How do terrorists use our laws to their advantage?
Terrorists utilize our laws to our advantage particularly in the media. As a nation who believes
and upholds the right to “freedom of speech, press and guarantees the rights in the practice of
religion, expression, assembly and right to petition” (Legal, n.d.). The first amendment prevents
the government from restricting the press, or better known today as the media or news. Terrorists
utilize the media immensely to expand their organizations in way of recruitment in providing
individuals a place of belonging (McEntire, 2018). The first amendment allows for the media to
cover and report what it desires without fear of infringement or censorship from the government.
Terrorists are able to recognize this and use it to their own advantages in essentially free
advertisement improving recruitment to grow their own organizations. Although one may
consider that the government could simply monitor those that may be a person of interest, but
this would then be going directly against another one of our protected rights, the fourth
amendment. The fourth amendment states:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but
upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the
place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” (U.S.C., n.d.)
This amendment limits the government organizations to be incapable of certain searches, and due
to many cases, that have gone through the Supreme Court, agencies are incapable of monitoring
individuals, bugging phones or GPS tracking (Carpenter, 2018), or observing individuals through
way of heat detection equipment (Scalia, 2001). In Katz v. United States, the expectation of
privacy test was formed and if an action would be found to violate the test by the court evidence
collected would be unable to be used as it would violate the fourth amendment (Katz, n.d.).
Terrorist organizations are able to recognize the restrictions put onto government organizations
especially to those living within its own borders. Which is why it can be frightening to know that
the biggest terrorist threat can potentially be John and Sally the nice neighbors from down the
street.
Explain the concept of asymmetrical warfare.
“Asymmetrical warfare is defined as warfare between opposing forces which differ greatly in
military power and that typically involve the use of unconventional weapons and tactics” (Bone,
2021). Primary examples of this type of warfare directly involve terrorism and their tactics used.
Implementing the use of improvised explosive devices to target the US military to weaken or
hinder its abilities in combat to maximize the terrorist’s or guerilla’s mission success. Other areas
where one can find asymmetrical warfare to exist is in financial crime, cyberterrorism, or use of
weapons of mass destruction (Bone, 2021). Throughout history one has seen the use of these
tactics to cripple a nation or large military power.
Finally, explain what “force multiplier” means and what force multipliers terrorist use.
Force multiplier is a simple concept. A force multiplier is a tactic, resource, psychology, or
propaganda utilized to assist in the growth of a military power or organization or an effort
intended to weaken another organization or military power (Force, n.d.). The force multipliers
terrorists use would be all of the previously mentioned. Terrorists use propaganda in the media,
psychology through indoctrination in social media and surrounding communities, tactics such as
ambushes and IEDs. Terrorists utilize the media to weaken the minds of the people, to cause
unrest and to instill fear into the public from their attacks or threat of an attack. The resources
can be seen to come from other governments, organizations with the funds to assist but lack the
means or desire to be physically involved, and the resources of people gained through
recruitment through the media.
The largest force multiplier recently to have been reported was the successful overtaking of the
airfield in Afghanistan with this victory the terrorist organizations were able to obtain large
amounts of military equipment essentially handing over the resources needed to implement
larger scale attacks throughout the region.
References
Bone, Elizabeth (2021, January 5). Careers in international security: Asymmetric warfare.
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from
https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/advancing-your-career/career-guide/careers-international-
security-asymmetric-warfare.
Carpemnter v. United States. Oyez: Justia Supreme Court Center. (2018). Retrieved November
18, 2021, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/2017/16-402.
Force multiplication. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2021, from
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/warfare/articles/force_multiplication.htm.
Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967). Justia Law. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2021,
from https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/389/347/.
Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). First Amendment. Legal Information Institute. Retrieved
November 18, 2021, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment.
Scalia. (2001, June 11). Kyllo v. United States. Legal Information Institute. Retrieved November
18, 2021, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-8508.ZO.html.
U.S. Constitution - Fourth Amendment | Resources ... (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2021, from
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/.
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