US Counter-Terrorism

Operation Neptune Spear

• Osama bin Laden, the former head of Al-Qaeda, was killed on May 2, 2011, in Pakistan by Navy Seals.
• The operation was ordered by United States President Barack Obama.

USA PATRIOT Act

• The USA PATRIOT Act was created by the Department of Homeland Security to defend the American home front.
• The act allows U.S. law enforcement agencies to:
  • Fight terrorism in the U.S. and overseas
  • Search telephone, email, medical, and financial records
  • Detain and deport immigrants suspected of terrorism
  • Regulate financial transactions involving foreign individuals
• Critics argue that the PATRIOT Act violates Americans' First and Fourth Amendment rights.

Guantanamo Bay Detention Center

• The detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, holds approximately 750 prisoners, most of whom have not been charged with any crime.
• Allegations of humiliation, torture, and mistreatment have been reported, making it a politically divisive issue.
• President Obama announced plans to close the detention center, but it remains open and is unlikely to close soon.

War on Terror

Operation Iraqi Freedom

• President Bush claimed that Iraq was producing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), but none were found.
• The operation was justified by the need to "prosecute the war on terror" and alleged Iraqi support for Al-Qaeda and Palestinian suicide bombers.
• The goal was to spread democracy to Iraq and stop human rights abuses.
• Following the invasion in 2003, Iraq became a breeding ground for terrorist groups, and an insurgency ensued.
• Saddam Hussein was overthrown and eventually executed.

Insurgency in Saudi Arabia

• From 2000 to present, radical fighters allied with Al-Qaeda have attacked Saudi military, foreign workers, and Western tourists.
• The resentment is fueled by the American military presence in the Muslim holy land.

Pakistan and Waziristan

• The Pakistani-Afghan border region of Waziristan serves as a safe haven for Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters.
• The CIA has led raids in Pakistan, resulting in the arrest or killing of several Al-Qaeda leaders.
• The United States has collaborated with President Musharraf of Pakistan to combat terrorism.