Chapter 10Chapter 10

Terrorism: The Newest Threat Terrorism: The Newest Threat to our National Securityto our National Security

The Terrorism Research Center The Terrorism Research Center notes: “One man’s terrorist is notes: “One man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter.”another’s freedom fighter.”

Terrorism is “the use of force or Terrorism is “the use of force or violence against persons or property violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom.” intimidation, coercion or ransom.”

Most definitions of terrorism include Most definitions of terrorism include the systematic use of physical the systematic use of physical violence, either actual or threatened, violence, either actual or threatened, against noncombatants to create a against noncombatants to create a climate of fear and cause some climate of fear and cause some religious, political or social change.religious, political or social change.

Classification of Terrorists ActsClassification of Terrorists Acts

Domestic:Domestic: 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah

Federal Building. Federal Building. 1996 Summer Olympic Games1996 Summer Olympic Games Domestic terrorists represent extreme Domestic terrorists represent extreme

right or left wing and special interest right or left wing and special interest beliefs. beliefs.

Many are anti-government, antitaxations Many are anti-government, antitaxations and engage in survivalist training to and engage in survivalist training to perpetuate a white, Christian nation.perpetuate a white, Christian nation.

International Terrorism:International Terrorism: Foreign-based or directed by countries or Foreign-based or directed by countries or

groups outside the US against the USgroups outside the US against the US Three categories:Three categories:

1. foreign state sponsors of international terrorism 1. foreign state sponsors of international terrorism using terrorism as a tool to foreign policy, for using terrorism as a tool to foreign policy, for example: Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan.example: Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan.

2. Formalized terrorist groups such as Lebanese, 2. Formalized terrorist groups such as Lebanese, Hezballah, Egyptian Al-Gamm’s. Al-Qaeda.Hezballah, Egyptian Al-Gamm’s. Al-Qaeda.

3. Loosely affiliated international radical extremists 3. Loosely affiliated international radical extremists who have a variety of identities and travel freely in who have a variety of identities and travel freely in the US, unkonw to law enforcement and the the US, unkonw to law enforcement and the government.government.

The Dual Threat:The Dual Threat: The treat from domestic terrorism is as The treat from domestic terrorism is as

serious as the international threat.serious as the international threat. Motivations for Terrorism:Motivations for Terrorism:

Most terrorist acts result from Most terrorist acts result from dissatisfaction with a religious, political dissatisfaction with a religious, political or social system or policy and frustration or social system or policy and frustration resulting from an inability to change it resulting from an inability to change it through acceptable, nonviolent means.through acceptable, nonviolent means.

Domestic Terrorists groups include Domestic Terrorists groups include white supremacists, black white supremacists, black supremacists, militia groups, other supremacists, militia groups, other right-winged extremists, left-wing right-winged extremists, left-wing extremists, pro-life extremists, extremists, pro-life extremists, animal rights activists and animal rights activists and environmental extremists.environmental extremists.

One of the oldest American terrorist One of the oldest American terrorist organization is the Ku Klux Klan.organization is the Ku Klux Klan.

Black Supremacists:Black Supremacists: The Black Panther Party was established The Black Panther Party was established

in 1966 during a time of racial turmoil. in 1966 during a time of racial turmoil. Today, a newly reconstructed Black Today, a newly reconstructed Black

Panther Party has been organized, and it Panther Party has been organized, and it qualifies as a hate group.qualifies as a hate group.

Heavily armed, advocate violence Heavily armed, advocate violence against whites, and like their 1960’s against whites, and like their 1960’s predecessors, see cops as the enemy.predecessors, see cops as the enemy.

Left Wing Extremists:Left Wing Extremists: ““the left wing extremists believes in a Pro Marxist stance the left wing extremists believes in a Pro Marxist stance

where the rich must be brought down and the poor elevated. where the rich must be brought down and the poor elevated. Presently the largest groups of supporters for this cause are Presently the largest groups of supporters for this cause are the Anarchist.the Anarchist.

