Plots of Terrorist Activity in America
Facing the Challenge
E Pluribus Unum—Out of many, One. This Latin phrase, which is inscribed on the United States seal, set the foundation of American ideals. Fostering a strong and indivisible society, the United States has proudly molded together immigrants and people from all backgrounds and social statuses. The United States of American is a country of vast diversity which is encouraged and embraced, because of this we have become strengthened as a society. Since 1776, we as a country have been under attack for our ideals from those who are guided by hate.
Even through these continued attacks, our nation remains fortified and our resiliency is unmatched.
Throughout our short history, those who prefer to support and carry-out ideological violence have utilized propaganda and disseminated a message of hate which have been used to justify their horrific actions. Our founding fathers knew the importance of our freedom, to the point that no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances (U.
S. Const. amend I).
This also applies to those who convey an unpopular or hateful viewpoint. However, when these views evolve into physical acts of violence to address their political objections or radical ideologies, whether carried out by themselves or through acts of recruitment, it becomes the responsibility of the United States Government and the American citizens to stand-up and counter this hate (Obama White House, 2011).
![](https://paperap.com/wp-content/themes/theme/img-rh/star.svg")
5 (876)
“ Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome ”
As of recent, the United States have fell victim to home grown terrorist acts carried out by anti-Semitic hate groups such as the neo-Nazis or Aryan Brotherhood. Ever since the horrific attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, the United States have been met with an ever expanding range of acts of terrorism or the plotting of terroristic activities.
These actions by either U.S. or international citizens have become inspired or directed by al-Qa’ida and its partners. Those who adhere to the ideologies and become faithful to these terrorist groups, come from a variety of different backgrounds and ethnic and religious groups. To further the problem, these followers span the country which makes is extremely difficult to predict where these violent acts of terror may take place.
In America, we entrust our Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to mitigate the violence and to ensure the protection of your communities, no matter the social construct. To help facilitate in the success of your law enforcement members, it must be ensured that the correct tools are available to combat a situation when it arises. To further the success in combating radical groups, giving power to individuals and groups within a local area will build their ability to combat violent extremism.
Today, as detailed in the National Security Strategy and the National Strategy for Counterterrorism, al-Qa’ida and its affiliates and adherents represent the preeminent terrorist threat to our country (Obama White House, 2011). Over the past decade, there has been a significant influx of Americans or legal residents who have become intrigued by al-Qa’ida’s views and use of terrorism. Some of these participants joining theses radical groups are going overseas to fight, and there are others who involve themselves through the financing or support of attacks within U.S. borders.
The United States utilizes different tools and unique capabilities essential in the prevention of violent terrorist which emphasizes on strengthening communities. I believe that the best way to combat violent extremism and the ideologies governing it, is to maintain a well-informed community, to include families and institutions. A local community willing to collaborate with each other and their local government is foundation to a successful community-based partnership. This partnership allows for a community to excel in their ability to handle a wide range of public safety issues. Community policing utilizes this thought as the basis to its application.
Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime (U.S. DOJ, 2014). We are fortunate that our experience with community-based problem solving, local partnerships, and community-oriented policing provides a basis for addressing violent extremism as part of a broader mandate of community safety (Obama White House, 2011). The successful utilization and implementation of community policing strengthens our efforts in combating radicalization that leads to violence. Even though our communities lead the charge in the effort, the Federal Government still plays an integral role in its success.
The article, Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States directly relays this philosophy. The Federal Government allowed for the establishment of Antiterrorism Fusion Cells in state and local governments. Fusion Centers are owned and operated by state and local authorities and include federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT), and private sector partners from multiple disciplines (including law enforcement, public safety, fire service, emergency response, public health, and critical infrastructure). (DHS, 2016) With the Federal Government giving the ability to fund and establish these cell, it allows for effective information sharing with local, state, and federal law enforcement entities. With the addition of local law enforcement, it further spreads information sharing down to the local level and allows for task specific training that would not normally be available. The guiding principle behind this is to combat violent extremists at its flair-up and in the isolate it to its specific locality.
Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States with Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States (SIP) is the follow-up to the Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States doctrine. This document was in support of the previous but added law enforcement specific directives concerning anti-terrorism activities. The SIP specifically focused on al-Qa’ida inspired terrorism, which the 2010 National Security Strategy, the 2011 National Strategy for Counterterrorism, and the National Strategy for Empowering Local Partners identify as the preeminent security threats to our country (States, 2011). The “long-lasting” impact the program wants to implement focuses on training, community building, information sharing, and specialized task forces. The SIP also outlined the structure to the program.
Both doctrine were complete in their intent, the information supplied, and the programs they implemented. Empowering our law enforcement and local communities is the best move we can make to move forward in the fight against terrorism, both foreign and domestic. Whether it’s dealing with experienced law enforcement professionals or our local community leaders, there are many challenges we face with disseminating these responsibility. The effects of empowering our local, state, and federal law enforcement entities would have a massive effect, however how are the police—policed?
From the east coast to the west coast there is a vast difference in the application of law enforcement powers. To efficiently empower or local jurisdictions, standard and in-depth training must be implemented throughout the law enforcement community to combat conscious or unconscious prejudice and/or ignorance. These two mindsets are primal and can be inherently dangerous within law enforcement, unless proper education is afforded to educate and help open the minds of those within the career field.
Terrorism and the Media
Terrorism organizations rely on the media to create their attractiveness and tactics that threaten the masses. Media coverage “significantly contributes to growing anxieties about future terrorist attacks”, this is exactly what the organizations wants to do” (Mahan, 2012).
The problem that we have is the media feels that it is always the public’s right to know what is going on. The media and the topic of terrorism have an interesting relationship. Some might even say that internationally known terrorist groups are only known due to the media publicizing their actions, whether they are approving or not. Many terrorist organizations publicize their messages through the use of threats which are then covered by the media. The amount of media coverage that a terrorist organization receives will also depend on the nation that the media outlet originates from.
A media outlet that is from the home nation of a terrorist organization will likely have more media coverage of the organization than a media outlet from a foreign nation that has no involvement with the issue (Gerhards & Schafer, 2013). An example of when the media gave a terrorist more media coverage which promoted their political message was during the 9/11 attacks. This attack was covered for several days after the attacks occurred and are still often covered around that time of year every single year (McDonald & Lawrence, 2004). Although this is often seen as a good thing that the media is being informative, it also supports the political messages that Al-Qaeda was promoting at the time. In my opinion being in the military the media gives too much information that has a direct impact on our counter-terrorism tactics.
I feel that we can mitigate the dissemination of terrorist propaganda by restricting or vetting the information news outlets provide relative to terroristic acts. Unfortunately as it stands now, there is no legal way the government can enforced such a censorship. This is specifically outlined in the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution. We can do our part as the consumer though. Media outlets are driven by the bottom line…profit. The consumer of the media’s product has the ability to effect what information is supplied, if ratings are down then there is a potential for content change.
The use of the internet by violent extremists is problem that is only going to get worse. With a society run by technology, our ability to communicate one-on-one has diminished and has been replaced with a computer screen. Terrorist today are more sophisticated than ever, because they have become so mobile and efficient with the use of technology. In society today, we find our minds becoming melted by useless information passed through online media. One of the worst fall-outs from the internet is it has stopped people from thinking for themselves. Media of all types tell us what to think, what to say, and what to do. Terrorist use this mind melting technique to relay their message and recruit. As for our new media, they use this platform in the same way they broadcast on television. They spread the terroristic message by plastering all over websites, wither theirs, in a pop-up on another. They want your attention, they want the ratings. Again, this further spreads propaganda laid out by violent extremists around the world. We are no longer isolated to our home towns. We are interconnected to the entire world through technology. This interconnectivity has led to the effortless spread of violence, fear, and ignorance.
Since the attacks of 9/11 United States and their citizens have made a improvement towards combating violent terrorist acts. However, as we move towards the future, I find that we are letting our guard down and becoming a soft target once again. Whether its domestic or foreign terrorist acts, their messages are spread with the uncensored use of media. This is continuing to spark more “lone-wolf” attacks for the sake of 15min of fame. This is the society we live in, some people only live for that 15min of fame. We as a society need to re-align ourselves and get back to what made us great…thinking for ourselves. We need to stop being influenced by others to the extent we are today. As I say, “We live in a Kardashian society, where we only care about the superficial and not about what really matters.”
Plots of Terrorist Activity in America. (2022, Jun 25). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/plots-of-terrorist-activity-in-america/
