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Chapter II. Today’s Realities in the War on Terror

 Section Challenges

Challenges

Ÿ     Terrorist networks today are more dispersed and less centralized. They are more reliant on smaller cells inspired by a common ideology and less directed by a central command structure.

Ÿ     While the United States Government and its partners have thwarted many attacks, we have not been able to prevent them all. Terrorists have struck in many places throughout the world, from Bali to Beslan to Baghdad.

Ÿ     While we have substantially improved our air, land, sea, and border security, our Homeland is not immune from attack.

Ÿ     Terrorists have declared their intention to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to inflict even more catastrophic attacks against the United States, our allies, partners, and other interests around the world.

Ÿ     Some states, such as Syria and Iran, continue to harbor terrorists at home and sponsor terrorist activity abroad.

Ÿ     The ongoing fight for freedom in Iraq has been twisted by terrorist propaganda as a rallying cry.

Ÿ     Increasingly sophisticated use of the Internet and media has enabled our terrorist enemies to communicate, recruit, train, rally support, proselytize, and spread their propaganda without risking personal contact.

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