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Reexamining the Legislative Restrictions on the Domestic Use of the United States Military to Combat Domestic Terrorism: A Comparative Analysis
This thesis is an attempt to compare the current legislative and military posture of the United States, in its effort to deal with a potentially growing domestic terrorist threat, with that of Great Britain. The introductory chapter presents the argument that the United States may learn valuable lessons by examining the British response to domestic terrorism. The second chapter takes a historical look at the development of U.S. legislation that defined the President's authority to call forth the militia and federal troops for domestic use. The third chapter examines the British use of emergency legislation as well as their decision to employ the army in an effort to curtail domestic terrorism posed by the Irish Republican Army when local police efforts failed. The fourth chapter concludes with a discussion on current U.S. legislation dealing with domestic terrorism and on the lessons the United States may learn from the British experience as the U.S. continuously adjusts to a changing domestic security environment.
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Johnson, Troy A.
1996-09
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Domestic Terrorism and the Attack on the U.S. Capitol [January 13, 2021]
From the Document: "On January 6, 2021, a large group of individuals breached the U.S. Capitol security while Congress was in session. Members were voting on whether or not to certify President-elect Joe Biden's election victory, and many participants in the attack allegedly intended to thwart this effort. According to media coverage, violent participants injured scores of District of Columbia Metropolitan Police and U.S. Capitol Police officers and killed one, while four civilians have died as well. In light of this incident and the violent threat to the operation of the U.S. Congress, policymakers may be interested in whether this incident may be treated as domestic terrorism and if the participants are domestic terrorists, among other issues. This Insight discusses whether or not participants and their actions may be categorized as domestic terrorists and domestic terrorism, respectively, and issues around designating domestic fringe groups, such as the Boogaloo Bois and Proud Boys who were allegedly involved in the attack, as terrorist organizations. It concludes with possible next steps for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sacco, Lisa N.
2021-01-13
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Countering Domestic Terrorism: Examining the Evolving Threat, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, September 25, 2019
This is the September 25, 2019 hearing "Countering Domestic Terrorism: Examining the Evolving Threat" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the Opening Statement of Ron Johnson: "Unfortunately, the increase in domestic attacks has kept our Nation on edge and forced a re-evaluation of how law enforcement can and should deal with different kinds of threats. In May, Ranking Member Peters and I sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting basic information about their efforts to track, counter, and prevent all forms of domestic terrorism. From the outset of our inquiry, it has been clear that there is a lack of consistent and reliable data concerning domestic terrorism. A quick little side note. It is not an easy issue. How do you find these things? How do you track these things? I think that will be coming out, but, again, that is what we are trying to do, potentially in a piece of legislation to codify this." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: William Braniff, Clinton Watts, Robert M. Chesney, and George Selim.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020
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Serial No. 114-27: The Rise of Radicalization: Is the U.S. Government Failing to Counter International and Domestic Terrorism? Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, July 15, 2015
This is the July 15, 2015 hearing on "The Rise of Radicalization: Is the U.S. Government Failing to Counter International and Domestic Terrorism?" held before the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement Michael T. McCaul: "Our Nation is grappling with a new wave of terror from the suburbs of Massachusetts to the streets of South Carolina. We have apprehended a string of assailants who, while living among us, plotted to cause mass harm in the name of their hateful ideology. Just days ago, U.S. authorities disrupted an ISIS-linked plot to attack an American university with assault rifles and improvised explosive
devices. The suspect planned to execute students and broadcast it live on the internet. Last month our Nation reacted with horror as another extremist launched an attack on Black worshippers at a Charleston church. Whether inspired by Islamic terror or white supremacy these assailants share one trait in common: They want to attack the innocent, intimidate our population, and coerce us in order to achieve their ideological and insidious goals. Both international and domestic terrorism and extremist groups are seeking to radicalize our citizens, and they have begun to master social media as a recruitment tool, placing people on a path of violence at an alarming speed. But we cannot bow down in the face of terror, and we must refuse to live at the mercy of fanatics. That is why we are here today: To confront the dangers we face, identify gaps in our defenses, and counter the viral spread of violent extremism." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Farah Pandith, Seamus Hughes, and J. Richard Cohen.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Nuclear Terrorism: Strengthening Our Domestic Defenses, Hearings Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, Part I and Part II, June 30 and September 15, 2010
