Domestic Terrorism In The United States Essay

To varying degrees, national help help terrorism has survived and impact the social and semi semipolitical structure of the relate States. As defined by the countrys Department of Justice, these words connote the unlawful economic consumption of force or violence, committed by a group(s) of two or more individuals, against persons or property to intimidate or blackmail a giving medication, the accomplishedian population, or any segment thitherof, in justance of political or social objectives (U. S. Department of Justice, 1994, p. 26).Though such word picture is well clear in its mingying, oftentimes a case-by-case interpretation is necessary to ascertain where extremism ends and terrorism begins. Terrorism vs. Extremism A more concise logical argument between extremism and terrorism is evident in the recognition that extremism is not bizarre in any political environment, and is more often than not order by societal pressures, civil discourse, education and the law . On the opposite hand, in terrorism, the violence is far beyond control by civil, educational or societal elements and must be tracked d avouch, penalized and castigated by law enforcement agencies.The mental lexicon of Political Thought defines extremism as a vague term, that can mean a) the taking of a political idea to its limits, regardless of unfortunate repercussions, impracticalities, arguments and feelings to the obstinate and with the intention not only to confront but also to pass along opposition b) fanaticism towards alone views other than iodines own and c) the adoption of means to political ends which show disregard for the life, liberty and benevolent rights of others (Scronton, 1982).The complexity of separating terrorism and extremism is that in various situations, domestic groups which atomic number 18 obviously law-abiding at present, may be contemplating of violent actions in the future. As it is, some violent groups started as non-violent discussion or protest movements with truly lofty ideals however, as time elapsed they evolved into or sothing else. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli embassador to the linked Nations, provides a suitable and a more fitting characterization of terrorism when he described it as the deliberate and systematic murder, maiming and lowering of the innocent to inspire fear for political ends. USA Patriot trigger Section 802 of the USA PATRIOT Act stretched the definition of terrorism to implicate domestic in contrast to external terrorism. An individual is utter to be carryd in domestic terrorism if he/she does an act that is touch-and-go to human life, that is a violation of the criminal laws of a state or the United States, and if the act appears to be intended to a) intimidate or coerce a civilian population b) influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion or c) to affect the carry of a government by mass remnant, assassination or kidnapping.Further, the acts charter to tak e place chiefly within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States and if they do not, then these acts can already be regarded as international terrorism. Clearly, Section 802 does not create a new crime of domestic terrorism. N unitytheless, it does extend the kinds or the nature of actions that the government can examine and essay into when it is investigating terrorism.The USA Patriot Act stretched out the powers of the government when they do their investigations and some of these powers atomic number 18 applicable to domestic terrorism. Such definition of domestic terrorism is expansive enough to cover the actions and activities of many known militant campaigns and organizations. Greenpeace, Operation Rescue, Vieques Island and WTO protesters and the Environmental Liberation Front afford all of late engaged in activities that could make them subject to investigations as engaging in domestic terrorism. Contemporary Domestic TerrorismThough governments, private and e r attlingday institutions moderate been beleaguered and weighed down by terrorism for hundreds of course of studys in one form or another, the strategies and the application associated with it digest changed and progressed as surely as the societies upon which it is imposed. Technological advances in the transportation, communication and in the area of weaponry have permitted the capacities of current domestic terrorist groups to get their message out and have deepen their ability to take aggressive and sadistic action to achieve their objectives. chairperson Clinton launched a counter-terrorism bill to the Senate and House of Representatives in February of 1995. One exceedingly disputatious proposal in the bill is the assigning of the Department of Defense a dominant place in assisting the investigation of domestic terrorism incidents in which chemical and biological agents are utilized. Currently, the military can be apply in cases of terrorist activities where there is an al leged avocation of nuclear weapons or devices and some(prenominal) more if such allegation has been established (Hall, 1995, Sec A).Though the amplified role of the military would be limited, necessitating a further amendment to the posse Comitatus Act of 1878, civil liberties experts cautioned that it would infringe the tenets of civil supremacy over the military and would only enkindle the hostilities and anti-government sentiments of the citizen-militias and conspiracy theorists (Landay, 1995). Furthermore, several Congressmen, law-enforcement officials and some military advisers concur that such employment of the military would be an exceedingly precarious approach in combating domestic terrorism.Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat from unexampled York, responded to questions as to whether the use of the military, in an spread out role, should be a part of the counterterrorism package, said, . . . the military defends the nation and does not involve itself in inter nal affairs (Minzesheimer, 1995, Sec A). Incidents and Implications There has been an evident and contumacious decline in the number of terrorist incidents in the United States during the past twenty years.To further delineate the trend of decline over time, a equality of the average number of incidents per year during each of three, six-year periods would be useful. During the six year period from 1977 with 1982, there was an average of 59. 0 incidents/year from 1983 through 1988 an average of 15. 7 incidents/year were recorded this compared to an average of 5. 3 incidents/year investigated during the period from 1989 through 1994 (FBI, 1994). *** ACTIVE GROUPS OPERATING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES sort AS TERRORISTS African National Prison Organization (ANPO).An arm of the African concourses Socialist Party. Animal Rights. in the main against use of living organisms for any purpose beyond their natural earth. Armed Resistance Group (ARG) aka Revolutionary Fighting Group, c rimson Guerrilla Faction. This group has been characterized in 1988 as tired and aging revolutionaries. Greenpeace Principally environmental-use extremists. Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Reorganized and relocated several arms of its group in 1989. Macheteros. Puerto Rican nationalists. Ohio Seven. hatful for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Very public-relations oriented.Radical Feminist Organizing Committee (RFOC). Driven-out of the feminist movement in 1989, in operation(p) independently. RAMBOC (Restore a More Benevolent revision Coalition). Targets and actively pursues the US assets and people of foreign groups with terrorist links, such as the PLO, SWAPO, ANC, etc rolling Thunder aka American Foundation for Accountability primary focus is to leave off upkeep to the POW/MIA issue from Vietnam War. Satanic Cult. Associated with attempted barrage of churches and kidnapping, and animal sacrifices, tombstone vandalism, and miscellaneous actions.Skinheads (SKA). Groups consis t of both racist and anti-racist situationions. SS execution Group. Principally anti-Semitic. Apparent Motivation There are principally quaternity classifications into which groups that are regarded as domestic terrorists can be distinguished presently existing in the United States. These groups can be generi call optiony delineate as being either motivated by phantasmal convictions, racial prejudice and supremacist goals, anarchistic/anti-government/politically motivated, or in pursuit of preposterous special interests.These classifications have been extracted from a collection of the categorization and delineation of extremist and terrorist groups by two respected subject-authorities, Stephen Segaller and FBIs Department of Justice. Segaller, in his check Invisible Armies, classified domestic terrorism in the United States into cardinal groups as well, but lists them as being a) Cuban infighting (political), b) backwoods terrorism (a combination of religious, racist and an archistic), c) violent Puerto Rican independence groups (political), and d) a handful of domestic revolutionary Marxist groups (anarchistic/anti-government and racist) (Segaller, 1987, pp.221-225). Theoretically speaking, the stimulus for the creation and sustained existence of extremist and terrorist groups can unequivocally be associated in many caboodle to pagan, cultural, religious, and racial feelings of bannerity. An accurate depiction of the continuum formed by these supremacist attitudes, and how they promote further tension is succinctly articulated by Frank G.McGuire, when he said that as long as Christians feel sterling(prenominal) to Jews (or vice-versa) and Catholics feel superior to Protestants and Ashkenazic Jews feel superior to Sephardic Jews, men feel superior to women and whites feel superior to blacks/browns/yellows/reds and so on, such phenomenon will be with us (McGuire, 1990, p. 10). These cultural, racial, gender, and a non-finite of other differences th at are present among people in society, particularly one as diverse as the United States of America, must be admit and respected, but shouldnt be seen or considered as a burden to peace and harmony within society.Nor should these diversities be seen as wholly propitious in their impact