Pro-life:Pro-life: Animal Rights: Animal Liberation Front (ALF) Clandestine Animal Rights: Animal Liberation Front (ALF) Clandestine

and decentralized group has claimed credit for attacks on and decentralized group has claimed credit for attacks on meat packing plants, furriers, and research labs.meat packing plants, furriers, and research labs.

Tries to avoid hurting people in it’s attacks.Tries to avoid hurting people in it’s attacks. Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC): Feel that people Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC): Feel that people

who make animals suffer should also be made to suffer.who make animals suffer should also be made to suffer. Justice Department: Send surprises to people it calls Justice Department: Send surprises to people it calls

“animal killing scum” such as an envelop sent to researcher “animal killing scum” such as an envelop sent to researcher and hunting guides that contact razor blades dipped in rat and hunting guides that contact razor blades dipped in rat poison positioned to cut the finger of anyone opening the poison positioned to cut the finger of anyone opening the envelope with out a letter opener.envelope with out a letter opener.

Environmental Extremists:Environmental Extremists: Eco-Terrorisms seeks to “inflict economic Eco-Terrorisms seeks to “inflict economic

damage to those who profit from the damage to those who profit from the destruction of the natural environment.destruction of the natural environment.

Earth Liberation Front (ELF) often works with Earth Liberation Front (ELF) often works with Animal Liberation Front (ALF)Animal Liberation Front (ALF)

Arson is a favorite weaponArson is a favorite weapon Vandalism of equipment, package bombs, Vandalism of equipment, package bombs,

destruction of research data, arson of destruction of research data, arson of buildings, obliteration of experimental plants buildings, obliteration of experimental plants and animalsand animals

Terrorists may use arson, explosives and Terrorists may use arson, explosives and bombs, weapons of mass destruction bombs, weapons of mass destruction (biological, chemical or nuclear agents) and (biological, chemical or nuclear agents) and technology.technology.

Suicide bombers:Suicide bombers: Most believe the act makes them martyrs and Most believe the act makes them martyrs and

assures them a place in their version of heaven.assures them a place in their version of heaven. Their families are usually held in reverence and Their families are usually held in reverence and

taken care of.taken care of. Try to kill as many people as possible.Try to kill as many people as possible.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Nuclear, radiological, biological and Nuclear, radiological, biological and

chemical weapons.chemical weapons. Biological Agents:Biological Agents: Anthrax, botulism, smallpox.Anthrax, botulism, smallpox. CIA reports that at least 10 countries are CIA reports that at least 10 countries are

believed to possess or to be conducting believed to possess or to be conducting research on biological agents.research on biological agents.

Chemical Agents:Chemical Agents: Chemical agents are not as lethal as Chemical agents are not as lethal as

biological agents, and they are easier to biological agents, and they are easier to control. The four common types of control. The four common types of chemical weapons are nerve agents, chemical weapons are nerve agents, blood agents, choking agents and blood agents, choking agents and blistering agents.blistering agents.

Nuclear Terrorism:Nuclear Terrorism: What is happening right now with What is happening right now with

Nuclear weapons?Nuclear weapons?

Technological Terrorism:Technological Terrorism: Modern societies are susceptible to two Modern societies are susceptible to two

methods of technological terror.methods of technological terror. 1) the employment of mass destruction 1) the employment of mass destruction

weapons or the conversion of an weapons or the conversion of an industrial site-for example, a chemical industrial site-for example, a chemical plant – into a massively lethal instrument plant – into a massively lethal instrument through sabotage.through sabotage.

2) attack a source that supplies 2) attack a source that supplies technology or energy. The result of either technology or energy. The result of either type of attack could be catastrophic. type of attack could be catastrophic.

September 11, 2001September 11, 2001 Where were you?Where were you?

US immigration policies made it US immigration policies made it relatively easy for terrorists to enter relatively easy for terrorists to enter the US.the US.

Permissiveness in allowing knives Permissiveness in allowing knives and small cutting instruments on and small cutting instruments on board planes.board planes.

As a result of 9/11 the Department of As a result of 9/11 the Department of Homeland Security was established, Homeland Security was established, reorganizing the departments of the reorganizing the departments of the federal government.federal government.

