In acquiring an accurate perspective of terrorist threats to the United States it is ease to forgo the concept of terrorist threats prior to September 11th, 2001, or that domestic terrorism exists. Prior to the current onslaught of religiously fanatical terrorist threats that the United States is facing a different form of terrorist threat existed in the form of political ideology. While some domestic terrorist groups are well known such as the KKK and the Black Panthers, other groups such as the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) and the Weather Underground Organization (WUO) terrorist organizations have faded with time. Due to the current turmoil and political divides facing the nation, a rejuvenated understanding of these less mainstream …show more content…
Founded by Russell Little and Robyn Steiner based on “rhetoric from Communists and South American revolutionaries” (Suellentrop, 2002), as a result original focus of the small group was on prison reform. In 1972, an African American and California penal inmate by the name of Donald DeFreeze escapes from prison and utilizes the SLA as a support network while evading recapture. By 1973 DeFreeze threatens the life of Steiner, causing her to flee the country, and subsequently garners the leading role of the SLA. DeFreeze steers the organization down a path of violence. “On November 6, 1973, the SLA shot and killed Marcus Foster, Oakland’s superintendent of schools, with bullets laced with cyanide”. (History.com Staff, 2009) In 1974 the SLA kidnapped Patty Hearst, during the kidnapping Hearst’s fiancé was beaten unconscious. Hearst is from an affluent family, a variable that the SLA capitalizes upon by ransoming Hearst for substantial food donations to the poor by Hearst’s family. Following the ransom being paid, in the sum of a $2 million food donation, Hearst declines her release and instead adopts the name Tania, “for Tania Burke, Che Guevara's lover”. (Suellentrop, 2002) Within two weeks, Hearst is captured on camera as an active participant in an SLA bank robbery. The following month, “Hearst fires at the store with a submachine gun and a carbine from the window of a van outside” (Suellentrop, 2002) in an attempt to aid the escape of two SLA members who were caught shop lifting. Members of the SLA then underwent a shootout with swat in which six members were killed including DeFreeze. Hearst plays an active role in relaunching the SLA in 1974. In 1975, the SLA robs the Crocker National Bank and unsuccessfully bombs two LAPD police cruisers. By September of 1975, Hearst and other members of the SLA are arrested for changes of bank robbery. At the time of her
Modern terrorism, as deduced from this literature, is acts to violence strategically used by secular groups spanning international borders with the aim of achieving a desired outcome. Further, it can be seen as organized activity whose genesis can be traced back to the 1880’s. From then to now there are identifiable traits and patterns observed from different (terrorist) groups which have allowed for the conceptualization of the term modern terrorism. This concept therefore, can be best explained in the context of being a wave or having a life cycle. That means it is a cycle of activity demarked by phases from inception and expands along the way then eventually it declines. The world, thus far, has experienced four waves of modern
Domestic terrorism has been a major threat in the US since the catastrophic event that took place during attack on 9/11. Following the aftermath of the terrorist attack, the US intelligence services and law enforcement agencies emphasized heavily on combating terrorism on global scale as international terrorism was views as the major threat to the public security of the US which caused the issue of domestic terrorism to be overlooked. We have seen many terrorist attacks since the attack on 9/11 that were planned and executed by individuals and groups born and raised in America. Some of those attacks include the Oklahoma City bombing, the Boston marathon bombing. There has also been increasing number of mass shooting by individuals that were identified as to be radicalized by terrorist groups abroad, the most recent mass shooting that was identified as a terrorist act was in Orlando where more than 50 people were killed (Alveraz, p.1). The cases mentioned above will be discussed in detail later in the essay. Although, American law enforcement agencies are actively conducting intelligence and operational missions to prevent international terrorism, however, the US needs to develop efficient tactics to prevent the rise of domestic terrorism. Otherwise, the United States may face a danger of the unfailing growth of domestic terrorism similar to some of the European countries; such as the United Kingdom. Consequently, law enforcement agencies should concentrate on the preclusion
Terrorism is a major threat to national and global security that encompasses more than violent means by foreigners and Islamic extremists. This is mainly because most of the recent terror acts in America have been carried out by single-issue individuals and special-interest extremists with the intention of protecting the environment and animals based on their beliefs. Actually, terrorism is described as the illegitimate use of extreme violence and force with the intention of coercing a
Domestic terrorism has played a major part in shaping the societies of the United States. The ideologies of individuals can become radicalized. This can lead to a movement. This movement involves the infliction of fear upon the communities, in attempt to make it a better world. It is critical to examine the events created by one man’s extreme ideologies in effort to better understand.
“Terrorism's particularly heinous but highly attractive means to achieve political objectives or even radically restructure political foundations is manifest within societies in all reaches of the world. While the practical application of terrorist methodologies comes across as a relatively straightforward craft, the conceptual and ideological understanding, and subsequent evaluation of its socio-political influence, implementation, and psychological impacts present difficult questions, and in some cases conceivably insurmountable obstacles” (Romaniuk 2014, para
When discussing terrorism, the groups which most frequently come to mind are those which operate either internationally or specifically in foreign countries, such as al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Al Shabab. However, the United States has a number of domestic terror groups some well-organized, some loosely connected that have perpetrated serious attacks over the last few decades. Al-Qaeda's attacks on September 11th, 2001, and the subsequent wars born out of the United States' response to these attacks have meant that domestic terrorism is less widely discussed topic, this does not mean that domestic terrorist groups do not present a serious threat to the United States and its citizens. By examining known terrorist organizations within the United States and their classifications, it will be possible to demonstrate how and why the country has seen a rise in domestic terror over the last three decades, as well as some possible government responses to these groups that could help to prevent individuals from joining in the first place.
