Terrorism on September 11, 2001 Essay Example for Free

Terrorism on September 11, 2001 Essay Terrorism is no vague concept but a modern danger and growing concern throughout the world. With the peak of violence seen on September 11, 2001 and the subsequent attacks experienced throughout the world following that attack, the United States awareness and reaction to terrorism and terrorist acts has changed. In an ideological war with no end in sight the way in which America fights the war on terror will help determine the eventual outcome. In his report, Unconquerable Nation, terrorism analyst Brian Michael Jenkins attempts to provide background and a deeper understanding of the threat faced by the United States in the coming years from al Qaeda and similar groups. This information teamed with advice and analysis gleaned from decades of terrorism research, lay out a plan for combating terrorism through deeper means and deeper understanding of the enemy. As Jenkins explains is his introductory chapter, a five-point philosophy of war must be employed not only by the government in the war on terror but also supported and carried by the average citizen. The five points are a necessity of knowing the enemy, mobilization of individual courage and commitment to the necessary good, psychological strength, an understanding and commitment to the longevity of the mission, and embracing â€Å"liberty as the source and sustenance of security† (2006, p. 5). Among some of the flaws in the current campaign is the failure to perform many of these points, chief among them is a lack of understanding of the enemy and the reality of the time necessary to defeat such a foe. Brian Michael Jenkins has been part of terrorism research and strategy from the beginning, when in 1972 the U. S. first began to take a look at terrorism as a distinct and increasingly dangerous risk (p. 6). As he notes, the Lod Airport massacre in Israel and the murder of Olympic athletes in Munich in 1972 led to the creation of the Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism (p. 7). However, terrorism has continued to evolve over the past several decades as the terrorist ideology has shifted from a strictly political standpoint into the arena of religious (p. 8). Conventionally defined as â€Å"a small, artificially defined segment of political violence† (Jenkins, 2006, p. 8), it has grown to be most visible in recent years as a mix of skewed religious ideologies and political unrest viewed through centuries of historical and theological unrest. In the 1980s the threat from terrorism grew outside the arena of simply a political vehicle. Where once terrorist acts were committed to gain visibility and understanding of the group and their demands, the attacks had now become more bloody and indiscriminate as the terrorists are not interested in image. Jenkins explains that, â€Å"today, many terrorists want a lot of people watching and a lot of people dead† (2006, p. 9). With the increase of senseless, casualty-heavy violence fears over what methods they will employ have increased. In the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union a general sense of fear began to permeate among international and political analysts (p. 146). The United States and other western countries began preparing for the worst, as predictions were made on nuclear proliferation, the diversion of the Soviet Union’s heavy arsenal to terrorist groups and unsympathetic countries (p. 147-148). However, none of these fears has yet come to tangible proof. While on 9/11, terrorists were able to deal the largest blow to the United States through conventional terrorist methods of attack, their bombs were neither nuclear or biological; their infiltration into society and subsequent hijacking were done using conventional means and bombs (p. 149). Primary among, Jenkins points is the understanding of al Qaeda and related jihadist groups in waging a successful campaign against terrorism. Terrorists today aren’t the same as traditional guerilla militias or the terrorists of the 1970s. â€Å"The enemies we face have changed fundamentally† (Jenkins, 2006, p. 14). Though the current U. S. led efforts to subdue and eradicate al Qaeda and related groups have been successful in driving them underground, they have not addressed the root of the terrorist discourse or stemmed recruitment or what Jenkins calls the political war (p. 14). In ignoring the current implications and ideology of al Qaeda and like-minded terrorists the U. S. is counteracting its own progress. The concept of jihad, the driving force behind al Qaeda, has been elevated, â€Å"from a struggle within one’s soul to an unlimited war against the West† (p. 23). Their grievances with the West, as espoused by Osama bin Laden and his brothers in arms, are both valid and unattainable. One of the root causes noted by bin Laden and his followers include the treatment of Palestine by Israel which the U. S. is seen as supporting through their support of Israel. This could and, according to Jenkins, should be addressed as it is a â€Å"noble† cause (p. 125). However, many of their grievances such as the presence of the U. S. in the Middle-East, Saudi Arabia, a saturation of Western culture as a destructive factor in Islam are unattainable goals. Jenkins implies and I