{
  "id": "IN11027",
  "type": "CRS Insight",
  "typeId": "INSIGHTS",
  "number": "IN11027",
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      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 597278,
      "date": "2019-01-29",
      "retrieved": "2020-01-02T16:10:58.257448",
      "title": "The Trump Administration\u2019s National Strategy for Counterterrorism: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress",
      "summary": "/\n \nOn October 4, 2018, President Trump released his Administration\u2019s first National Strategy for Counterterrorism. The overarching goal of the strategy is to \u201cdefeat the terrorists who threaten America\u2019s safety, prevent future attacks, and protect our national interests.\u201d In describing the need for this strategy, National Security Advisor John Bolton stated that the terrorist \u201clandscape is more fluid and complex than ever\u201d and that the strategy will not \u201cfocus on a single organization but will counter all terrorists with the ability and intent to harm the United States, its citizens and our interests.\u201d The strategy states that a \u201cnew approach\u201d will be implemented containing six primary thematic areas of focus: (1) pursuing terrorists to their source; (2) isolating terrorists from their sources of support; (3) modernizing and integrating the United States\u2019 counterterrorism authorities and tools; (4) protecting American infrastructure and enhancing resilience; (5) countering terrorist radicalization and recruitment; and (6) strengthening the counterterrorism abilities of U.S. international partners. In announcing the strategy, President Trump stated, \u201cWhen it comes to terrorism, we will do whatever is necessary to protect our Nation.\u201d\nIn contrast, former President Obama\u2019s final National Strategy for Counterterrorism, published on June 28, 2011, primarily focused on global terrorist threats emanating from Al Qaeda and associated entities. The overarching goal of this strategy was to \u201cdisrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat Al Qaeda and its affiliates and adherents to ensure the security of our citizens and interests.\u201d This strategy stated that the \u201cpreeminent security threat to the United States continues to be from Al Qaeda and its affiliates and adherents.\u201d The strategy focused on the threats posed by geographic dispersal of Al Qaeda, its affiliates, and adherents, and identified principles that would guide United States counterterrorism efforts: Adhering to Core Values, Building Security Partnerships, Applying Tools and Capabilities Appropriately, and Building a Culture of Resilience. In announcing the release of this strategy, President Obama included a quote from the speech he gave announcing the killing of Osama Bin Laden, \u201cAs a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to Al Qaeda\u2019s terror: Justice has been done.\u201d\nSince President Trump\u2019s Counterterrorism Strategy was published, many security observers have pointed to the similarities and differences between the two Administration\u2019s approaches to counterterrorism. Table 1, below, presents the language contained in each strategy identifying major thematic aspects of the two counterterrorism strategies.\nTable 1.Comparison of Trump and Obama Counterterrorism Strategies \nFocus Area\nTrump 2018 Strategy\nObama 2011 Strategy\n\nThreat Actors \nNumerous radical Islamists, revolutionaries, nationalists, separatists, and domestic groups.  \nAl Qaeda and its affiliates and adherents. \n\nGeographic Focus\nGlobal (including the United States)\nGlobal (including the United States)\n\nPrimary Entities Responsible for Addressing the Threat \nU.S. military, law enforcement, intelligence community, civilian government institutions, private sector, civil society, and international partners, and the American people.\nU.S. Intelligence Community, military, law enforcement, allies, partners, and multilateral institutions.\n\nCore Principles Pursued to Counter the Threat\nPursue terrorists at their source; isolate terrorists from financial, material, and logistical support; modernize and integrate counterterrorism tools and authorities; protect U.S. infrastructure and enhance preparedness; counter radicalization and recruitment; and strengthen the abilities of international partners. \nAdhering to U.S. values, building security partnerships, applying counterterrorism tools and capabilities appropriately, and building a culture of resilience. \n\nBalancing Terrorism-Related Activities and Safeguarding Rights\nBy sharing identity information and exploiting publicly available information, such as social media, the United States will identify these terrorists and enable law enforcement action against them in their home countries. In these efforts, the United States will take appropriate steps to protect privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. \nBy ensuring that counterterrorism policies and tools are narrowly tailored and applied to achieve specific, concrete security gains, the United States will optimize its security and protect the liberties of its citizens.\n\nDesired End State \nThe terrorist threat to the United States is eliminated, borders and all ports of entry into the United States are secure against terrorist threat, terrorism, radical Islamic ideologies, and other violent extremist ideologies do not undermine the American way of life, and foreign partners address terrorist threat so that these threats do not jeopardize the collective interests of the United States and our partners.\nTo defeat Al Qaeda, we must define with precision and clarity who we are fighting, setting concrete and realistic goals tailored to the specific challenges we face in different regions of the world. As we apply every element of American power against Al Qaeda, success requires a strategy that is consistent with U.S. core values as a nation and as a people. \n\nSource: Comparison offered by CRS.",
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