Terrorism : A Modern Terrorist Organization

The United States of America has experienced terrorism in many forms over the years. From domestic terrorism in the 1920s (the Palmer Raids and Wall Street Bombing) to international and domestic terrorism in the 2010s (Najbullah Zazi, Cleveland Bridge Plot). But on February 26, 1993, the threat of terrorism took a significant leap when the garage underneath the World Trade Center was bombed.

Q1. Terrorism is an act done by an individual or a group, using violence or the threat of violence to frighten people, in order to achieve a political, social or religious goal. The word “terrorism” comes from the French word terrorisme, meaning “to frighten.” Terrorism was originally referred specifically to state terrorism, which the French Government practised during the years 1793 – 1794 in the “reign of terror.” The roots and practices of terrorism can be traced back to 1st century AD in Judea where there was an assassination of Roman rulers. Terrorist ideology and aims vary from each individual and/or group. There has been over 2000 cases of terrorism driven by religious purposes. Religious terrorism is carried out due to motivations and goals in relations to religions or religious figures. An example of this are extremist groups such as Al Qaeda who justify their attacks by believing that these are commands given to them by the Koran. Political terrorists carry out violent acts to make a point with government leaders. An example of this is the assassination of Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1865. Moral beliefs is another aim of terrorism. Moral issues such as anti-abortions have led to attacks, including abortion clinics and their staff in the late 1980’s.

In today’s society domestic terrorism is one of the biggest threats to the United States. Some of these recent terrorist attacks include. Domestic Terrorism is when U.S. citizens carry out terrorist acts against other U.S. residents or groups.Many people think that the biggest threat of terrorism to the U.S. is from a foreign country, when in fact, the bigger threat is closer to home. Domestic terrorism is becoming a bigger threat to the U.S. than international terrorism and we need to find a way to prevent these attacks.

There is no single, universally accepted definition to define terrorism but the U. S. Code of federal regulations define it as any violent act or acts dangerous to human life that violates the criminal laws of the U.S. or any State or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the U.S. or any State. (18 U.S.C § 2331). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) divides terrorist attacks that face the U.S. into two broad categories - international and domestic. (18.U.S.C. § 2331).

Domestic terrorism is inciting fear in a certain people through attacks within a single nation which directly affects its citizens. Throughout American history Domestic terrorism has had a very prominent impact on our citizens and their pursuit of the American Dream. In early American history most of the terror was originated within America from our conflicting values. However, in recent years foreign influences have started to spread and affect America and its citizens through Terrorism. Acts of terrorism in the United States have had and will continue to have direct and indirect deterring effects on its citizens which can create roadblocks in their pursuit of the American Dream.

Terrorism has had a profound affect on the world, as it has inspired fear and despair in the hearts of millions of people. Specifically in the United States, where in certain circumstances U.S. citizens will carry out acts of terror to further their own cause. Domestic terrorism has taken roots in many aspects of society through certain ideological groups, radicalization through media, and by acts of terror that cause immense civil unrest.

Domestic terrorism is an extraordinarily real and frightening thing Americans today have to manage. While many protest at the idea of allowing refugees from the Middle East into the country, others realize that domestic terrorism may be the real problem we should be focusing on. Domestic terrorism, is terrorist activity against one's own country to initiate fear and push an ideology about a particular religion or group. In the US since Sept. 11, 2001, "nearly twice as many people have been killed by white supremacists, anti government fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims" (Scott). The statistic is certainly alarming because the media and today's society views the typical terrorist as an Allah praising, bearded, suicide bomber when in fact, in over half the cases it was an American citizen causing the terror.

There have been several terrorist acts committed in the United States of America, not by terrorists that live in other countries and despise the American ways and ideas, but by our own citizens who live and work in the United States of America. Domestic terrorism is done by a person or group of persons who reside here, who are not acting on behalf of a

National terrorism has been the focus of attention since September 11. But now domestic terrorism is becoming increasingly common among hate groups across the nation. Domestic terrorism can be defined as visible crime, or “street crime.” These acts would consist of violent crimes, (acts against people in which injury or death results) property crimes (acts that threaten property held by individuals or the state) and public order crimes. (acts that threaten the general well-being of society and challenger accepted moral principles) It can also however be described as political crime, (criminal acts by or against the government for ideological purposes) which would include the 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing.

In America we have a lot of domestic terrorism. Domestic terrorism didn’t become a problem until the 9/11 terror attacks on September 11 2001 in New York City when planes were hijacked hit the buildings and killed over 3,000 people. Since then there have been over 10 major terror attacks in the United States. Five of which have been been the most effective to the United States the five are Pulse nightclub shooting, the two church shootings, Las Vegas massacre, San Bernardino California shooting. Domestic terrorism started in New York when a bomb exploded on Wall Street in the financial district in the 1950s and 1960s. The pros to domestic terrorism is that it makes our country stronger and knows what to

The history of Terrorism in the United States is extensive, with present day being focused mainly on Islamic Terrorist groups and extremists. There have been 2,608 total attacks and 226 fatal attacks in the United States between 1970 and 2011. There have been attacks from within the United States from our own people and attacks that originated from abroad. Religion, political agendas, instilling fear and protesting policy have all been motives of terrorists throughout history. Terrorists will use any means necessary to promote their cause and to receive worldwide recognition and media attention from their acts. Terrorism can also be used, especially in regards to religion, to enforce a system of belief, opinion or viewpoint. The

Terrorism within or against the United States is not a new phenomenon. Our history is well documented with thousands of attempts and actual acts of terrorism that happened on U.S. soil. The first act of terrorism can be traced back to 1865 with the assassination of President Lincoln, but the first and boldest foreign terrorist attack occurred in New York City on February 26, 1993. Over 1,000 people were injured and six were killed when a group of Islamic terrorists detonated a rental truck equipped with explosives underneath the World Trade Center. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) later discovered that the explosion at the World Trade Center was a dress rehearsal for the most devastating and deadly terrorist attack to reach our nation,

The history of terrorism goes back as far as the 11Th century. The Sicarii and the Hashshahin were a group of assassins. The Sicarii were thought to be followers of Judas of Galillee that operated within Jerusalem. Their tactics included "selective, symbolic assassinations; more general assassination along with destruction or plundering of the property of the wealthy and powerful; and kidnapping" (Horsley 1979,439). The Hashshashin or "assassins" were secretive set emerging around the 11Th century that had ties to Iran and Syria. Also known as the order of assassins, these individual, like the Sicarii, were associated with carrying out attacks against those in power (Horsley 1979, 439). These two groups might not fit today's standard of terrorism,

Have you ever had a fear for your family, your town, your country, or your world. How about the fear to have everything taken from you, destroyed, and not caring if it has hurt you or not? What about your fear and pain is, and can be someone else’s happiness? The fear of you being terrorized? That is terrorism. Someone else bringing fear and terrorizing you. That is a terrorist’s goal. Terrorism is common and is very difficult to stop. The government promises protection for the people, and their home, but they can not give that protection if they can not stop terrorism. Terrorism needs to stop to protect the live of the people, and their country.

Religious terrorism is the oldest form of terrorism that we know of. Dating back to 70 CE, when a group of Jewish Zealots called the Sicarii, conducted operations such as physical attacks, kidnapping and murdering Roman officials. There were three main goals the Sicarii wanted to achieve; scare the Romans into leaving Jerusalem, compel the local government to react excessively therefore causing discontent or encourage the local population to revolt and fight against the Roman occupation. Unfortunately, more than 2,050 years after the Sicarii killed in the name of God, attacks based upon religious belief are still occurring and no ethnicity, sex, age or religion are exempt from these atrocities.