The terms terrorism and domestic terrorism are very similar concepts. There are, however, slight differences in each. Entities that are apart of the Government have slightly different ways of explaining what they believe to be the correct definition of terrorism and domestic terrorism. In this paper the author will offer definitions of the two terms and state which one they agree with the most. The author will also state how the two terms are best differentiated.
With the emergence of the 21st century the necessity for a broader understanding of security have said present. The world has experienced a variety of new security challenges that have put at stake human safety and have made policymakers all around the world rethink their approach and strategies when it comes to the decision making process. The rise of terrorist organizations in the international arena as well as the development of extremist groups has offered extreme significance to the quest for power and the search for peace, while requiring us to look back and examine our achievements and failures in the analysis of terrorism, extremist groups and our counterterrorism efforts since 9/11. It is essential for all Americans to understand
As a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, most Americans have a general knowledge about terrorism. The U.S. military has been at war for around a decade, continuing the concentration of the media and politicians on Middle Eastern countries and terrorist groups. Consequently, the focus of the nation tends to remain on international terrorist groups rather than domestic terrorist groups. There is a vast amount of terrorism groups in America, including the Army of God, the Aryan Nations, and the Animal Liberation Front, who possess extreme ideals and exist for different reasons. The fact that there are numerous terrorist groups that are composed of American citizens performing tremendous acts of violence within the U.S. seems to go somewhat unnoticed by the general public.
It is nearly impossible to go an entire day in the United States without hearing of some act of terrorism. Whether it be a shooting in a public place or threats against a group of people, this violent form of conflict is prevalent in every American’s life. These ruthless acts of cold-blooded murder demonstrate evil in its purest form, and leave death and mourning in their wake. The article “Homegrown Terrorism: Is There an Islamic Wave?” gives an overview of the rise of domestic terrorism since the tragedy of 9/11. Though it was written in 2011, the core message is the same today: terrorism in the United States still continues to grow at a sickening pace, with each new attack seeming more barbaric than the last.
Although the threat posed by foreign terrorist organizations is often foremost in the public consciousness as a result of al-Qaeda's attack on September 11th, 2001, the threat from domestic terror groups remains a central concern of those responsible for homeland security. In fact, while the United States has not suffered from another foreign attack in the decade since 9/11, research by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, along with non-governmental organizations, has found that the number of domestic terror groups has increased, a trend only exacerbated by the economic recession (U.S. Department of Justice, 2009, Domestic Terrorism). While there are a wide variety of individual groups and ideologies, most domestic terror groups falls into one of three broad categories: religious extremism, white supremacy, and anti-government and separatists movements, including the militia movement. Examining these domestic terror groups in greater detail will aid in better understanding the full spectrum of threats considered by homeland security personnel.
Three Black women, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, started the movement after the shooting
Domestic terrorist groups have a unique use of lone wolf attacks as a method of delivery which limits the amount of intelligence law enforcement can intercept making it one of the hardest methods of terror to combat. Within the Threat/Opportunity Spiral, if state actions are defined as new opportunities (or threats) by challenging groups, responsive episodes of insurgent collective action are likely to follow (Wright 35). The election of an African American president for two terms, the high focus on immigration law, the militarization of police forces, and the call for tighter gun laws, are threats towards to right winged extremist rhetoric. These political movements mimic the events that occurred prior the McVeigh bombing in 1993, such as the civil rights movement and the military styled assault on Waco.
In this essay I am going to discuss whether Al Qaeda still poses a threat to the United States. The essay will discuss the current state, since 2013, of Al Qaeda and its affiliate groups. It will use the information to lay out claims and facts that show Al Qaeda is still remains a threat. Although the threat has diminished some since the 9/11 terror attacks it still remains. The threat has gone from huge major attacks to smaller, lone wolf, attacks on the mainland of the United States. Al Qaeda still poses a threat to U.S. embassies in the Middle East, troops stationed abroad, and U.S. aid workers abroad. Al Qaeda also poses a threat to the financial welfare of the United States. The
Spaaij defines lone-wolf terrorists as individuals who do not belong to an organized group or network, operate independently, and whose modus operandi are conceived and directed by the individual without any direct command or hierarchy. In contrast, the Federal Bureau of Investigation makes no distinction between individuals and groups, and defines terrorism as: “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (FBI). As demonstrated, this variation in definition hinders the development of a comprehensive account of lone-wolf terrorists and increases the challenge to identify key traits for further investigation. Therefore, for the purposes of this study, the term “lone-wolf terrorists” will be defined as an individual who acts alone; who does not belong to an organized terrorist group; whose tactics and methods are conceived by the individual without any external direction or command, and acts without the direct influence of a leader or