Page 195 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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172———Homeland Security, Office of

Jammu and Kashmir in hopes of creating a Muslim-
only state. HOMELAND SECURITY, OFFICE OF
Two joint operations between Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba attracted especial condemna-
On October 8, 2001, in response to the September
tion. On January 23, 1998, 23 Hindus, including sev-
11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in
eral women and small children, were massacred in the
New York City and the Pentagon near Washington,
village of Wandhama; two years later, during a visit
D.C., President George W. Bush issued an executive
of the president of the United States to South Asia,
order creating the Office of Homeland Security
35 Sikh men were slaughtered in Chattisinghpora.
(OHS). The mission of the office was to develop and
Such violence alienated many supporters of Hizb-
coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive
ul-Mujahideen. The Wandhama massacre led Jamaat-
national strategy to secure the United States from ter-
e-Islami to publicly renounce terrorism in late 1998
rorist threats or attacks. The office was charged with
and to apparently sever ties with the group. The leader
coordinating the executive branch’s efforts to detect,
of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen faction involved in the
prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and
massacre, Hamid Bhatt, also known as Hamid Gada
recover from terrorist attacks within the United States.
or Bambar Khan, was forced out of a leadership posi-
The Homeland Security Council was also estab-
tion because he was considered to be too closely allied
lished by the executive order. Members of the council
with the more radical foreign Muslims. On March 13,
include the directors of the FBI, CIA, and Federal
2000, he was killed by security forces operating on
Emergency Management Agency; the attorney gen-
information provided by an unpaid Kashmiri Muslim
eral; the secretaries of Defense, Health and Human
informant.
Services, Transportation, and Treasury; and any other
In late June 2000, Syed Salahuddin, leader of Hizb-
officers of the executive branch designated by the
ul-Mujahideen, announced a cease-fire and suggested
president. The council was to ensure coordination of
that the group negotiate with India. As a result, he was
homeland security-related activities of executive
expelled from the leadership of a Pakistan-based
departments and agencies, and the development and
umbrella organization of Muslim militant groups. The
implementation of homeland security policies.
cease-fire lasted only a few weeks because Salahuddin
More than 40 agencies and offices are responsible for
insisted that Pakistan be included in any negotiations, a
domestic security; the challenge before the OHS was to
condition India found unacceptable. Nonetheless, brief
coordinate and organize these disparate entities—which
negotiations did take place, and for the rest of 2000 and
may have different mandates and goals, are geographi-
2001, India and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen seemed to alter-
cally widespread, and may see themselves in competi-
nate between attacking each other and making propos-
tion with each other—into an efficient organization
als for further cease-fires and negotiations.
capable of devising successful antiterrorist strategies.
See also LASHKAR-E-TAYYIBA; MILITANT ISLAM Communication is the greatest hurdle: information
collected by one agency may not be routinely shared
Further Reading
with others, computer systems can be incompatible, and
Babington, Charles, and Pamela Constable. “Kashmir public announcements can contradict one another.
Killings Mar Clinton Visit to India; President Rebuf- In late 2001, Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania
fed on Nuclear Issue.” Washington Post, March 22, was appointed by Bush to head the Office of Home-
2000, A1. land Security. Ridge, a Republican, was familiar with
Bearak, Barry. “A Kashmiri Mystery.” New York Times Washington, having served 12 years in the House of
Magazine, December 31, 2001, 26.
Representatives. Ridge grew up in a public housing
Bose, Sumantra. The Challenge in Kashmir: Democracy,
project in New Jersey, graduated from Harvard, and
Self-Determination and a Just Peace. New Delhi: Sage,
served in the Vietnam War as a sergeant. He has a rep-
1997.
utation as a coalition-builder and a history of success-
Nandi, Suresh, and Harinder Baweja. “Jammu and Kashmir:
fully battling bureaucracies.
A Sinister Strike.” India Today, February 9, 1998, 54.
Newberg, Paula R. Double Betrayal: Repression and Insur- Ridge has been described as having the position
gency in Kashmir. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endow- of “terrorist czar” in the tradition of presidential appoint-
ment for International Peace, 1995. ees given responsibility for high-profile problems