Homeland Security and Terrorism
According to Chapter 6 of our textbook there are a variety of terrorists that reside in the United States.
First, discuss which of these groups are the most dangerous? And why?
Second, should homeland security officials be as concerned with the various groups in the United States as they are with Muslim extremists? And why or why not?
Sample Solution
The most dangerous terrorist groups in the United States are those that are domestic and have a clear ideology that drives them to violence. These groups include white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and right-wing extremists. These groups are motivated by a hatred of minorities and immigrants, and they believe that the United States should be a white ethnostate. They are also often anti-government and anti-law enforcement.Full Answer Section
These groups are dangerous because they are well-organized and have access to weapons. They are also able to operate relatively openly in the United States because they are not seen as a threat by the mainstream population. In recent years, there has been a surge in violence from these groups. For example, in 2017, a white supremacist killed 17 people at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2019, a neo-Nazi killed 22 people at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. Homeland security officials should be concerned with all terrorist groups, regardless of their ideology. However, they should be especially concerned with domestic terrorist groups because they are more difficult to track and monitor. Homeland security officials also need to be aware of the threat posed by these groups to law enforcement and other first responders. Why homeland security officials should be as concerned with the various groups in the United States as they are with Muslim extremists:- Domestic terrorist groups are more likely to attack the United States than foreign terrorist groups.
- Domestic terrorist groups are more difficult to track and monitor than foreign terrorist groups.
- Domestic terrorist groups are more likely to have access to weapons and explosives than foreign terrorist groups.
- Domestic terrorist groups are more likely to attack law enforcement and other first responders than foreign terrorist groups.
- Muslim extremists have been responsible for a number of high-profile terrorist attacks in the United States, such as the 9/11 attacks.
- Muslim extremists are often seen as a greater threat to the United States than domestic terrorist groups.
- There is a lot of public pressure on homeland security officials to focus on the threat of Muslim extremism.