From the opening statement of Joseph I. Lieberman: "This is the eighth in a series of hearings our Committee has held since 2007 to discuss how our Nation is confronting the real and dire threats posed by nuclear terrorism. And I must say that today it seems to me, as I look back and look at where we are now, that the threat of a nuclear terrorist attack on the United States is growing faster than our ability to prevent a nuclear terrorist attack on our homeland, and obviously as the Homeland Security Committee this is of great and growing concern to us. […] The International Atomic Energy Agency's Illicit Trafficking Database, which tracks all reported cases of smuggling, theft, unexplained losses, or black market sales of nuclear materials, reports there have been 1,340 confirmed incidents of smuggling since 2007 that involve materials that could at least be used to make a so-called dirty bomb. And of those cases, 18 involved the smuggling of highly enriched uranium or plutonium--the material that is critical to the making of an actual atomic weapon. In 2008, our Committee held hearings to examine the office created in our government to counter this threat--the little-known Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). […] Though most Americans have never heard of DNDO, its mission is clearly vital to our homeland security in the world in which we live in today." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Joseph I. Lieberman, Susan M. Collins, Daniel K. Akaka, Eugene E. Aloise, Micah D. Lowenthal, Dana A. Shea, Jane Holl Lute, and Warren M. Stern.
United States. Government Printing Office
2011
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International Terrorism: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Ninety-Seventh Congress, First Session on S. 873, A Bill to Strengthen Federal Programs and Policies for Combating International and Domestic Terrorism; The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (Exec. H, 96-2); The International Convention against the Taking of Hostages (Exec. N, 96-2), June 10, 1981
From the opening statement of Charles H. Percy: "The Committee on Foreign Relations meets this morning to hear administration witnesses on the subject of terrorism. We have with us Under Secretary of State Richard Kennedy, who has been designated by Secretary of State Haig to speak for the Department on this question. He is accompanied by Ambassador Anthony Quainton, Director of the Office for Combating Terrorism in the Department of State, and by other colleagues. We will ask Secretary Kennedy to identify them when he begins his testimony. This is the first opportunity the committee has had to discuss with the administration its announced intention to make terrorism a principal concern of its foreign policy." […]. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Richard T. Kennedy, Charles H. Percy, John Glenn, Charles Mathias and Alan Cranston.
United States. Government Printing Office
1981
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S. Hrg. 107-224: Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session, March 27, 2001
From the opening statement of Jon Kyl: "At this hearing today, we are going to examine the findings of the Congressionally mandated Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction, as presented in its latest report entitled 'Toward a
National Strategy for Combating Terrorism.'" Statements, letters, and material submitted for the record include those of the following: Dianne Feinstein, Jon Kyl, Jeff Sessions, Yonah Alexander, James Clapper, Jr., and Anthony H. Cordesman.
United States. Government Printing Office
2002
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CONPLAN: United States Government Interagency Domestic Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan
The purpose of this plan is to facilitate an effective Federal, response to all threats or acts of terrorism within the United States that are determined to be of sufficient magnitude to warrant implementation of this plan and the associated policy guidelines established in PDD-39 and PDD-62. To accomplish this, the CONPLAN: establishes a structure for a systematic, coordinated and effective national response to threats or acts of terrorism in the United States; defines procedures for the use of Federal resources to augment and support local and State governments; and encompasses both crisis and consequence management responsibilities, and articulates the coordination relationships between these missions. The CONPLAN is a strategic document that: applies to all threats or acts of terrorism within the United States; provides planning guidance and outlines operational concepts for the federal crisis and consequence management response to a threatened or actual terrorist incident within the United States; serves as the foundation for further development of detailed national, regional, state, and local operations plans and procedures; includes guidelines for notification, coordination and leadership of response activities, supporting operations, and coordination of emergency public information across all levels of government; acknowledges the unique nature of each incident, the capabilities of the local jurisdiction, and the activities necessary to prevent or mitigate a specific threat or incident; and illustrates ways in which Federal, State and local agencies can most effectively unify and synchronize their response actions.
