Effectiveness of Fusion Centers

After the 2001 terror attack, the US through its Homeland Security department opened several centers dubbed Fusion centers. Fusion centers were meant to provide intelligence information that pointed towards terrorism and help towards elimination of terror threats. Fusion Centers work in conjunction with various other departments by spying and providing security information to these departments which in return (since they are much bigger) react to the information provided (Department of Homeland Security, 2014a).

Challenges

Fusion Centers have met with a lot of resistance from human rights groups over allegations of spying on human rights groups. It has been accused that it was used in 2011 by state departments to spy on the Occupy Movement when they were conducting peaceful protests (Verheyden-Hilliard & Messineo, 2014). Along these lines, it has been accused of misuse of government funds and abuse of the rights of those people it was set to protect.

Do Fusion centers play their role?

Regardless of the allegations, Fusion Centers have been effective in playing their major roles. In the recent past, Fusion Centers have shown positive results in the fight against terrorism. Specific examples include:

• In June 2011, the Colorado Information Analysis Center helped in the apprehension of a suspect of an attempted bombing at the Colorado Mills Mall (Department of Homeland Security, 2014b).
• In August 2011, Colorado Information Analysis Center contributed towards the arrest of three dangerous armed renegades (Department of Homeland Security, 2014b).
• In May 2013, the Minnesota Fusion Center helped towards the arrest of an individual who apparently had plans to engage in a terrorist attack. This was confirmed by his possession of pipe bombs, firearms and Molotov cocktails (Department of Homeland Security, 2014b).

In conclusion, while Fusion centers may have engaged in activities that are not concerned with terrorism, they have also been an active partner in lowering cases of terror. Their contribution is diverse, instrumental and cannot be done away with.

Bibliography

Department of Homeland Security. “Fusion Center success stories.” Last modified 2014b. www.dhs.gov/fusion-center-success-stories

Department of Homeland Security. “National Network of Fusion Centers Fact Sheet.” Department of Homeland Security. Last modified 2014a. www.dhs.gov/national-network-fusion-centers-fact-sheet

 Verheyden-Hilliard, Mara, and Carl Messineo. “The Hidden Role of the Fusion Centers in the Nationwide Spying Operation against the Occupy Movement and Peaceful Protest in America | Global Research.” Last modified 2014. http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-hidden-role-of-the-fusion-centers-in-the-nationwide-spying-operation-against-the-occupy-movement-and-peaceful-protest-in-america/5383571