[UNOCT] UNOCT’s Counter-Terrorism Week: United States’ Aims and Impacts

Aug. 21, 2021

Written by Wall Street Journal

UNOCT’s Counter-Terrorism Week in July 2021 has prompted the United States to introduce stricter legislation to contain both international and domestic terrorist threats.

During this biennial gathering of Member States and international counter-terrorism partners, the General Assembly discussed the review and resolution of the seventh biennial United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS). The GCTS is reviewed every two years, ensuring that counter-terrorism strategies are up-to-date and relevant to Member States’ counter-terrorism priorities.

The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted by the UN General Assembly, aims to enhance national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism.

What is the United State’s role and stance in this international counter-terrorism war?

The September 11 terrorist attack remains the most infamous terrorist attack on the United States, and the United States continues to take a firm stance on counter-terrorism. ISIS and other terrorist organisations’ origins can be largely attributed to the United States. As such, the United States is well aware of its responsibility regarding counter-terrorism, continuing to actively combat terrorism wherever they can.

Numerous cyber attacks have been carried out by government-supported Russian and Chinese hackers, which the United States takes a strong stand against. The United States does not hesitate to point fingers at the Democratic Peoples’ republic of Korea and the People’s republic of China when discussing counter-terrorism. The United States takes a strong stance against international hackers and requests for the consideration of peoples’ rights and the devastation caused by terrorism.

In light of the recent takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, the United States “finds its sovereignty threatened due to criticism and backlash it has received from the media”, according to United States’ delegates during a UNOCT conference held earlier today.

Delegates also stated that “new threats that have come to light that threaten the safety of the United States, socially and economically, include the possibility of the Taliban attempting to attack the USA and the familiar threat of Chinese attacks.”

Delegates assure citizens that the United States will “do everything in its power” to “stop domestic terrorism as soon as possible”. However, respecting civilians' privacy is at top priority, and will be careful not to overstep any boundaries that could compromise citizens’ privacy while ensuring their safety. Plans to manufacture technology and tools in order to trace and scope out individuals are already being discussed, and the United States focuses heavily on the regulation of content on the dark web due to the large number of terrorists utilising it.

United States delegates also affirmed that, “The USA…acknowledges that the dark web provides a platform for not just cyberterrorism but for the purchase of biological weapons, the distribution of radical propaganda, and weapons to incite fear within the country”.

As of now, the United States continues to be heavily involved in the neverending fight against terrorism, and encourages all citizens to do the same wherever and whenever they can. With continual effort and constant vigilance, the impacts of terrorism can be effectively mitigated.

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