United States. Department of Defense
2001-01
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Hearing on H.R. 525: Preparedness against Domestic Terrorism Act, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, United States House of Representatives One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session, May 9, 2001
The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on H.R. 525, a bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Act to update Title VI of the Act and to provide coordination for federal efforts with regard to preparedness against terrorist attacks in the United States. The hearing will also address proposals offered by the Administration. H.R. 525 represents the view that (1) there is no national strategy for preparedness against terrorist attacks; (2) despite the multitude of existing federal preparedness programs, there is no defined end-state to determine at what point communities are prepared for a terrorist attack involving a weapon of mass destruction; (3) federal efforts are not coordinated resulting in fragmented and overlapping programs; (4) emergency responders insist there must be a single entity in charge of coordinating federal efforts; and (5) this entity must have authority over all federal agencies. Statements include those of the following persons: Earl Blumenauer, Joe M. Allbaugh, Mary Lou Leary, Charles Cragin, Ann Simank, and Edward Plaugher.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
2001
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Domestic Preparedness in the Next Millennium: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Youth Violence and the Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, First Session, April 20, 1999
On April 20, 1999, representatives met to discuss domestic preparedness in the next millennium. Testimony is designed to explain the administration's plan to train and equip first responders to the highest possible standards in preparation for possible chemical, biological, or nuclear attacks. Statements, letters, and material submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeff Sessions, Dianee Feinstein, Jon Kyl, Barbara Y. Martinez, James M. Hughes, Charles L. Cragin, Andy Mitchell, Richard Dyer, Patrick J. Sullivan, Jr., Richard L. Alcorta, and Joseph F. Waeckerle.
United States. Government Printing Office
2000
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Rise of Domestic Terrorism and Its Relation to United States Armed Forces
From the thesis abstract: "Extremist and potentially terroristic groups have, to some extent, infiltrated and negatively impacted on the morale and cohesiveness of individual military personnel and units. Racial, religious and political ideological differences will continue to exist within and among active duty military personnel, primarily as a reflection of the same issues in the civilian society. Fair and effective means of limiting the involvement of active-duty military personnel in extremist organizations will require aggressive education and training at all levels, particularly among new recruits [...]. Recent events of domestic terrorism [...] have caused significant concern and alarm over the extent to which extremists and hate-groups are present in the military services. A major dilemma is posed in dealing with this issue, specifically when an individual's freedoms of thought and association are identified as a contributing factor to the existence of such people in the military services [...]. Right-wing extremists and hate-motivated groups have historically, and are currently recruiting active duty military personnel for several reasons, including: 1) they lend a degree of 'legitimacy' and 'bravado' to militant groups that aids in the group's ability to recruit civilians, 2) they are trained and are capable of training group members in the use of weapons and tactics, 3) they are useful as an 'inside' point of contact for ordinance and munitions thefts, and 4) the military environment fosters a more disciplined and conservative mindset that these groups can exploit and construe to attain loyalties and devotion based upon the racial or religious convictions of the soldier [...]. Additionally, education and frank, open discussions will be required to prevent and eliminate such problems in the future."
Marine Corps Command and Staff College (U.S.)
Presley, Steven Mack
1996-04-19
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Systems Approach to Assessing the Vulnerabilities of U.S. Domestic Sea Ports to Acts of Sabotage and Terrorism
"The U.S. national security strategy provides for two, nearly simultaneous, major regional contingency (MRC) operations. The U.S. Armed Forces transport more than 85% of their required sustainment supplies by sea. Strategic mobility planners assume that U.S. port operations can support the required deployment schedule without experiencing degradation or damage. Given the inherent vulnerability of seaports in our free and open society, the real issue is to determine the extent to which the ports are vulnerable. No agency or armed service has clearly determined the degree of vulnerability of domestic ports and terminals. There is no existing methodology to accurately assess the overall vulnerability of a port, thus, the current, subjective evaluations fail to adequately analyze real-world vulnerability. This research systematically combines the individual components of port security assessment into one comprehensive approach that will aid commanders and port authorities in accurately identifying threat, vulnerability, and risk; thus, providing useful information with which to tailor port security operations. The primary focus is on the vulnerability assessment and prescribes two interrelated measures to enhance the accuracy and usefulness of a vulnerability assessment. The first measure provides recommended guidelines in the identification of critical assets. The second provides an objective, analytical method to assess the vulnerability of critical assets. The conclusion of this research is that a systems approach is required in order to accurately assess port security. The Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation, the two departments with key responsibilities for strategic mobility, must confirm or disprove the validity of the assumption concerning port security."
