The Western world faces a number of security challenges. Terrorism is among these challenges. Such countries as Belgium, the United States and France have suffered terrorist attacks in the recent past that left dozens dead. These attacks have inspired these countries to revamp their counter-terrorism efforts. While international terrorist organizations pose the greatest security threat, there are also domestic terror networks which are causing havoc and compromising national security (Shinkman, 2015). If the US is to be successful in its campaign against terrorism, it needs to tackle domestic terrorists as much as it fights international terrorism.
Definition of terrorism
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has provided a definition of terrorism. In this definition, the FBI identifies the features that criminal activities need to possess for them to be considered terrorist acts. According to the FBI, terrorism refers to “acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law” (Yeomans, 2015). The FBI recognizes that the mere fact that a certain act poses a danger to human life does not qualify it to be considered terrorist. It adds that terrorist acts are those that are intended to coerce and intimidate. Furthermore, terrorist groups seek to shape government policy and are usually committed in the pursuit of some political agenda (Yeomans, 2015). The FBI also identifies some of the acts that can be considered terrorist. They include kidnapping, assassination and mass destruction. The FBI’S definition is largely in keeping with the known activities of terrorist groups such as the Islamic State. This terrorist group has carried out mass murders and imposed Sharia law on civilian populations.
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Major forms of terrorism
Terrorism occurs in two main forms: domestic and international. As the name suggests, domestic terrorism involve acts that individuals inside the United States commit. These individuals usually find inspiration from local issues and movements (FBI, n.d). They tend to hold extremist views. Politics, religion and race are the main forces that drive domestic terrorism. It is worth noting that the definition of domestic terrorism is so broad that it encompasses organizations that do not necessarily fit the traditional views on domestic terrorism. For example, groups that are involved in various forms of activism can now be considered to be perpetrators of domestic terrorism if this concept is to be defined strictly. These groups include Greenpeace, Environmental Liberation Front and Operation Rescue, among others (“How the USA Patriot”, n.d). There are other groups whose characterization as domestic terrorist organizations is fair and fitting. The Ku Klux Klan is among these groups. Recently, this group has joined forces with white supremacists to stoke racial tensions in the country. For example, the group was part of those who held protests in Charlottesville. The protests led to the death of a woman.
International terrorism is the other form that terrorism takes. Essentially, international terrorism encompasses acts that individuals who draw their inspiration from foreign groups and individuals carry out. Nations can also sponsor domestic terrorism. (FBI, n.d) The Islamic State and Al-Qaeda are among the major drivers of international terrorism. These groups are usually quick to take responsibility for terrorist attacks that occur in the US. For example, investigations into the San Bernadino attack revealed that the perpetrator was associated with the Islamic State.
Domestic and international terrorist groups
That the US faces a serious threat from both domestic and international terrorist groups is not in question. Lone-wolf terrorism is undoubtedly the biggest domestic threat that the US faces today (Worth, 2016). This form of terrorism involves individuals who do not have any known links to terrorist groups. It is true that there are lone wolf terrorists who subscribe to the ideologies of such terrorist groups as Islamic State. However, what sets these terrorists apart is the fact that they plan and carry out attacks without any help from third parties (Worth, 2016). They use the attacks as an outlet of personal grievances and frustration. Omar Mateen can be considered to be a lone wolf terrorist. He carried out an attack at a gay club in Orlando. This attack left 49 people dead. Micah Johnson who had served in the army is another example of domestic terrorists (Worth, 2016). He executed an attack that ended with the death of five people. The common feature in the attacks that Mateen and Johnson executed is that they both acted alone.
While lone wolf attackers are the main threats to US domestic security, the country still faces threats from international terrorist groups. The Islamic State undeniably poses the greatest threat to the country. This group has taken responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks that have occurred in the country. For example, the group claimed to have directed Sayfullo Saipov, the man behind the 2017 attack in New York City (Dearden, 2017). This attack left eight people dead. The New York attack is just one of numerous others that the Islamic State has taken responsibility for. The Islamic State has also sponsored terrorist attacks in other countries such as France. This makes it a threat to global security.
Conclusion
The US has made great strides in its efforts to guarantee national security. However, terrorism continues to hamper these efforts. Domestic terrorists are a particular threat to the country’s security. Lone wolf attackers who work alone present law enforcement agencies with a new challenge. It is difficult to monitor and nab these attackers because they do not have any association with established terrorist networks. Far-right extremist groups such as Ku Klux Klan compound the security challenges that the country grapples with. The Islamic State is the greatest international threat to US security. Since it faces threats from different fronts, the US needs to redouble its counter-terrorism efforts.
References
Dearden, L. (2017). ISIS claims responsibility for New York terror attack that killed eight people . Retrieved November 24, 2017, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/isis-new-york-attack-responsibility-claim-terrorism-killed-people-victims-truck-sayfullo-saipov-a8030881.html
How the USA Patriot Act Redefines “Domestic Terrorism”. (n.d). Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.aclu.org/other/how-usa-patriot-act-redefines-domestic-terrorism
Shinkman, P. D. (2015). The greatest threat to America . Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2015/08/07/the-greatest-threat-to-america
Worth, K. (2016). Lone Wolf Attacks Are Becoming More Common -- And More Deadly. Retrieved November 25, 2017, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/lone-wolf-attacks-are-becoming-more-common-and-more-deadly/
Yeomans, W. (2015). This is what it takes for mass murder to be ‘Terrorism’ . Retrieved November 24, 2017, from http://time.com/4136457/terrorism-definition/