agree, that the demands are unattainable by design and therefore supportive of a never-ending jihad. Those who believed that the war on terrorism would begin and end with the war in Iraq were only half right. While of strategic and ideological importance, Iraq has been both an overly dominant and distracting force in the overall war on terrorism. I agree with Jenkins assessment that the conflict will only reach another stage with the withdrawal from Iraq and whether viewed with defeat or victory the withdrawal will usher in a new stage in an ongoing conflict. I agree wholeheartedly with Jenkins assessment that, â€Å"we are still closer to the beginning then the end of what is likely to be a very long campaign† (p/ 176). In fighting a political war against al Qaeda and other jihadists, the U. S. would be most effective in trying to stem recruitment, prevent the spreading of their ideology by promoting alternatives and education on religion (p. 125). By using measures to halt recruitment and reeducate detainees, the U. S. would see more long term results. Many of the tactics used so far like the fall of the Taliban and closing of training camps in Afghanistan, thwarted attacks, and disrupted funding (pp. 27-29), while important do not dispel the group’s danger. As Jenkins explains, they have adapted to the new limitations and not knowing the actual size of the enemy it is difficult to assess the true danger and actual gains (p. 27). The jihadist’s real weapon against the U. S. is ideological, â€Å"Armed forces alone cannot win this war. The real battle is ideological† (Jenkins, 2006, p. 120). A loss of capital hasn’t prevented attacks since 9/11 or halted recruitment. In the environment created by the U. S. ’s continued presence in Iraq, the jihadists have attempted to seize an opportunity to use discontent to build their numbers. The U. S. has to fight this as well. The U. S. and other countries fighting the war on terrorism have to discredit al Qaeda’s message and to use their extremism against them. Jihadists’ beliefs are the minority, â€Å"to many Muslims, even those angered by U. S. policies, bin Laden is a crackpot† (p. 107). Still to some he speaks the truth and even changing the way in which believers are handled would be effective in the long run in defeating the threat. By trying to change the thinking and treatment of detainees, the U. S. and other governments can prevent future acts of terrorism. By working with willing defectors and possible converts, the U. S. could stem their flow of willing bodies, which is their greatest weapon, as Jenkins explains and I agree, â€Å"political warfare accepts no for as having irrevocably crossed a line† (p. 122). If the U. S. government and it’s allies write off the discontent of the recruitment population they run the risk of alienating a whole new generation of terrorist fighters. Jihad’s strongest weapon is its connection to the people; recruiters are able to recognize and weed out the committed and able to manipulate religious belief. Islam is used as a unifying factor by these terrorist groups, they see unity in the Muslim world as an outcome of jihad (p. 107). Increased modes of communication such as the internet and intense organization have allowed for a broader reach in the jihadist message. Their leaders are in for the long haul, â€Å"al Qaeda will not quit its leaders have no alternatives† (p. 38). By fighting the root causes of the movement and creating disillusionment and doubt in its followers, though more time intensive, the West will create a better future. As long as jihadist ideology is treated as outside the realm of reasonable understanding, it will not be defeated. As Jenkins pointedly explains, â€Å"their mindsets and their concepts of fighting are foreign to us, but they make sense in the context of their beliefs and circumstances† (p. 60). Through understanding, the war on terrorism will have its greatest victories. It can’t be treated or viewed like a conventional war, the enemy is not another country or a distinct leader but a mindset bred from circumstance and perverted ideals. So, first and foremost we must battle against the mindset. Countries like Yemen, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia have had success with religious counseling and debate with detainees (p. 130-131). Why doesn’t the U. S. do the same? Instead their have been indeterminate detainments, isolation, and endless interrogation (p. 132). Torture as a means of interrogation, something thought to be beneath American values has been not only practiced by defended. This is not the way to show and maintain our values in the face of a belief based insurgency. We have to learn from other countries examples and Jenkins proposes acceptance of even our imperfect allies, particularly Russia and Pakistan (p. 134). I agree with Jenkins in his assessment of realizing and accepting the risks and realities of this type of campaign is paramount in a publicly advocated and successful war (p. 153). War does not come without risk or with guaranteed successes, there will be discouragements as not every attack can be foreseen and prevented but conscientious persistence is a must. References Jenkins, B. M. (2006). Unconquerable Nation: Knowing Our Enemies, Strengthening Ourselves. RAND Corporation.