Industrial College of the Armed Forces (U.S.)
Hughes, Robert H.
1996-05-28
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Beyond the U.S. War on Terrorism: Comparing Domestic Legal Remedies to an International Dilemma
"This paper summarizes the key insights from the conference. (1) Competing definitions of terrorism and war yield different diplomatic, legal, and military consequences. The definition a policy maker chooses is a key consideration. (2) The United States defined the September 11, 2001, attacks as acts of war rather than crimes outside a war context. The resulting response was due in part to a lack of legal flexibility in U.S. law, not understanding the power imbedded in criminal categorization, and reliance on structural changes for solutions. (3) European countries have a long history of individually and collectively responding to terrorism through their legal systems and the United States could profit from examining those responses. (4) Latin America has a long history of contending with terrorism in a context of guerrilla warfare. (5) Strategists and policy makers often incorrectly view the Islamic world as homogeneous and unchanging in its relationship to the West and to terrorism. (6) Policy formulation could benefit from the many historical examples, some in U.S. history, of problems associated with applying laws of war to insurgencies and other irregular warfare. (7) The United States should avoid the following: limiting itself by adopting overly simple definitions; characterizing offending groups by a tactic used and forgetting that they have many other dimensions; one-dimensional reactions to attacks; and underestimating the value of legal solutions to international problems."
Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute
Owens, Dallas (Dallas D.)
2005-02
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Serial No. 113-80: Innocence for Sale: Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: Hearing Before U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, March 26, 2014
This is from the March 26, 2014 hearing on "Innocence for Sale" held before the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations. From the opening statement of Bob Goodlatte: "When criminals exploit children for their own financial gain or personal pleasure, they rob them of their innocence and destroy their childhood. Pimps and the adults who purchase these services -- both more accurately referred to as 'traffickers' -- sexually exploit children through street prostitution, and in adult strip clubs, brothels, hotel rooms, and other locations. It goes without saying that no child should be subjected to this horrifying and inhumane violence. Sadly, it happens across the country every single day. The demand for the prostitution of children, and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation of minors, is steadily growing. While some traffickers are individuals working for themselves, minor sex trafficking is more often perpetrated by broader criminal syndicates or gangs that have realized it is more profitable to prostitute a child than to commit other crimes. For example, drugs can only be sold once, whereas minor children can be sold multiple times each day. Because of this growth, it is estimated that human trafficking in the United States is now a $9.8 billion dollar industry. We must work together to put this detestable industry out of business." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bob Goodlatte, Michael Harpster, Chris Heid, Withelma "T" Ortiz Walker Pettigrew, and Donna Quigley Groman.
United States. Government Printing Office
2014
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United States Government Interagency Domestic Terrorism Concept of Operations Plan (CONPLAN)
The Concept of Operations Plan (CONPLAN) is designed to provide overall guidance to Federal, State and local agencies concerning how the Federal government would respond to a potential or actual terrorist threat or incident that occurs in the United States, particularly one involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The CONPLAN outlines an organized and unified capability for a timely, coordinated response by Federal agencies to a terrorist threat or act.
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2001-01-01?
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Germany and the United States in the Age of Terror: Ideas, Domestic Politics, and the International System of States
"What accounts for the rift between Washington and Berlin at present? No single cause emerges from an examination of this situation that hopes to go beyond the facile, reactive, if not jingoistic, analyses of the chattering classes in Berlin and Washington. Rather, the current strain is wrought of a convergence of forces, complicating manifestations of history, ideology, experience, and ambition that have always swirled around the German-American relationship, however inchoately. For a variety of reasons, these factors have coalesced to exacerbate tensions and produce a troubling reaction in the last several months since the American coalition against terror marched to war, first in Afghanistan and then in Iraq. This article examines these complicating factors and the circumstances that have made them so virulent of late."
Naval War College (U.S.)
