I.

Introduction

Counterterrorism, the policies and methods used to deter and defeat terrorism. Counterterrorism involves the use of information gathering, law enforcement, diplomacy, military force, and protective security. Besides eliminating existing terrorists, effective counterterrorism also attempts to discover and remove the causes that motivate terrorists.

Terrorism is generally defined as politically motivated violence by clandestine groups or individuals against civilians or noncombatant personnel. The United States Department of State has adopted the definition found in Title 22 of the United States federal code, which defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.” There is no universally agreed definition of terrorism, however. Through bombings, assassinations, hijackings, hostage taking, and other violence, terrorists usually seek to intimidate nations into changing their policies or their leaders or surrendering parts of their territory.

The catastrophic terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, which killed about 3,000 people, exposed America’s vulnerability to terrorism at home and showed the need for improved counterterrorism. Today, the “war on terrorism” is at the center of U.S. foreign and domestic policy.