Seemingly without end, the war on terror relentlessly continues, but has taken on a new form. No longer is the United States military committing ground forces on enemy territories, risking American lives. Instead they are utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones, remotely controlled from a safe location for precision attacks against terrorists. While it is clear that the use of drones have proved advantageous for military strategists, does an increase reliance on employing targeted assassinations strengthen the United States goals as a dominant world power and overall strategic goals in reducing terrorism? In a globalized world there will be a shift from a hegemony's strength of hard power to the influences of soft. The increased
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counterterrorism department are the defeat of terrorist organizations, limit the production of new enemies and to uphold the continued safety of the American citizens (Cronin). Since Sept. 20th, 2001 when the Bush administration declared war on terror, a long term military and intelligence commitment was made in order to seek out and destroy terrorist organizations. In these regards, the war on terror campaign has proved successful. Al qaeda has been sufficiently dismantled (put facts and numbers in Al qaeda strength) and there has not been a major attack on the United States since 9-11. But like a multi headed hydra, new cells and organizations keep sprouting up, and the U.S. finds itself engaging an enemy that is not contained within clear borders nor with permanent …show more content…
Instead of ridding ourselves of the problem “the American people find themselves living in a world plagued with more terrorism than before” (Stern 62). While military strikes are necessary in the immediate term, long term they can end up serving terrorists agendas. As the death of civilians rise, it adds to the rally cry of JIhadists and serves anti US propaganda. America is framed as an international bully, who kills indiscriminately. Critics claim that drone attacks help terrorist recruitment, that the persistent growth of terrorist organizations is being enabled by these strikes (Stern 65). It would seem to be a never ending cycle. The more terrorists the US kills through targeted assassinations the more terrorists pop up. Drone strikes simply add more fuel to the fire, proving counterproductive to what they are trying to achieve - a world without terror. There is a sense of hypocrisy with drone strikes. By practicing targeted killings, it is counter to the core values and policies America stands in support for human rights and democratic freedoms (Kennedy 274). In addition similarities between the tactics used by terrorist organizations, to incite fear are felt with drone strikes. This is not an intended result but as byproduct from citizens look up to the skies in fear of an unseen and unheard death sentence. Not
counterterrorism department are the defeat of terrorist organizations, limit the production of new enemies and to uphold the continued safety of the American citizens (Cronin). Since Sept. 20th, 2001 when the Bush administration declared war on terror, a long term military and intelligence commitment was made in order to seek out and destroy terrorist organizations. In these regards, the war on terror campaign has proved successful. Al qaeda has been sufficiently dismantled (put facts and numbers in Al qaeda strength) and there has not been a major attack on the United States since 9-11. But like a multi headed hydra, new cells and organizations keep sprouting up, and the U.S. finds itself engaging an enemy that is not contained within clear borders nor with permanent …show more content…
Instead of ridding ourselves of the problem “the American people find themselves living in a world plagued with more terrorism than before” (Stern 62). While military strikes are necessary in the immediate term, long term they can end up serving terrorists agendas. As the death of civilians rise, it adds to the rally cry of JIhadists and serves anti US propaganda. America is framed as an international bully, who kills indiscriminately. Critics claim that drone attacks help terrorist recruitment, that the persistent growth of terrorist organizations is being enabled by these strikes (Stern 65). It would seem to be a never ending cycle. The more terrorists the US kills through targeted assassinations the more terrorists pop up. Drone strikes simply add more fuel to the fire, proving counterproductive to what they are trying to achieve - a world without terror. There is a sense of hypocrisy with drone strikes. By practicing targeted killings, it is counter to the core values and policies America stands in support for human rights and democratic freedoms (Kennedy 274). In addition similarities between the tactics used by terrorist organizations, to incite fear are felt with drone strikes. This is not an intended result but as byproduct from citizens look up to the skies in fear of an unseen and unheard death sentence. Not