What are the challenges in holding governments accountable for terror attacks, especially when foreign policy is questioned?

When a terror attack occurs, especially with cross-border implications, holding the government accountable becomes a complex issue. The opposition and public often demand explanations regarding security lapses and foreign policy effectiveness, but several challenges arise in assigning and ensuring accountability.

• Intelligence Limitations: Terror attacks often involve sophisticated planning and secrecy. Intelligence agencies may not always have actionable or timely information, making prevention difficult and accountability unclear.
• Attribution Difficulties: Identifying the true perpetrators, especially if they are backed by foreign entities, is challenging. Governments may lack concrete evidence to directly link the attack to specific actors or nations.
• Diplomatic Constraints: Foreign policy decisions are based on long-term strategic interests. Immediate action or blame may jeopardize international relations, trade, or ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
• Political Polarization: In democracies, opposition parties may use such incidents to criticize the ruling government, sometimes without full information. This can lead to politicization rather than constructive accountability.
• Complexity of Security Apparatus: Multiple agencies (police, intelligence, military) are involved in national security. Pinpointing responsibility for lapses can be difficult due to overlapping jurisdictions and bureaucratic hurdles.
• Secrecy and National Security: Governments may withhold information citing national security, which limits transparency and makes it harder for the public or opposition to evaluate government actions properly.
• Public Expectations vs. Realities: The public often expects zero-tolerance and foolproof security, but the unpredictable nature of terrorism makes absolute prevention impossible, complicating accountability demands.
• International Law and Norms: Responding to terror attacks with counter-measures must adhere to international law, restricting government actions and sometimes leading to perceptions of inaction or weakness.