Module 8: Discussion Board – What Might Our Future Hold Regarding Terrorism (Due:
08/11/2022)
Based on your readings thus far from the text and your research:
Do you see terrorism in the future, such as less, more, or about the same?
More violent, less violent, more organized, less organized, etc.? Explain your thoughts.
Do you think terrorists would use WMD (CBRNE) if they could? Why or why not?
What do you think would be their WMD of choice?
Finally, please share your thoughts about the course. Did this course cause you to change
your mind or opinion about anything related to homeland security?
What was it? Why or why not? Maybe something was reinforced. If so, explain.
What was the most important thing you learned in this course, and why?
Liberty University
HLSC 610-D01: Understanding Terrorism and Homeland Security
Week 8 Discussion Board: What Might Our Future Hold Regarding Terrorism?
Professor Richards
August 9, 2022
Terrorism: Future Prospects
Terrorism will continue to increase globally in the future. In 2020 alone, the Global Terrorism
Trends and Analysis Center (GTTAC) identified at least “10,172 terrorist incidents, resulting in
29,389 fatalities, 19,413 wounded, and 4,471 kidnappings” (GTTAC, 2021, p. 5). A fifteen (15)
percent increase in terrorist incidents compared to the 8,872 terrorist incidents that occurred in
2019 (GTTAC, 2021). If this trend continues, terrorism will continue to increase globally, as well
as its intensity and impact. Moreover, terrorist groups will continue to exploit the socio-
economic gaps in communities with weak governance to push their ideologies and gain power
through violence. Take, for example, the global COVID-19 pandemic. While nations have re-
directed their priorities to address the threat to communities’ safety, health, and well-being
worldwide, violent extremists and terrorist groups view the global pandemic as an opportunity
for expansion. Due to restrictions of movement imposed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus,
violent extremists and terrorist groups have increased their efforts to recruit members through
social media and other online forums (UNITAR, n.d.). In addition, other COVID-19 preventative
measures forcefully imposed on citizens could increase and provoke tensions, which serves as a
suitable time for terrorists to spread disinformation, anti-government conspiracy theories, and
propaganda about the virus.
With the advancement of technology and the restriction of movement, the types of attacks will
likely evolve, as well as their financing methods. While most terrorist attacks will continue to use
weapons similar to those currently available, we can expect that terrorists will use the
advancement of technology to conduct high-profile attacks (NIC, 2021). Terrorists will likely
develop new remote attack methods and collaborate with other terrorist groups across borders.
As such, terrorists, in their quest to conduct mass casualty attacks, will more than likely seek
weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to create a more significant and lasting impact on nations
worldwide. The type of WMD—radiological, nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons—used
by terrorists in the future will depend on the terrorist group’s accessibility to materials or agents
and knowledgeable individuals to develop such a deadly weapon.
Biological weaponry may appear to be a WMD choice because of the nation’s inability to stop
the coronavirus spread and the authorities’ delayed responses. However, cyberterrorism also has
the potential to cause mass harm at little to no cost to terrorists (Ackerman & Peterson, 2020).
McEntire (2018) describes cyberterrorism as “activities that utilize or attacks computer networks
to instill fear and force some type of change” (p. 334). For example, terrorists can hack into
networks to steal sensitive data and disrupt community lifelines or critical infrastructures,
leading to mass fatalities and injuries. Society’s growing dependence on information technology
has created a new form of vulnerability. It provides an opportunity for terrorists to attack public
facilities, transportation systems, nuclear power plants, and power grids that are networked
through computers. The possibilities are endless, and their potential scope of destruction is
limited only by their imagination.
Understanding Terrorism and Homeland Security: Key Takeaways
There are just as many types of terrorism as definitions of terrorism. Hence, the key takeaway
from this course is that terrorism will continue to evolve just as it continues to be redefined due
to its complexity. Terrorists, by their nature as asymmetric adversaries, are adaptive individuals
who will attempt to use the vulnerabilities they perceive in their environment as leverage.
Therefore, given the creativity of terrorists, counterterrorism agencies should also challenge
themselves to “scope creep outside the box” when developing counterterrorism measures.
However, as McEntire (2018) points out, “homeland security will never maximize success unless
we fully understand the [root] causes of terrorism” (p. 354).
Biblical Perspective
The book of Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of
God” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016). This scripture reminds us that peace is not
the absence of conflict or pain but trusting that His presence will guide us amid uncertainties.