Abenheim, Donald, 1953-
2003
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Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress [May 15, 2012]
"The emphasis of counterterrorism policy in the United States since Al Qaeda's attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) has been on jihadist terrorism. However, in the last decade, domestic terrorists--people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements--have killed American citizens and damaged property across the country. Not all of these criminals have been prosecuted under terrorism statutes. This latter point is not meant to imply that domestic terrorists should be taken any less seriously than other terrorists. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) do not officially list domestic terrorist organizations, but they have openly delineated domestic terrorist 'threats.' These include individuals who commit crimes in the name of ideologies supporting animal rights, environmental rights, anarchism, white supremacy, anti-government ideals, black separatism, and anti-abortion beliefs. The boundary between constitutionally protected legitimate protest and domestic terrorist activity has received public attention. This boundary is especially highlighted by a number of criminal cases involving supporters of animal rights--one area in which specific legislation related to domestic terrorism has been crafted. The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (P.L. 109-374) expands the federal government's legal authority to combat animal rights extremists who engage in criminal activity. Signed into law in November 2006, it amended the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act (P.L. 102-346). […] This report provides background regarding domestic terrorists--detailing what constitutes the domestic terrorism threat as suggested by publicly available U.S. government sources. It illustrates some of the key factors involved in assessing this threat and concludes by examining potential issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2012-05-15
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Domestic Terrorism and Its Affect on the Fire Service
"Over the years, the fire service has become expert at mitigating major emergencies caused by accidental and intentional fire setting, and by acts of nature. Today, fire service agencies in the United States are faced with a new, more difficult challenge. This new challenge is that of domestic terrorism. The problem is that most fire service agencies in the United States have done little to prepare for acts of domestic terrorism. The purpose of this research was to gather and present information on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) currently being used to perpetrate terrorist acts in world today, and to provide information that will assist fire service agencies prepare for these terrorist incidents when they occur in their communities. An action research method was used to address the following questions: 1. What is domestic terrorism? 2. What are weapons of mass destruction? 3. What should a local fire service agency do to prepare for a domestic terrorist act? The procedures used to complete this research included a review of literature describing recent international and domestic acts of terrorism, and of operating guidelines developed by government agencies to be used during acts of domestic terrorism. The results of this research clearly identified the need for the Portland Bureau of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (BFRES) to develop a plan to coordinate local, state, federal and private sector resources to respond effectively to terrorist acts."
National Fire Academy
Wilson, Ed
1999-12
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Domestic Terrorism: An Overview [August 21, 2017]
"The emphasis of counterterrorism policy in the United States since Al Qaeda's attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) has been on jihadist terrorism. However, in the last decade, domestic terrorists-people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements-have killed American citizens and damaged property across the country. Not all of these criminals have been prosecuted under federal terrorism statutes, which does not imply that domestic terrorists are taken any less seriously than other terrorists. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) do not officially designate domestic terrorist organizations, but they have openly delineated domestic terrorist 'threats'. These include individuals who commit crimes in the name of ideologies supporting animal rights, environmental rights, anarchism, white supremacy, anti-government ideals, black separatism, and beliefs about abortion. The boundary between constitutionally protected legitimate protest and domestic terrorist activity has received public attention. This boundary is highlighted by a number of criminal cases involving supporters of animal rights-one area in which specific legislation related to domestic terrorism has been crafted. The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (P.L. 109-374) expands the federal government's legal authority to combat animal rights extremists who engage in criminal activity. Signed into law in November 2006, it amended the Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-346)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2017-08-21
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Office of Management and Budget: 2003 Report to Congress on Combating Terrorism
This report provides funding and programmatic information on the executive branch's efforts to combat terrorist activity both domestically and overseas. Agencies categorized their funding data based on the six strategic mission areas defined in the National Strategy for Homeland Security, as discussed below. In addition, agencies identified activities from which reported funding supports efforts to defend against terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), improve critical infrastructure protection (CIP) efforts, or provide for federal continuity of operations (COOP) in the event of a national emergency. For classification purposes, we continue to combine the funding amounts for the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. This funding is labeled throughout the Report as Defense. Combating terrorism activities include both antiterrorism (defensive measures used to combat terrorism) and counterterrorism (offensive measures used to combat terrorism), both domestically and abroad. Combating terrorism is divided into two primary categories, homeland security (HS) and overseas combating terrorism (OCT), and encompasses all funding for defense against WMD, improvements to CIP, and provision for federal COOP. Homeland security programs focus on activities within the United States and its territories, or on activities in support of domestically-based systems and processes. The Homeland Security Council (HSC) coordinates these activities government-wide. Overseas combating terrorism focuses on activities outside the United States. The National Security Council (NSC) coordinates these activities government-wide. Together, the two areas comprise the overall combating terrorism budget for the federal government. The mission areas are Intelligence and Warning, Border and Transportation Security, Domestic Counterterrorism, Protecting Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets, Defending Against Catastrophic Threats, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Combating Overseas Terrorism, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Continuity of Operations.