Ethical Business Practices :: Business Ethics

Ethical business practices include assuring that the highest legal and moral standards are observed in your relationships with the people in your business community. This includes the most important person in your business, your customer. Short term profit at the cost of losing a customer is long term death for your business. A reputation for ethical decisions builds trust in your business among business associates and suppliers. Strong supplier relationships are critical to a successful business. Consider the problems you might have if you could not supply what the customer needs...at the time that they need it. The entrepreneur is the role model for employees. If your behavior includes lying to customers, taking money out of the cash register, or taking home some of the inventory or supplies, you cannot be surprised if your employees follow your lead. Your family members may see the business as their own and take things that really belong to the business. Employees may see this as being dishonest, or as a conflict with their needs for a raise in pay. The community expects your business to operate in an ethical manner that enhances the image of the community as a whole. If you are located in a mall, for example, your code of ethics will help or hinder customer traffic for the other businesses too. A reputation for telling customers anything they want to hear, regardless of the truth, eventually hurts your business and other businesses around you. It usually isn't illegal to lie to customers, but it isn't good business. Ethical behavior is merely making good business decisions based on an established "code of ethics". Entrepreneurs should establish a written code of ethics that can serve as a framework for decisions to be made by the entrepreneur as well as the employees. In developing this code of ethics you should consider the following items: 1. Identify your general principles that would lead to fair business practices. 2. Check with your industry association for basic standards to review 3. Allow for the fact that ethical questions do not always have a unique, faultless answer. 4. Write out specific statements that will assist you and others in making day-to-day ethical decisions. 5. Apply your code of ethics to a written policy and procedure manual identifying the major rules for operating your business. 6. Train your employees (and family members) to make ethical decisions about the business.

My Personal Theory

My Personal Theory of Counseling Kristen Bellows University of Texas at San Antonio My Personal Theory of Counseling Perhaps nothing is as significant to the success of the therapeutic process and nothing represents the foundation of successful therapy more than one's personal theory of counseling. All individuals in all aspects of life work from some belief system, perspective, or model of how the world works, how things are, and how things interact. Developing a deep understanding of one's own personal theory leads to better decision-making with respect to the therapeutic process, including therapist approach and client interaction. Such an understanding also promotes a greater ability to intervene more effectively with clients whose values are in contrast to one's own. Being aware of one's own personal theory of the world and, subsequently, one's view of counseling, also helps the therapist identify individual strengths and areas for improvement. The personal orientation of the therapist is a sum total of many influences such as interests, self-awareness, experience, values, and compassion for others, among many other things. Such influences have a direct impact on one's personal theory of counseling. For instance, my Christian upbringing, experiences, and beliefs have a significant impact on my personal view of the world and others and, therefore, also on my theory of counseling. My religious beliefs and values coincide with some therapeutic approaches and not others. In this paper I delve into my recent introspective and reflective explorations as well as the experiences and lessons I have learned throughout my life which has led me to embrace and adopt the particular theory of  counseling I believe suits me the most at this time. Of all the theories I have learned for the duration of this class, none has resonated with me as much as Existentialism. While I have a tremendous reverence for psychoanalysis and its focus on examining the causal factors behind one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors i. e. one’s past/childhood, the unconscious, as well as its contribution of key concepts to counseling such as transference and countertransference, I am a bit unsettled by the deterministic and rigid view this approach takes of human nature. I connect much more deeply to the philosophies of  existentialism: the emphasis it places on an authentic and genuine encounter with clients, its recognition and respect for the client’s subjective world, trust in the capacity of the client to make positive decisions and the concepts it focuses on in counseling such as meaning, purpose, freedom, responsibility, choice, isolation, death concepts that relate to our mere existing in the world and the larger scheme of life. I tend to shy away