Army is a blunt tool for global counterterrorism

Subject

The implications of deploying troops domestically as a counter to terrorism.

Significance

In the aftermath of the attacks against the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January, France deployed thousands of troops to patrol the streets and protect potential targets. The role of the military in domestic counterterrorism is a long-standing and controversial issue. Public pressure on decisionmakers to respond to terrorist attacks can be immense, yet the effectiveness of deploying the military domestically on a large scale is debatable.

Impacts

• Large-scale troop deployments can have a negative effect on tourism.
• More visible patrols provide more targets for terrorists.
• They could also alienate those communities whose support is needed to combat extremism.