Study of Recommendations from the 9/11 Commission
The United States September 11 terrorist attacks conducted by the al-Qaeda left a large dent on the country. Not only did the U.S. lose many of its citizens but the nation also suffered economically and politically. The 9/11 Commission Report was implemented by the National Commission of Terrorist Attacks upon the United State to facilitate the country’s safety against terrorists. The Commission, after numerous amounts of research, came up with forty one recommendations. These recommendations are under continuous implementation by the nation to ensure better security measures for Americans and international peace. Although these recommendations are effective, the U.S. government has not effectively implemented some these ideas. This paper discusses the successful implementation of some recommendations, those that have yet to be implemented, and factors that could potentially improve these recommendations.
- Which of the recommendations have been successfully implemented, which haven’t, and most importantly, why?
According to the 9/11 Commission Report (2004), the first recommendation involves the identification of potential terrorists and their hideouts and thus; preparing strategies to keep these terrorists away from the country. Moreover, the Commission recommends that the U.S. secures its relationships with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. Having peaceful relations with these countries, the U.S. would help them extend their authority to their people, hence reduce their terrorist attacks. Critical strides by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are noticeable in actualizing these recommendations. The organization has implemented a nationwide suspicious activity reporting initiative that trains local authorizes on ways to recognize terrorist activities in their towns (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2011).
To implement the recommendations on passenger screening and the prevention of terrorist invasions in the U.S., DHS have advanced passenger information record data. All airlines flying to the United States must provide a passenger name record data and advance passenger information to ensure that only legitimate people can enter the country. With these measures, the DHS has recognized thousands of potential terrorists and denied them access to the U.S. (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2011). Pre-departure vetting has also allowed the DHS to identify it country’s law breakers who intend to escape. With this protocol, all federal authorities with the help of DHS can arrest inadmissible people. Moreover, pre-departure vetting allows the department in warning travel agencies of potential terrorists or criminals.
Furthermore the DHS created a Visa Security Program that together with the Department of State deploys agents to areas that have high risk visa activities. These agents identify and arrest terrorists or alert the DHS on potential security threats. The Visa Security Program is positioned in 15 countries and contains 19 posts in these countries (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2011). The 2001 9/11 attackers hijacked planes heading to the northern part of U.S. (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, 2020). Therefore, the DHS together with the TSA implemented secure flight protocols. Before the 9/11 attack, airlines checked the passengers traveling to and from the U.S. However, following the Commission’s recommendation, the TSA prescreens all passengers before providing boarding passes. Besides, TSA undertakes a thorough screening for explosives in all cargo thus facilitating a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
According to the Commission, TSA and Congress should facilitate the screening of checkpoints and detect explosives before they enter the country (The 9/11 Commission Report, 2004). Therefore, TSA uses new technologies such as advanced x-ray systems, liquid scanners, and explosive detection systems to trace any illegal explosives carried to and from the country. The TSA also has TSA has Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams based in transportation sectors all over the country. Their primary purpose is to intercept and prevent potential terrorist activities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2011) asserts that there have been approximately 17700 VIPR successful operations since the program’s implementation in 2008.
The 9/11 Commission also recommends the U.S. to form a coalition with other countries to facilitate counterterrorism. The nation ought to create economic opportunities and policies that encourage global development. Also, the Commission recommends international information sharing in matters concerning terrorism and joining to nurture the International Youth Opportunity Fund (IYOF). Finally, the Commission advises the U.S. to form treaties with other countries and rally against Islamic terrorism (GAO, 2020). The ICE has reinforced the International Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), hence effectively monitors the activities by these visitors. The program also ensures foreigner protection from U.S. citizens that may consider them as terrorists. The DHS has also worked with New Zealand, Canada, and other countries in the exchange of information on routine biometric information. The international sharing of information allows all countries to recognized legitimate and illegal travellers. Additionally, the DHS works closely with foreign governments to facilitate aviation security partnerships to increase global security standards (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2011). Apart from information sharing on issues of transport protocols, the DHS also encourages international criminal history information sharing.
