Introduction to U.S. Strategies Designed to Protect the Homeland from Air, Ground, and Maritime Infiltrations
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established shortly after 9/11. It brings together 22 different agencies to protect the United States. Through the years, U.S. embassies all over the world have been targets of protests and violence by terrorist groups and displeased citizens trying to make a point or simply causing chaos and mayhem.
Consider these issues of relevance when responding to Case Assignment 1:
U.S. embassy attacks 2010–2018:
• April 5, 2010: Peshawar, Pakistan
• October 28, 2011: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
• September 11, 2012: Cairo, Egypt, and Benghazi, Libya
• September 14, 2012: Sana'a, Yemen, and Tunis, Tunisia
• February 1, 2013: Ankara, Turkey
• September 13, 2013: Herat, Afghanistan
• September 28, 2015: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• February 21, 2018: Podgorica, Montenegro
• July 26, 2018: Beijing, China
• December 1, 2018: Guadalajara, Mexico
Helpful Hint: Check out the U.S. Department of State website at https://www.state.gov/.
Case Assignment
Discuss ONE of the three topics listed below. Include details and examples as they pertain to one or more U.S. embassy attacks. Support your work using the provided reading and your own additional research.
What does the United States need to do to:
• Prevent an attack at a U.S. embassy in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Asia, and South and North America?
• Respond to an attack at a U.S. embassy in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Asia, and South and North America?
• Recover from an attack at a U.S. embassy in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Asia, and South and North America?
Sample Solution
Drawing from the provided information and additional research, I believe preventing attacks at U.S. embassies requires a multi-tiered approach:
1. Intelligence and Threat Assessment:
- Enhanced intelligence gathering: Strengthen collaboration with foreign partners, leverage technological tools like data analytics and cyber intelligence, and prioritize human intelligence resources in high-risk regions. Examples: analyzing social media chatter, tracking suspect movements, and establishing trusted local informants.
- Proactive threat assessment: Regularly evaluate vulnerabilities of embassies based on local political climate, extremist activities, and historical incidents. The 2012 Benghazi attack highlighted the need for accurate assessments of evolving security situations.
Full Answer Section
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