on the functioning of society as a whole. Tibor Machan, a social and political commentator, showed a well-timed dissertation on the myths and erroneous beliefs associated with viewing multiculturalism as simply a difference in dress, music, dance, and customs. Dr. Machan asserted that cultural differences, whether a result of race, gender, religion, or whatever, impacts both negatively and positively on other cultures within the society (Machan, 1996, pp.134-135) and further opined that attitudes of cultural-superiority and intolerance are directly related and incorporated into many of the extremist views and motivations that are plaguing America today. The period from 1982 through 1994 showed that the targets of domestic terrorism were predominately commercial establishments. The majority of incidents directed against commercial establishments were conducted by animal-rights and/or anti- stillbirth extremists, either attacking stores that sell fur, or clinics that performed abortions or provided abortion advice, respectively (FBI, 1994 McGuire, 1990).Religious & Racial control/Intolerance Religious intolerance founded upon fundamentalist standpoints has been the stimulus for acts of terrorism all throughout history and such as involved Orthodox Jews, Moslems, Catholics, and Protestants. Perhaps, there is no issue or idea among human beings that is as challenging and as seditious as that of religious beliefs.Auspiciously, at least as far as the United States is concerned, terror stimulated by religious intolerance has not been as significant a threat as in other parts of the orbit like in Africa, the shopping center East or Bosnia. America is a unique nation in that it gu arantees the freedom of religion with the First Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms with the min Amendment. This means that people can reckon whatever they want, and they can demoralise the guns to protect that belief (LeBaron, n.d). The statement was made in direct generator to Mormon fundamentalism and summarizes the very ideology upon which this country was founded which also provides an insight into the say-so dangers that exist with religious extremist groups. Recently however, there has been rhetoric and impart threats of aggression from different extremist groups that describe themselves as being stir by religion, nonetheless, have undisputedly displayed racial supremacist and hate-mongering views.The leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, advocates miscellaneous rhetoric of black supremacist views and religious fervor. He professes to have the faith and cultism of some four million people (Fletcher, 1996). In addition, several white-supremacist c lusters, including some of the many Christian militia splinter groups, advocate exceptionally stifling and hate-filled threats as well, apparently an endless, ages-old game of I call you a name, you call me a name. Oddly enough, two racial supremacist groups representing opposite extremes, the Nation of Islam and the Posse Comitatus, have concurred to an ultimate end-state segregation of the United States into regions of pure racial integrity. some other group operating within the United States that has historically merged a racist agenda with religious rhetoric, and was truly very sadistic in its actions and objectives, is the Ku Klux Klan.They have, however, considerably lessened in both their membership metrical composition and lightless power-base in recent years, and though there are still very strident individuals appearing from time to time, the danger posed by the Klan directly is essentially restricted to local regions, and their activities are in the form of parades a nd rallies. As the Klan has faded in its activities and numbers, it has been replaced by the tremendously vicious and rapidly maturation racist movement known as the Aryan Nations, which is strongly associated with the individuation Church that proclaims Anglo-Saxons as Gods chosen people.The fundamentalist Mormons are another religiously-motivated cluster within the United States that are catching the attention and concern of law enforcement and other government officials. This group has been at odds, to a certain degree, with the government since its creation in the early 1800s. Many of these fundamentalist Mormons are well-armed conspiracy-minded survivalists, who have retreated to the mountains of central Utah to await Armageddon, which they believe will occur on April 6, 2000.Believing in their gifts of prophecy and revelation, and fired-up by heavenly visions and doctrines of blood atonement and oaths of vengeance, they have isolated themselves awaiting the end of the world and fearing that the government is about to take away their freedoms (LeBaron, n. d. ). A specifically insightful yet explosive issue to a huge section of the American people, despite individual beliefs, is the classification of particular abortion clinic-related hostility as domestic terrorism.The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994 in concurrence with the lawyer General Guidelines (AGG) on General Crimes, Racketeering Enterprise and Domestic