The U.S. government has taken many other steps like the container security initiatives, illegal drug programs, and immigration advisory programs to implement the Commission’s recommendations. Regardless of all these efforts, the U.S. security system has overlooked a few of the recommendations. For instance, the recommendations that calls for unity in putting an end to terrorism. The 9/11 Commission (2004, 397) states that “When multiple agencies or multiple jurisdictions are involved, they should adopt a unified command.” The DHS is supported to integrate the expertise of all organizations like the FBI, CIA, NSA, and DIA in crisis management. However, this task has proved difficult for the U.S. government. The National Security Preparedness Group (2011), states that the country lacks unified command structures due to political differences and ignorance in involving the relevant authorities in times of disaster.
The country also fails in implementing the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. The Commission recommended this board to mitigate the issue of privacy in the country. With a growing number of securing organizations in the country, the private information of American citizens deserves protection and censoring, thus the need for this board. Further, the Congress has not developed one singular point of guidance on counterterrorism and intelligence. Members from security organizations may receive conflicting orders from Congress, and thus have fragmented oversight on dealing with security matters. The poor implementation of these recommendations is primarily caused by a lack of proper communications by the federal and state governments.
- Which of the recommendations have been most effective in keeping the nation safe; which have been least effective?
The U.S. government has successfully used the recommendations concerning security screening, international coalitions, and protecting the country against terrorist attacks, to keep the nation safe. The recommendation concerning TSA security screening utilizes non-intrusive technologies to identify terrorists or potential terrorism activities in the state. The implementation of this recommendation has significantly reduced terrorist attacks in the country. International coalitions have not only brought about global peace but also facilitated accountability. All nations are connected either through social or economic ties. The U.S. initiatives to integrate many countries in counterterrorism and businesses has caused friendships, thus destroyed enmity among nations. Furthermore, the recommendation on the International Youth Opportunity Fund provides educational opportunities to students in Islamic students, who would in turn, enlightened their countries on the essence of global harmony.
The country has not taken measures to track terrorist financing with the urgency the matter deserves. Determining the source of terrorist weapons, their financiers, and their means of travel is imperative in diminishing risks of terrorist attacks. Therefore, the U.S. government needs to increase their investments and resources in intercepting the main sources of power for terrorist groups such as the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Al-Shaabab, and book Haram. Also, the recommendation that requires the government to properly allocate and direct the use of its power is slow-moving. The 9/11 Commission (2004), states that the Patriot Act increased the powers of governmental investigative agencies. Although the Act is implemented to facilitate information sharing among these agencies, policies that regulate the amount of power given to an organization need implementation.
- If you could make one change to each recommendation to improve its effectiveness, what would the changes be, and why?
Although better screening and technological securing measures help mitigate terrorism, they also lead to another problem; lack of privacy. Technological advanced allow the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices in passports, credit cards, and even licenses hence predisposing Americans to identity theft and other insecurities. I would create better transponders that limit the intrusion of privacy. Also, I would encourage more information sharing between private and public sectors about terrorism through fusion centers in all U.S. states. These centers would train personnel, ensure a connection with all federal systems, and fund grants dedicated to locating terrorists. Moreover, I would call for initiatives that encourage voluntary private sector engagement, so that the DHS can receive more support and information regarding terrorists. Further, working extensively with international partners, like multinationals, would strengthen global network security. The U.S regularly provides humanitarian aid to Pakistan, and stabilizes the politics in Afghanistan and therefore, reduces the enmity in these countries. The country should expand its humanitarian aid territories to other Islamic states to create friendly relationship with them.
In conclusion, the 9/11 Commission Report plays a significant role in U.S. security today. Reduced cases of terrorist and increased global peace are attributed to the Commission’s recommendations. The U.S. government should therefore ensure the complete implementation of these recommendations to eradicate terrorism infinitely.
References
GAO. (2020). Summary of recommendations — the 9/11 Commission Report, B-303692, September 9, 2004. Retrieved from https://www.gao.gov/decisions/other/303692.htm
National Commission Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (2020). 9/11 commission report. Retrieved from https://www.9-11commission.gov/report/
National Security Preparedness Group. (2011). The status of the 9/11 commission recommendations. Retrieved from https://bipartisanpolicy.org/
The 9/11 Commission Report. (2004). National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Retrieved from https://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2012). Implementing 9/11 commission recommendations. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/highlights-of-our-progress-implementing-9-11-commission-recommendations-progress-report-2011.pdf