United States. Office of Management and Budget
2003-09
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Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and Homegrown Violent Extremism [June 13, 2016]
"Domestic terrorism, hate crime, and homegrown violent extremism are three fairly distinct concepts that federal law enforcement agencies use to categorize key types of criminals whose illegal activities are at least partly ideologically motivated. […] Domestic terrorism cases differ from ordinary criminal activity in key ways. Most importantly, unlike ordinary criminals--who are often driven by self-centered motives such as profit and tend to opportunistically seek easy prey--domestic terrorists are driven by a cause or ideology. If the motives involved eventually align with the definition laid out in 18 U.S.C. §2331(5), presumably the case becomes a domestic terrorist investigation. […] Current federal law defines hate crimes to include any crime against either person or property in which the offender intentionally selects the victim because of the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation. Hate crimes may appear to involve ideological issues. However, as described by one FBI official, a 'hate crime' 'generally involve[s] acts of personal malice directed at individuals' and is missing the broader motivations driving acts of domestic terrorism. […] The FBI and DHS have popularized the phrase 'homegrown violent extremist' (HVE). It divides domestic terrorists from U.S.-based terrorists motivated by the ideologies of foreign terrorist organizations. According to DHS and the FBI, a HVE is 'a person of any citizenship who has lived and/or operated primarily in the United States or its territories who advocates, is engaged in, or is preparing to engage in ideologically-motivated terrorist activities (including providing support to terrorism) […]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2016-06-13
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What Are We Missing? A Call for Red Teaming Within the Domestic Maritime Domain for Anti-terrorism Programs
From the thesis abstract: "As a component of the Department of Homeland Security and the department's lead for maritime security, the Coast Guard is charged with executing the United States domestic maritime anti-terrorism program. It is critical that Coast Guard policy, plans, and tactics maintain pace with the ever-changing risks associated with terrorism. This thesis examines alternative analysis red teaming and its potential value to the Coast Guard. Specifically, it seeks to answer how red teaming can be leveraged to enhance the value of domestic maritime anti-terrorism activities. The research reviews elements of the maritime domain and principles of red teaming, and proposes and provides implementation recommendations for a terrorism red teaming program for the domestic maritime domain. The study revealed that a red team program would be value added to the Coast Guard for domestic maritime anti-terrorism programs. Leveraging the concept of a minimal viable program, the thesis proposes a red team program and strategy to implement the program within the U.S. Coast Guard. The suggested program would be comprised of three elements: physical red teaming, identification of future attack scenarios, and policy red teaming. The thesis further provides insight into the implementation of these programs and suggests a minimal viable program approach to establishing a terrorism red teaming program for the domestic maritime domain."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
List, Timothy J.
2015-12
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Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century [Updated August 15, 2007]
"A Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century is a reference guide prepared under the direction of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), TRADOC G2 as a capstone reference guide on terrorism. TRADOC G2 Handbook No. 1, A Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century is prepared by the TRADOC Intelligence Support Activity (TRISA)-Threats. Understanding terrorism spans foreign and domestic threats of nation-states, rogue states with international or transnational agents, and other actors with specific strategies, tactics, and targets. This terrorism guide addresses foreign and domestic threats against the United States of America in a contemporary operational environment (COE). This informational handbook supports institutional training, professional military education, and operational missions for U.S. military forces in the War on Terrorism (WOT). This document provides an introduction to the nature of terrorism and recognition of terrorist threats to U.S. military forces. A common situational awareness by U.S. military forces considers three principal venues for armed forces: forces that are deployed, forces that are in transit to or from an operational mission, and forces that are primarily installation or institution support. Compiled from open source materials, this handbook promotes a 'Threats' perspective and enemy situational awareness of U.S. strategies and operations in combating terrorism. Neither a counterterrorism directive nor antiterrorism manual, this handbook complements but does not replace Army training and intelligence products on terrorism. This handbook exists primarily for U.S. military forces; however, other applicable groups include interdepartmental, interagency, intergovernmental, civilian contractor, nongovernmental, private volunteer, and humanitarian relief organizations, and the general citizenry."
