-year fight in Afghanistan has taught the international community and policy makers the importance of putting an “indigenous face” on solving regional problems and crises. It is with that in mind that the U.S. must rally other western nations to collectively invest into East African businesses, infrastructure, free markets, and governments. This new, presumably U.S. led, “Coalition of the Willing” must be prepared to fund and enable East African officials and businesses to provide the services, employment opportunities, and upgrades to infrastructure within each nation’s U.N. accepted borders. It is essential that East African nations administer these civil and economic programs and make a concerted effort to create a positive public perception of the local governments and establishments. In order to defeat al-Shabaab and groups loyal to extremist ideologies, the U.S. led coalition must help East African countries organize, train, and equip their local security forces and militaries. The coalition must advise, assist, and monitor counterterrorism, humanitarian, and peace-keeping efforts and operations. Furthermore, through the East African nations, the coalition must enact both a transregional and local information campaign that engages the various populations and clearly explains the efforts taking place. Communicating, monitoring and changing public perception when necessary, will be vital to success. Finally, the coalition must work with local governments to strengthen or establish democratic practices and policies. While extremely difficult, the coalition must help East African countries transcend deep-seated tribalism as it often creates cronyism, corruption, and zero-sum sectarian competition. Maintaining territorial integrity of East African states is essential to truly representative bodies as it helps ensure tribal populations that cross local and state boundaries all have the opportunity to be proportionally represented which in