Module 4: Week 4 - Discussion Board: Terrorism Quandaries and Dilemmas (Due 07.14.22)
Based on your readings thus far from the text and your own research, explain the role the media
plays regarding terrorism.
How do terrorists use our laws to their advantage?
Explain the concept of asymmetrical warfare.
Finally, explain what “force multiplier” means and what force multipliers terrorists use.
Liberty University
HLSC 610-D01: Understanding Terrorism and Homeland Security
Week 4 Discussion Board: Terrorism Quandaries and Dilemmas
Professor Richards
July 14, 2022
Terrorism and the Media
People rely on the media to stay informed about current events and matters of public concern.
The media, for example, is attracted by extreme terrorist acts or threats because it is a
newsworthy event that draws worldwide public attention, thereby increasing its broadcast ratings
and standings in the news world. Hence, while the media can disseminate information and spread
awareness about terrorism expeditiously, it can also be used to sensationalize terrorist acts and
spread fear to its viewers. Counterterrorism operations, including negotiations and rescue
missions, have also been disrupted by the media’s intentional and unintentional release of
information, which terrorists have used to their advantage (McEntire, 2018). McEntire (2018)
pointed out that the Branch Davidian compound raid in Waco, Texas, for illegal weapons
violations is a fitting example of how the media had disrupted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) operations by tipping David Koresh of the ATF’s upcoming
plans. Lives were lost during the crossfire. While it is well known that the media and terrorists
have a symbiotic relationship, the media should reevaluate its position on terrorism and be on
guard against being a propaganda arm for terrorism. Careless reporting by the media could either
exacerbate terrorist attacks or hinder counterterrorism operations.
Terrorism and the Laws
To advance their ideological goals, terrorists have used laws and the legal system to their
advantage. The United States Constitution guarantees citizens a set of rights and freedom; this
includes an individual’s right to freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the right to bear arms
(McEntire, 2018). However, terrorists have used “the privileges of liberty to destroy liberty”
(Liberty University, 2022). For example, terrorists can exploit our freedom of speech and
assembly to spread or publicize their ideologies and recruit new members. They can file
frivolous discrimination claims or lawsuits to embarrass or harass public servants or public
organizations. They can legally purchase guns intended for ill purposes. They can raise and
funnel funds through charitable organizations and front companies to finance their activities.
They can hide their illegal activities using the privacy and data security laws. They can use our
existing immigration laws to travel freely to any country or state. They can circumvent
prosecution and other judicial proceedings in their countries by taking advantage of our refugee
and asylum laws. Thus, our freedom, rights, and limited government provide a favorable
environment for terrorists to recruit, organize their groups, plan, and carry out attacks. The book
of Psalm 34:14 reminds us to “turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it”
(English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016).
Asymmetrical Warfare
In recent years, terrorist acts and other forms of unconventional warfare, like asymmetrical
warfare, have increased globally. Asymmetric warfare can be described as “unconventional
strategies and tactics adopted by a force when the military capabilities of belligerent powers are
not simply unequal but are so significantly different that they cannot make the same sorts of
attacks on each other” (Sexton, 2016, para. 1). In other words, it is a war between state and
nonstate forces that differ in size and strength. Terrorism is one form of asymmetrical warfare.
Terrorists resort to tactics that threaten our nation’s security and democratic values in hopes that
they can drive the United States, the world’s only remaining superpower, into economic,
political, and social recession (Austin and Kolenc, 2006). Moreover, their goal is to weaken the
state’s will to fight and intimidate civilians not involved in the conflict. Terrorists have also been
known to blend in with civilians during an attack making it difficult for states to execute their
counterterrorism operations without harming unarmed civilians. The tactics used by terrorists in
asymmetrical warfare are not limited to violent acts against the opposition; they may also resort
to non-violent means to advance their agenda through lawfare.