United States. Army Training and Doctrine Command
2007-08-15
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Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress [January 17, 2013]
"Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), domestic terrorists--'people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements'--have not received as much attention from federal law enforcement as their foreign counterparts inspired by Al Qaeda. This was not necessarily always the case. The FBI reported in 1999 that '[d]uring the past 30 years, the vast majority--but not all--of the deadly terrorist attacks occurring in the United States have been perpetrated by domestic extremists.' […] This report provides background regarding domestic terrorists--detailing what constitutes the domestic terrorism threat as suggested by publicly available U.S. government sources. It illustrates some of the key factors involved in assessing this threat and concludes by examining potential issues for Congress. This report does not discuss in detail either violent jihadist-inspired terrorism or the federal government's role in counterterrorism investigations. It is meant to be read in conjunction with CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R41780, 'The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Terrorism Investigations'; CRS Report R42553, 'Countering Violent Extremism in the United States'; and CRS Report R41416, 'American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat', which provide greater context in these areas."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2013-01-17
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Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century [Version 3.0, August 2005]
"A Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century is a reference guide prepared under the direction of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence-Threats. Understanding terrorism spans foreign and domestic threats of nation-states, rogue states with international or transnational agent demonstrations, and actors with specific strategies, tactics, and targets. A central aspect of this terrorism guide comprises foreign and domestic threats against the United States of America in a contemporary operational environment (COE). Purpose. This informational handbook supports operational missions, institutional training, and professional military education for U.S. military forces in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This capstone document provides an introduction to the nature of terrorism and recognition of terrorist threats to U.S. military forces. A common situational awareness by U.S. military forces considers three principal venues: forces that are deployed, forces that are in transit to or from an operational mission, and forces that are primarily installation or institution support. Compiled from open source materials, this handbook promotes a 'Threats' perspective and enemy situational awareness of U.S. strategies and operations in combating terrorism. Neither a counter-terrorism directive nor anti-terrorism manual, the handbook complements but does not replace training and intelligence products on terrorism."
United States. Army Training and Doctrine Command
2005-08-15
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Combating Terrorism: Issues to Be Resolved to Improve Counterterrorism Operations, Report to Congressional Requesters
"Terrorist attacks against U.S. personnel and interests domestically and abroad highlight the need for effective U.S. efforts to combat terrorism. As requested, we prepared this unclassified summary of our February 1999 classified report to you on interagency counterterrorist operations. Specifically, we examined how agencies worked together in counterterrorist operations and special events; strengths and weaknesses of international and domestic counterterrorist exercises; and agency and interagency processes to capture and share lessons learned. In the last 3 years, federal agencies have conducted several successful interagency operations overseas, including some in which suspected terrorists have been returned to the United States to stand trial. In addition, federal agencies have deployed personnel and equipment to prepare for many special events such as the Atlanta Olympic Games. However, federal agencies have not completed interagency guidance and resolved command and control issues. Proposed interagency Domestic Guidelines have not been completed, nor coordinated with all federal agencies with domestic counterterrorism roles. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has not coordinated the proposed Domestic Guidelines with the Department of the Treasury even though it could have a significant role in an actual terrorist incident. Furthermore, approval of proposed interagency International Guidelines has been delayed because the Department of State, the Department of Justice, and the FBI have not reached agreement on the level of State participation in highly sensitive missions to arrest suspected terrorists overseas. In addition, some interagency and intergovernmental command and control issues regarding domestic counterterrorist operations have not been fully resolved."