from the theories such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, feminist therapy, and gestalt therapy, which are very technique-oriented, exercise-driven, directive in approach, and simply require too much action on the therapist’s behalf. I feel these theories do not allow much of the client’s pursuits and search for meaning in life to come through or at least, it is not the major focus of therapy. I do recognize that for some clients these other therapies may be useful, which is why I do not discredit nor dislike them; I just feel that they do not mesh with who I am personally and are not as inherent to my way of  being as much as the precepts of existentialism are. Personally, I hope to find out my purpose in life and contribute something meaningful to the world. Over the few months of self-reflection, I realize that I simply get great joy through serving others and helping them in any way I can. I am more concerned with creating a meaningful identity and relationships with others as I recognize the limits to my existence. I know that one day, I, as well as everyone else will die, and I therefore have a longing to make the most of my time on earth and the time spent with others filled with less conflict and more harmony and love. To me, love is the ultimate gift in this world, and I think it is one of the most powerful gifts that I possess and would like to share with everyone. I always believe there is something good to love in everyone and don’t believe in categorizing people as good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. I don’t believe that one’s existence is fixed or that people are tied to their  past. I think we are always re-creating ourselves and making sense of each moment of the life we live. Perhaps I relate so well to the concepts of existentialism also because it explores basic dimensions of the human condition, particularly death, which closely ties in with religion. Religion, namely that of the Baptist religion, has played a large role in my life. It has helped me make sense of life and been a moral compass in most regards. The parallel I see drawn between the Baptist religion and existentialism in terms of death occurs when I think about the Lenten season and something the priest says on Ash Wednesday: â€Å"Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return. † This act reminds me of our mortality, similarly to how the existentialist perspective tries to allow us to grasp the inevitability of death. Death to me is not something I try to avoid thinking about. It is something that I am very aware of and has had a marked impact on my life. I am constantly seeking a life full of zest, meaning, and one that is filled with love and service to others. In this search, I have experienced the existential anxiety that comes from some of the inevitable conditions of simply being alive. That is, loneliness, finiteness and freedom of choice all bring up a certain amount of anxiety in me, yet I use this anxiety as reason to make changes in my life. After I graduated with my degree in psychology in 2003, I worked for a while in a school setting. Working in the school especially caused a lot of  anxiety in me because I constantly felt that I was not living up to my potential. I just felt as though the job I was doing was a means to no end. My view on work is that it should not be just a job, but rather a career, a lifestyle, something that you are proud to call your profession. It has helped me make sense of what I am called to do and given my life a purpose. I am happy with the path I am on right now. As an existentialist, therapy would also be structured around increasing a client’s self-awareness. This is important because we need to be aware of our capacities in order to exercise freedom and live as fully as possible. I would try to especially help clients take responsibility for  their lives instead of passively letting circumstances and external forces direct their future. I would try to point out how it would be an inauthentic way of living if one subsumes the role of a victim instead of exercising the freedom that they possess. I strongly believe that we can create and shape our lives and rise to the challenges that it may present us with. In saying all this, I would not take a directive stance in expressing these opinions, as in doing so, I would be making decisions and choices for the client that they might not choose to accept. I would rather challenge them to explore how they have been living in the past that has prompted them to seek therapy today and help them discover new ways of living that will lead to a change in their situation. A large part of therapy as well would include helping clients trust in themselves to find the answers, rather than look to others to direct them. Ultimately, we are alone. As cynical as it may sound, we did come into the world alone and we will die alone. We of course depend on our  human relationships with others and connecting with others is very important, however, we must be able to function as our own person firstly and form our own identity in order to relate healthily to others. One cannot rely all the time on others for the answers and depend upon them for their happiness. In therapy, when clients try to do the