Force Multiplier
Terrorists must keep up an appearance to induce fear, and while their tactics achieve their
intended results, terrorists want to increase their impact through force multipliers. Brian Jenkins,
an expert on terrorism and transportation security, suggests that terrorist organizations use four
multipliers—technology, transnational support, media coverage, and religious fanaticism—to
portray their striking power without increasing their size (White, 2002; as cited by Emery et al.,
2004). These force multipliers can augment the damages resulting from terrorist attacks. For
example, technology provides terrorists with an unprecedented advantage in carrying out their
mission. Technology can maximize the effects of their attacks and provides opportunities for
terrorists to be more creatively dangerous with their tactics. Terrorists can hinder our economic
system by disrupting or attacking the tourism industries and shipping companies, including oil
and gas facilities. They can also use the media as a force multiplier to promote their ideologies,
instill fear, and gain recognition worldwide. Terrorist organizations can also persuade their
followers and recruits to engage in holy wars proclaiming that God endorses their terroristic acts
(McEntire, 2018). Hence, force multipliers are intended to increase the physical and
psychological impacts of terrorist attacks on the general population.
References
Austin, W. C. & Kolenc, A. B. (2006). Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? The international
criminal court as a weapon of asymmetric warfare. Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law,
39(2), 291-345. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?
vid=0&sid=868bdf58-f094-42d6-a6d9-b8a9e7ed8f96%40redis
Emery, N. E., Earl, R. S., & Buettner, R. (2004). Terrorist Use of Information Operations.
Journal of Information Warfare, 3(2), 14–26. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26502782
English Standard Version Bible. (2016). EVC Online. https://esv.literalword.com/ (Original work
published 2001)
Liberty University. 2022. HLSC 610: Week 4 Terrorism: Quandaries and Dilemmas. [Video
Presentation]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online.
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/286468/pages/watch-terrorism-quandaries-and-dilemmas?
module_item_id=32587954
McEntire, D. A. (2018). Introduction to homeland security, 2nd Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf
version]. Retrieved from vbk://9781119430636
Sexton, E. (2016). Asymmetrical warfare. Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/asymmetrical-warfare
Discussion Responses:
Hi Emily,
Thank you for your contribution to this week’s discussion topic. Some scholars believe that
terrorists are more concerned with the psychological impact their threats or actions have instilled
on society than with the physical damage they inflict. Hence, terrorists use the media as a force
multiplier to increase the impact of their attacks by spreading fear globally. White (2002), as
cited by Emery et al. (2004), pointed out that terrorist organizations use force multipliers to
increase their striking power, especially when the size of their organizations is much smaller than
their opposition. The United States (US) will continue to be a favored terrorist target because of
the numerous available domestic and overseas targets. The US is a favored target because of its
diverse commercial interests, its large number of military bases on foreign soil, and an attack on
any US interest would bring extensive media exposure and publicity to these terrorist
organizations (Lesser et al., 1999).
References:
Emery, N. E., Earl, R. S., & Buettner, R. (2004). Terrorist Use of Information Operations.
Journal of Information Warfare, 3(2), 14–26. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26502782
Lesser I. O., Hoffman, B., Arquilla, J., Ronfeldt, D., Zanini, M., Jenkins, B. M. (1999).
Countering the new terrorism. RAND. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA363163.pdf
Hi Jonathan,
Great discussion on this week’s topic. I agree that terrorists often try to find loopholes in laws to
use to their advantage. Terrorists exploit our laws, our civil rights, and our civil liberties. For
example, terrorists can exploit our freedom of speech and assembly to spread their ideologies
and recruit local and foreign fighters into their organizations (Helmus, 2020). They also use
social media platforms to leverage a network of supporters in both propaganda creation and
dissemination. In addition, when terrorist acts are carried out, terrorists use the media as a force
multiplier to enhance the impact of their attacks on society. Moreover, the National Security
Council (2021), in their report entitled “National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism,”
also emphasized that “internet-based communication platforms, such as social media, file-upload
sites, and end-to-end encrypted platforms, […] [when used simultaneously, have the potential to]
amplify threats to public safety” (p. 9). This is concerning, given that terrorists may legally use
the right to bear arms to purchase weapons for their illegal activities.
References
Helmus, T. C. (2020). Social media and influence operations technologies. National Defense
University Press, 153-166. https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Publications/Books/Strategic-Assessments-
2020/
National Security Council. (2021). National strategy for countering domestic terrorism. The
White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/National-Strategy-for-
Countering-Domestic-Terrorism.pdf
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