United States. General Accounting Office
1999-05
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Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1996
Terrorism in 1996 continued to cause grave concern and disruption in scores of countries. Combating this menace remains a very high priority for the United States and many other nations. But finding clear "patterns" in this form of political violence is becoming more difficult. The Department of State's annual Patterns of Olobal Terrorism focuses primarily on international terrorism involving citizens or territory of two or more states. It also describes but does not provide statistics on domestic terrorism abroad, which is an even more widespread phenomenon. The number of international terrorist incidents has fallen, from a peak of 665 in 1987, to 296 in 1996, a 25-year low. Moreover, about two-thirds of these attacks were minor acts of politically motivated violence against commercial targets, which caused no deaths and few casualties. Yet while the incidence of international terrorism has dropped sharply in the last decade, the overall threat of terrorism remains very serious. The death toll from acts of international terrorism rose from 163 in 1995 to 311 in 1996, as the trend continued toward more ruthless attacks on mass civilian targets and the use of more powertul bombs. The threat of terrorist use of materials of mass destruction is an issue of growing concern, although few such attempts or attacks have actually occurred. Finally, domestic terrorism, in countries such as Algeria, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, appears to be growing and is more serious, in gross terms, than international terrorism. It is clear, in any case, that the damage to society from terrorism is very high, and not just in terms of the dead and wounded. Terrorism, by definition, is aimed at a wider audience than its immediate victims. Terrorists proved again in 1996 that they can command a worldwide audience for their crimes and cause great disruption, fear, and economic damage.
United States. Department of State
1996
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Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century [Final Draft]
"This document is a reference guide prepared under the direction of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence-Threats. Understanding terrorism spans foreign and domestic threats of nation-states, rogue states with international or transnational agent demonstrations, and actors with specific strategies, tactics, and targets. A central aspect of this terrorism guide comprises foreign and domestic threats against the United States of America in a contemporary operational environment (COE). This informational handbook supports operational missions, institutional training, and professional military education for U.S. military forces in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This capstone document provides an introduction to the nature of terrorism and recognition of terrorist threats to U.S. military forces. A common situational awareness by U.S. military forces considers three principal venues: forces that are deployed, forces that are in transit to or from an operational mission, and forces that are primarily installation or institution support. Compiled from open source materials, this handbook promotes a 'Threats' perspective and enemy situational awareness of U.S. strategies and operations in combating terrorism. Neither a counter-terrorism directive nor anti-terrorism manual, the handbook complements but does not replace training and intelligence products on terrorism."
United States. Army Training and Doctrine Command
2005-08-15
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Citizenship and Terrorism: The Significance of a Pathway to Citizenship on Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis asks the following question: How would providing a pathway to citizenship for the illegal immigrant population of the United States affect homeland security with respect to domestic terrorism? Terrorism within the United States is categorized in terms of citizenship status: citizen, naturalized citizen, legal immigrant, illegal immigrant, and non-immigrating foreigner. An analysis of terrorism defined by the categories of citizenship status and estimated population size was used to assess data from the Global Terrorism Database for the period between 2001 and 2011. Percentages of terrorism by categories of citizenship status are compared to percentages of the estimated total population to identify an order of prevalence among the categories. The results from the analysis of the Global Terrorism Database were used to assess the significance of including a pathway to citizenship within current comprehensive immigration reform proposals in regards to homeland security antiterrorism policies within the United States. This thesis concludes that terrorism conducted by United States citizens, both native and naturalized, is the predominant form of terrorism in the United States. Furthermore, it is argued that the inclusion of a path to citizenship within comprehensive immigration reform proposals will not result in a significant increase in domestic terrorism."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Recker, Kyle E.
2014-03
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Emerging Threat of Domestic Terrorism: A Systematic Review of Evolving Needs, Threats, and Opportunities
From the thesis abstract: "The domestic terrorist threat in the United States is active and complex, with ongoing threats from violent left- and right-wing extremist groups, and radicalization and recruitment efforts by international terrorist groups. In response, domestic intelligence agencies, at all levels of government, have instituted reforms and improvements since 9/11, but there are still gaps in information-sharing and community engagement. For example, a review of the Boston Marathon bombings uncovered that important risk-based information was not shared with local law enforcement. Concerning domestic terrorism, the United States may, once again, be failing to 'connect the dots.' This thesis synthesizes existing studies, reports, and expert testimony concerning domestic terrorism and the roles of domestic intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and the public, and proposes the development and implementation of a formal, national counterterrorism (CT) doctrine. The CT doctrine, in conjunction with a counter-radicalization strategy, should focus on bottom-up intelligence/information-sharing, training to strengthen and focus intelligence collection efforts, and culturally sensitive and engaging messaging on social media and the Internet to counter extremist propaganda."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Wright, Lynn M.
2014-12
