Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Western Europe: Implications for U.S. Strategy in the Global War on Terror

The purpose of this research is to explore the terrorism and counter-terrorism experiences of Western Europe as a means of gleaning insight germane to the United States' prosecution of the Global War on Terror. The author explores the terrorism and counterterrorism histories of the United Kingdom and Spain with particular focus on their approaches to struggles with the Provisional Irish Republican Army and Euskadi Ta Askatasuna. By applying the terrorism and counterterrorism experiences of Western Europe to current US strategy and recent actions, lessons for U.S. prosecution of the Global War on Terror are revealed. The author challenges U.S. strategy to spread democracy as an effective counter-terrorism measure with respect to the threat posed by transnational terrorist extremists. He argues sustained western military presence in the Middle East is likely to increase rather than diminish jihad-inspired attacks against western homelands. The author concludes with strategic recommendations for a United States response toward terrorism resolution that is governed by perspective, persistence, and patience. These findings are useful to U.S policy makers in forging a way ahead in the Global War on Terror that best serves U.S. interests.