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HLS 3303, Terrorism Response Operations 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

6. Develop a plan for post-terrorism recovery.

Reading Assignment Chapter 3: Modern Terrorism and Natural Disasters

Unit Lesson Does terrorism stay the same, or is there always a constant change? Terrorism is an ever-changing threat, and it is essential for the proper authorities to understand past, present, and current threats. Oliver, Marion, and Hill (2015) discussed coordinated attacks that occurred in Kenya and Tanzania on August 7, 1998. These coordinated attacks killed over 200 people and caused a myriad of injuries. Osama bin Laden and Ayman al- Zawahiri were behind these attacks. Oliver et al. (2015) state that if these attacks occurred in 1998, three years prior to 2001, then why was the United States not prepared for 9/11? Terrorism is not a new phenomenon, and terrorism has been around since 32 A.D. There are a variety of motivations for terrorism that range from religious beliefs, socio-political objectives, animal rights, or abortion (Oliver et al., 2015). Although there are other reasons that one may initiate such acts of terrorism, there are many said objectives for why one may cause such harm. Additionally, it is important to discern the differences between international terrorism and domestic terrorism. International terrorism begins from outside the borders of the country where the attacks occur. Domestic terrorism occurs from within the country where the terrorist attacks occur (Oliver et al., 2015). Let us examine the terrorist attack that happened on 9/11 to determine if this was in fact domestic terrorism or international terrorism. As we know, the attacks of 9/11 occurred within the United States. The 9/11 attacks resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths and thousands more injuries. One may state that this definitely exhibits domestic terrorism, but there are a few questions to keep in mind. When exactly did these attacks commence? When did the planning begin? Did the planning begin within the United States or outside of the United States? The attacks of 9/11 exhibited international terrorism. When determining whether an incident is to be considered one of international terrorism or domestic terrorism, the incident must be examined from various perspectives. Additionally, when discussing evil acts such as terrorism, it is important to discuss home-grown terrorism. What is home-grown terrorism? Home-grown terrorism occurs when an individual who lives or resides in that territory initiates an attack against his or her homeland. Home-grown terrorism is a concern because the attack is initiated by someone within that country. Thus, detecting a potential terrorist from within makes it that much more challenging. An example of home-grown terrorism would be the Oklahoma City Bombing that occurred on April 19, 1995. The terrorist responsible for this attack was a United States citizen who used a truck packed with explosives and detonated the truck in the vicinity of a federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. That day, over 150 people died, including young children. Defining terrorism has been a complex task. The definition has varied amongst many professionals and scholars. Why are there so many definitions as it relates to terrorism? Since there are many reasons why terrorist acts are committed, this makes identifying one unified definition as it relates to terrorism problematic,

UNIT VII STUDY GUIDE

Plan for Post- Terrorism Recovery

HLS 3303, Terrorism Response Operations 2

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not to mention the wide scope of terrorism as it relates to domestic terrorism and international terrorism. Additionally, it is often said that there is a global war on terrorism. If it is difficult finding a unified definition for terrorism, then how coordinated can a global war on terrorism be? Terrorists may engage in such activity if they are interested in political, social, or religious change. If such change is warranted, why would someone choose to promote harm and terror? Are there other options to impact change? Understanding the mindset of terrorists is complex and not what this course is intended to do. Thus, understanding the totality of the situation is warranted. As we have discussed the various threats, such as domestic and international threats, it is important to understand various terrorist organizations that seek to cause such harm. Terrorist organizations, including, but not limited to, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant—also known as ISIL; Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula; Boko Haram; Taliban; and Al Shabaab should be monitored and subsequently defeated. Such groups are a threat and utilize all means possible, to include social media, to spread their propaganda, terror, and hate. How do the United States Government and the Department of Homeland Security intend to mitigate and subsequently defeat this threat? Oliver et al. (2015) indicated that the objective of the Homeland Security Act was to realign government resources into one organization. The Department of Homeland Security consists of 22 agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Secret Service, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Transportation Security Administration. How can 22 separate agencies focus on a single mission of protecting the homeland? Is this is achievable? In 2003, Congress passed a homeland security appropriation bill in the amount of $30.4 billion for fiscal year 2004. The 2013 Presidential Request for the Department of Homeland Security grew to $59 billion (Oliver, et al., 2015). Within a decade, the budget for the Department of Homeland Security doubled. This shows that the Department of Homeland Security has grown exponentially in approximately a decade. Cybersecurity is another concern as terrorists become more technologically savvy. Protecting the nation’s network and computer security is imperative. The Department of Homeland Security recently commenced another campaign called “Stop. Think. Connect.” This campaign is intended to provide the public an in-depth understanding of threats such as cyberterrorism (Oliver et al., 2015). Such tools as the USA PATRIOT Act were implemented after 9/11 to provide the applicable United States authorities an avenue and mechanism to facilitate mitigating and preventing terrorist attacks. An objective for establishing the Department of Homeland Security was to foster a culture within the government based on information sharing and facilitating effective communication. These functions are essential in combating terrorism.

Reference Oliver, W. M., Marion, N. E., & Hill, J. B. (2015). Introduction to homeland security: Policy, organization,

and administration. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

HLS 3303, Terrorism Response Operations 3

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Suggested Reading Terrorist attacks in other countries often have an impact on how the United States fights the issue. To learn more about a few recent attacks that had an impact on terrorism response, please read the article below. Hubbard, B. (2015, June). Terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait kill dozens. The New York Times.

Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/world/middleeast/terror-attacks-france-tunisia- kuwait.html?_r=2

Click the link below to view a MyCourseTools interactive presentation that covers the role, history, and components of terrorism. You may have to copy and paste the link into your browser if you are not able to access it by clicking. Role, history, and components of terrorism. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-

enterprise/asset.php?isbn=1256689785&id=15276 Click the link below to view a MyCourseTools interactive presentation that covers some additional types of terrorism. You may have to copy and paste the link into your browser if you are not able to access it by clicking. Types of terrorism. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pearsoncustom.com/mct-

enterprise/asset.php?isbn=1256689785&id=15277