same of me as a therapist, in order to break this pattern, I would explain to them that there is no easy answer and that they alone have the capability to find the right answer. In therapy, I would also try to provide the space for clients to find meaning in their life by asking questions that help them explore whether or not they are content with their current life, and who they are becoming, as well as helping them establish values that they will need to adopt in order to live a life that is meaningful to them. I would also be sure to talk frankly about the reality of death. Ignoring the topic of death makes its presence even stronger than if one were to confront it. In doing this, that is, addressing a fear that seems overwhelming to explore, a client is also opened up to experiencing life in a more authentic way. Along with the goals of exploring anxiety, self-awareness, death, freedom and responsibility, and a meaningful life, the relationship between the client and me is of central prominence. Our therapeutic encounter will be the activator of positive change and it requires honesty and authenticity of me as well, in order to join the client in their subjective experience. I believe as a therapist, it will take a lot of courage, respect and faith in the client’s ability to grow and reach greater heights and it is important that I am fully present to the client in our  encounters. Although right now I am solely focusing on the existential approach to therapy, I believe that later on as I see a variety of clients, I may need to adapt certain interventions or  techniques from other theories that might be suitable for a particular client. However, I believe my main assumptions and goals for clients will remain in line with that of existentialism. The existential theory of counseling appears to be an appropriate theoretical base to use in counseling because it fits my style of counseling. It is supportive of the client finding meaning in life, which resolves the existential anxiety many people are feeling today. In addition the existential philosophy supports clients’ spiritual growth but likewise can be used with a secular approach as well. In the same way I would evaluate a client’s success on the basis of whether they have been able to find a purposeful existence through the discovery of their  strengths, their own freedom of choice etc. , is how I would evaluate myself personally and as a counselor. Can I live authentically? Can I create a life of meaning? Can I sit with ambivalence and anxiety? Can I make my own choices without having to depend on others? Can I face my fears rather than live a restricted existence? I do not have all the answers to these questions thus far, but they are important questions to me that I am always trying to answer. They are questions which I will probably always be asking myself as I re-evaluate and re-discover myself, but one thing I have realized thus far that is true for me, is that love is the highest goal to which I aspire. I wish to serve others and bring about change in others in counseling through this vessel. References Seligman, L. , & Reichenberg, L. W. (2010). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Systems, Strategies, and Skills (3rd ed. ). New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Controlling Organized Crime - 1200 Words

Controlling Organize Crime Paper Louis Pierre CJA/384 May 6, 2013 University of phoenix Professor: Glen Winters Controlling Organize Crime Paper Organize crime is a conspiratorial activity involving the coordination of numerous people in the planning and execution of illegal acts or in the pursuit of a legitimate objective by unlawful means, for example, threatening a legitimate business to get stake in it. However, organize crime involves continuous commitment by primary members, although individuals with specialized skills may be brought in as needed. Therefore, organize crime is usually structured along hierarchical lines is a chieftain supported by close advisers, lower subordinates, and so on. This paper will talk about†¦show more content†¦Federal and State actually did a little to combat organized crime until fairly recently. One of the first measures aimed directly at organize crime was the interstate and Foreign travel or transportation in Aid of Racketeering enterprises Act. (Opening Statement, 2000). However, the convergence in many ways of organized criminal activity, including drug trafficking and terrorism, is a growing concern to the United States and the world. Some experts in the field suggest that in a growing number of cases organized crime and terrorism are being jointly orchestrated, and that this trend can be developing into a global phenomenon. If true, we face a significant new challenge from both law enforcement and national security perspectives. But even if they are not intertwined in an immediate and direct contractual way, the reality appears to be that drug trafficking and terrorism in an organized sense is very much present, and that or ganizational sense alone means that is in many cases organized criminal behavior by those involved in it, whether it is Cosa Nostra or the Russian mafia or anybody like that engaged in it or not. 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