USA Patriot ActUSA Patriot Act Gave the police the ability to search, Gave the police the ability to search,

seize, detain or eavesdrop in their seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists, saying: pursuit of possible terrorists, saying: “This government will enforce this law “This government will enforce this law with all the urgency of a nation at war.”with all the urgency of a nation at war.”

USA Patriot Act allows:USA Patriot Act allows: Investigators to use the tools already available Investigators to use the tools already available

to investigate organized crime and drug to investigate organized crime and drug traffickingtrafficking

Facilitating information sharing and Facilitating information sharing and cooperation among government agencies so cooperation among government agencies so they can better “connect the dots.”they can better “connect the dots.”

Updating the law to reflect new technologies Updating the law to reflect new technologies and new threats.and new threats.

Increasing the penalties for those who commit Increasing the penalties for those who commit or support terrorist crimesor support terrorist crimes

Law Enforcement and Homeland Law Enforcement and Homeland Security:Security: It is vital that patrol officers correctly It is vital that patrol officers correctly

see themselves as the country’s first see themselves as the country’s first defense against terrorists attacks.defense against terrorists attacks.

The officer in the field, perhaps by The officer in the field, perhaps by transmitting the details of a seemingly transmitting the details of a seemingly routine traffic stop to a centralized data routine traffic stop to a centralized data system, could potentially help avert a system, could potentially help avert a national desaster.national desaster.

Al-Qaeda training manual: Al-Qaeda training manual: Lesson 1: A call to “holy war” (jihad)Lesson 1: A call to “holy war” (jihad) Lesson 2: focuses on the qualities of individual Lesson 2: focuses on the qualities of individual

members.members. Lesson 3: teaches forgeryLesson 3: teaches forgery Lesson 4: focuses on safe houses and other Lesson 4: focuses on safe houses and other

hiding places, including instructions for hiding places, including instructions for establishing a clandestine terrorist networkestablishing a clandestine terrorist network

Lesson 5: concentrates on secret Lesson 5: concentrates on secret transportation and communication.transportation and communication.

Lesson 6: training and securityLesson 6: training and security

Lesson 7: covers weapons, one of the keys to Lesson 7: covers weapons, one of the keys to terrorism, including building an arsenal and safely terrorism, including building an arsenal and safely storing explosives.storing explosives.

Lesson 8: discusses secrecy and members safety.Lesson 8: discusses secrecy and members safety. Lesson 9: discussion of security, emphasizing Lesson 9: discussion of security, emphasizing

planning and operations.planning and operations. Lesson 10 & 11: reconnaissance, including Lesson 10 & 11: reconnaissance, including

methods for clandestine spying and capturing methods for clandestine spying and capturing prisoners.prisoners.

Lesson 12: discusses intelligence gathering, but Lesson 12: discusses intelligence gathering, but focuses specifically on covert methods and focuses specifically on covert methods and counter-intelligencecounter-intelligence

Intermediate sections between lessons Intermediate sections between lessons are tips on handling recruited agents are tips on handling recruited agents and dealing with countermeasures. and dealing with countermeasures.

Lesson 18: provides instructions about Lesson 18: provides instructions about behavior when arrested.behavior when arrested.

The key to combating terrorism lies The key to combating terrorism lies with the local police’s investigation of with the local police’s investigation of terrorist acts and the intelligence they terrorist acts and the intelligence they obtain to help prevent future attacks.obtain to help prevent future attacks.

The technological issue that most The technological issue that most challenges state and local participation in challenges state and local participation in any national anti-terrorism intelligence any national anti-terrorism intelligence efforts can be summarized by one word- efforts can be summarized by one word- interoperability (the ability to exchange interoperability (the ability to exchange information seamlessly).information seamlessly).

Two concerns related to the “war on Two concerns related to the “war on terrorism” are that civil liberties may be terrorism” are that civil liberties may be jeopardized and that people of Middle jeopardized and that people of Middle Eastern descent may be discriminated Eastern descent may be discriminated against or become victims of hate crimes.against or become victims of hate crimes.