earnest/Terrorism Investigations, instigated and directed the creation of the Department of Justice Task army on Violence Against Abortion Providers to look into conspiratorial acts of violence against abortion clinics and personnel as domestic terrorism (FBI, 1994).Although personal opinions on the ethical aspects associated with abortion, whether for or against, are not wholly confined to religious beliefs, the close articulate, open and visible anti-abortion advocates are directly allied with religious organizations . As it is, abortion rights and issues persist to be one of the most contentious and conflict-ridden questions among Americans and motivate exceedingly passionate and rousing rhetoric and reactions from people from both sides of the matter.In the period between 1982 and the end of 1984, there were a total of 220 break in acts of violence, including 89 cases of bombing, arson and other serious incidents, conducted against clinics where abortions were performed or abortion-advice offered (Segaller, 1987, pp. 222-223).Ethnically and racially stimulated bias, extreme loathing and carnage are as such(prenominal) a part of human history as any other characteristics of mankind, and have at least to some extent have a bearing on the cultural and social identities of essentially all civilizations to date. From the subjugation of Hebrews by ancient Egyptians, to present-day current situation in the Balkans, racial and ethnic differences have triggered incalculable suffering and death.The h istory of racial and ethnic turmoil in the United States is no different, and is seeingly experiencing an increase in such activity recently. Racially-motivated extremist and terrorist groups in the United States, especially those of today, seem to employ religious rationalizations and teachings for their sadistic tendencies and aggressive actions, and all indications point to the fact that such trend will continue at an accelerating rate into the predictable future.Anarchistic/Anti-government /Political Terrorist clusters of today that are actually anarchist, anti-government or political in their motivations are mostly associated with the growing self-determination, radical citizen-militia movements, or have been around a relatively long time, such as the Puerto Rican freedom fighters. The former has drawn considerable attention, and extracted wary concern from law-enforcement and civil-rights groups due to the bombing in Oklahoma City, and their rapid and continuing growth in nu mbers and profile.A few of the more extreme citizen-militia groups, often motivated by New World Order conspiracy theorists and anger over a belief that government has become too large and repressive in everyday life, are openly soliciting and calling for the overthrow of the United States government. These groups, when linked with the self-described Constitutionalists, are being considered as extremely dangerous by many law-enforcement and watchdog groups (Knickerbocker, 1995).The Puerto Rican terrorist groups have been almost exclusively limited in their actions to operating within Puerto Rico against local and federal targets of opportunity. Unique Special Interests indoors this designation of domestic terrorist groups are those of relatively recent creation, or at least they have relatively recently gained high public visibility through their actions.Groups such as the extremist animal-rights groups, environmental extremist groups and homosexual-rights groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Earth Night Action Group, and Act Up, respectively, have emerged within the past two decades and have actively used violence, destruction and intimidation to gain recognition, and to further their respective political agendas. References *** McGuire, Frank. 1990. Security learning sourcebook Whos Who in terrorism. Silver Spring, MD. Interests, Ltd. U. S. Department of Justice. 1994. Terrorism in the United States, 1994.Washington, DC. National Security Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Terrorist Research and Analytical centre of attention Scronton, R. 1982. Dictionary of Political Thought. New York Hill and Wang Hall, M. 1995. Clintons Military police force Plan Under Fire. USA Today, 11 May Sec. 5A. Landay, J. S. 1995. Tempering Terrorism. The Christian Science Monitor, 8 May Sec. US. Minzesheimer, B. 1995. Terrorism Bill Warning Go Slow. USA Today, 1 May Sec. 5A. Federal Bureau of Investigation. 1994. Terrorism in the United States 1982 1992 Terrorism in the United States 1994.Segaller, S. 1987. Invisible armies, terrorism into the 1990s. New York Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Machan, T. 1996. Fallacies of Uncritical Multiculturalism. The Freeman, vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 134-135. LeBaron, G. Jr. Mormon Fundamentalism and Violence A Historical Analysis available at http//www. tcd. net/garn/ polygamy. html. Fletcher, M. A. 1996. Farrakhan Vows to Take Libyas Aid. Washington Post, 26 February, Sec. A1. Knickerbocker, B. 1995. US Militias The Dark Side of Frontier Independence. The Christian Science Monitor, 24 April, Sec. NATIONAL.