Hence, “peacemakers” or those working to counter terrorism—national leaders, homeland
security officials, law enforcement officials, and other stakeholders, must anticipate that
terrorists and their attack methods will become more sophisticated. While some scholars do not
foresee significant terrorist tactics or target changes, this does not mean there is no cause for
concern.
References
Ackerman, G., & Peterson, H., (2020). Terrorism and COVID-19: Actual and potential impacts.
Perspectives on Terrorism., 14(3), 59–73. https://web-p-ebscohost-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=27a14e3a-4b5e-4835-9da6-
318dfca74c97%40redis
Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center [GTTAC]. (2021). Annex of statistical
information: Country reports on Terrorism 2020. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Counterterrorism. https://www.state.gov/wp-
content/uploads/2021/12/2020_Annex_State_CT_Oct._29.FINAL_for_RELEASE_508_Complia
nt.pdf
McEntire, D. A. (2018). Introduction to homeland security, 2nd Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf
version]. Retrieved from vbk://9781119430636
National Intelligence Council [NIC]. (2021). The future of terrorism: Diverse actors, fraying
international efforts. Global Trends. https://www.dni.gov/index.php/gt2040-home/emerging-
dynamics/international-dynamics/the-future-of-terrorism
United Nations Institute for Training and Research [UNITAR]. (n.d.). Impact of COVID-19 on
violent extremism and terrorism. UNITAR. (1-6)
https://unitar.org/sites/default/files/media/file/Factsheet%20CT%20Printed.pdf
Discussion Responses:
Hi Carlene,
I agree with your assertion that terrorists are becoming more creative with their tactics. They
seek out vulnerabilities and use them as leverage to spread disinformation and anti-government
conspiracy theories and increase their propaganda efforts. Violent extremists have also used
events or crises worldwide to validate their worldviews, expand their support base, and recruit
new members. Take, for example, the COVID-19 pandemic. Terrorists could use the COVID-19
crisis to sow the seeds of distrust in government officials and, in return, trigger hate and
potentially incite vulnerable individuals to commit terrorist acts (UNITAR, n.d.). In addition,
terrorists could use the current health crisis to steal from facilities with minimal to no security to
obtain weapons and other hazardous materials to produce or create other weapons. In another
example, Ackerman and Peterson (2020) shared that with the restrictions on movement and
extended disruptions of normal societal operations, like many citizens, terrorists have taken
advantage of this “downtime” to utilize the internet to not only recruit new members and spread
their ideologies but also plan and coordinate future attacks. Given that terrorists can quickly
adapt to their current environment, as in the case of our current health crisis, we can assume that
terrorism will continue to evolve in the future.
References:
Ackerman, G., & Peterson, H., (2020). Terrorism and COVID-19: Actual and potential impacts.
Perspectives on Terrorism., 14(3), 59–73. https://web-p-ebscohost-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=27a14e3a-4b5e-4835-9da6-
318dfca74c97%40redis
United Nations Institute for Training and Research [UNITAR]. (n.d.). Impact of COVID-19 on
violent extremism and terrorism. UNITAR. (1-6)
https://unitar.org/sites/default/files/media/file/Factsheet%20CT%20Printed.pdf
Hi Daniel,
Great post on this week’s discussion topic. The potential threat posed by cyberterrorism is
alarming. While scholars have mentioned that nuclear weapons and other sensitive military
systems are “air-gapped,” making it difficult for hackers to penetrate their systems, history tells
us that if a teenager can hack into the US Department of Defense and NASA’s computer system,
anything is possible (USIP, 2004). Cyberterrorism is an attractive option for terrorists because
it’s cheaper than traditional terrorist methods, it offers anonymity, target options are enormous,
remote accessibility, and it has the potential to directly affect a large number of people, which
leads to greater media coverage (USIP, 2004). In addition, while the primary goal of cyber
attacks is to steal information and cause disruptions, these attacks could potentially cause mass
harm or disruption if it was used to target critical infrastructure systems (McEntire, 2018). The
2021 cyber-attack on the Colonial Oil Pipeline is just one of many examples of attacks targeted
at critical infrastructures.
References:
McEntire, D. A. (2018). Introduction to homeland security, 2nd Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf
version]. Retrieved from vbk://9781119430636
United States Institute of Peace [USIP]. (2004). Special report: Cyberterrorism, how real is the
threat? https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/sr119.pdf
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