Quandary 1 –Kilroy: Chapter 10:
After having read the assigned chapters and your own research how well are
we handling domestic terrorism? What do you think is the current threat
level and real-time situation involving domestic terrorism? Why do you say
this? Do you believe religious types of terrorism are more or less or equally
as dangerous as other types of terrorism and why?
Quandary 2 –Ramsay, Kiltz: Chapter 4:
After having read the assigned chapter and your own research what are your
views on the collection and use of meta data collection for intelligence
purposes? What are your views on human intelligence taking into
consideration variables such as captured sources (people) on foreign or U.S.
soil and interrogation methods and procedures? Defend your views.
Quandary 1
Protecting the American people from terrorist threats is the reason that the Department of
Homeland Security was created and remains the highest priority. Terrorism can take many forms
including bombings, armed assaults, hijackings, or hostage-taking. Also, the targets can vary and
be aimed at civilians, state actors, or public infrastructure. Moreover, there was a significant
increase in the number and percentage of domestic terrorist incidents. In 2019, only 2 percent of
all U.S terrorist attacks and plots occurred at demonstrations, but this portion rose to 47 percent
in 2020 and 53 percent in 2021. The result is that some metropolitan areas of the United States
such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C are becoming focal points of domestic
terrorism where extremists from opposing sides square off against each other and against law
enforcement agencies. Therefore, the Department of Homeland Security needs to update some
resources to identify and respond to domestic terrorism. Also, they should continue to review
their respective counterterrorism training and resource programs which are provided to federal,
state, local, and law enforcement agencies and ensure that these programs include sufficient
training and resources in understanding, detecting, deterring, and investigating acts of domestic
terrorism. Congress should also consider encouraging the DHS to increase funds for the
Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides funding for nonprofit organizations including
houses of worship to improve and upgrade their security.
Moreover, I think the religious types of terrorism are more dangerous compared to other types of
terrorism even though the Bible does not directly address the topic of terrorism. The goal of acts
of terrorism is to bully a government or culture into cooperating with the demands of the
terrorists. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” – Romans 13:1. God loves
human and protects human from evil. “He shall judge between the nations and shall decide
disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
anymore” – Isaiah 2:4.
Quandary 2
Metadata is the summary and the description about your data that is used to classify, organize,
label, and understand data, making sorting and searching for data much easier. The use of meta
data collection for intelligence purposes serves as a double edge sword. In one way it is
beneficial, in another way it can very easily violate civil liberties. It all depends on the given
situation. Meta data is still new in comparison to other forms of intelligence collection. The
purpose of the meta data program was to collect information related to foreign intelligence and
counterterrorism efforts (Donohue, 2014). Human intelligence is very important. Without human
intelligence, there would be an abundance of unanswered questions and would create a high risk
for attacks. Human intelligence provides intelligence that other forms of collection cannot. "A
satellite-based camera or even a drone cannot look into a tent to see who is inside or determine
the plans or intentions of an adversary" (Ramsay & Kiltz, 2014). The gathering of human
intelligence is more hazardous than other forms of collection, yet it provides the most useful
information. However, there are times when the information gathered turned out to be false,
which can put a damper on the intelligence situation. Obtaining credible intelligence is key to
successful counterterrorism measures. At times, obtaining credible information is done through
captured sources. There are times when retrieving information from captured sources is the best
route to obtain credible information. Although, it truly depends on the method of interrogation on
whether credible information is retrieved. After 9/11, enhanced interrogation techniques were
used, and it caused an adversary effect and the opportunity of gaining credible information was
lost. Knowledge and further research in this subject is beneficial to national security. "Let the
wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance" – Proverbs
1:5.
References
Donohue, L. K. (2014). Bulk meta data collection: Statutory and constitutional considerations.
Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy.
Herre, B., Samborska, V., Ritchie, H., Hasell, J., Mathieu, E., & Roser, M. (2023, September
22). Terrorism. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/terrorism
Holy bible. (2011). Zondervan.
Kilroy, R. J. (2018). Chapter 6-7. In Threats to homeland security reassessing the all hazards
perspective. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ramsay, J. D., & Kiltz, L. A. (2018). Chapter 7. In Critical issues in homeland security: A
casebook. Routledge.
U.S. Department of State. (2021, December 16). Country reports on terrorism 2020 - united
states department of state. U.S. Department of State.
https://www.state.gov/reports/country-reports-on-terrorism-2020/
Hello Ocie,
Thank you for your posting about threat of terrorism in the U.S. The domestic
terrorism is generally defined by law as involving criminal acts dangerous to human
life in the U.S. Most domestic terrorism is occurring in states with major
metropolitan areas such as California, New York, and Washington D.C. According to
the U.S Government Accountability Office, domestic terrorism has been on the rise
over last 10 years relating domestic terrorism investigation. Also, there are some
reasons for domestic terrorism involving racially or ethnically motivated, anti-
government, and anti-authority motivated violent extremism. Thus, the FBI is
responsible for leading domestic terrorism-related investigations and intelligence
efforts involving terrorist activities. The Department of Homeland Security tracks
terrorism-related incidents and has responsibility to gather, share intelligence, and
emerging terrorist threats with federal, state, and local governments and private
entities. Moreover, the Department of Homeland Security needs to create a plan of
actions due to terrorism attacks and remains the highest priority to protect
American people from terrorist threats. As Christians, we follow to Bible as a
guidance and yield our life to Jesus. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of
power and love and self-control” – 2 Timothy 1:7. God will protect human in His own
way, so that we should maintain our preparedness basing on His words. “He shall
judge between the nations and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they
shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears in to pruning hooks; nation
shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” – Isaiah
2:4.
Reference
Holy bible. (2011). Zondervan.
Kilroy, R. J. (2018). Chapter 6-7. In Threats to homeland security reassessing the all hazards
perspective. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preventing terrorism. Preventing Terrorism | Homeland Security. (n.d.).
https://www.dhs.gov/publications-library/preventing-terrorism
Hello Franshaun,
Thank you for your thoughts about terrorism in the U.S. Within the United States, the
majority of the terrorist activity comes from domestic terrorism groups rather than foreign
terrorist groups (Kilroy, 2008). Focusing on domestic terrorism is just as important as foreign
terrorism as domestic terrorism is just as dangerous. According to the FBI (2011), "It is
important to realize sovereign citizens' tactics to harass and intimidate law enforcement, court, and
government officials, as well as financial institution employees". Moreover, in regard to human
intelligence, I also believe human intelligence should be corroborated with other information and
intelligence so decrease the chance for misinformation or simple human error. Obtaining credible
intelligence is key to successful counterterrorism measures. Corroborated human intelligence can
prove useful in investigations and the fight against terrorism. Therefore, knowledge and future
research in human intelligence is beneficial to national security. “Let the wise hear and increase
in learning, and the one who understand obtain guidance” – Proverbs 1:5.
Reference
FBI. (2011). Sovereign citizens: A growing domestic threat to law enforcement. FBI.
https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/sovereign-citizens-a-growing-domestic-threat-
to-law-enforcement
Holy bible. (2011). Zondervan.
Kilroy, R. J. (2018). Chapter 6-7. In Threats to homeland security reassessing the all hazards
perspective. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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