Troubling and Why? Of All the Trends

¶ … troubling and why?

Of all the trends identified in the readings, the one that I found the most troubling was the increased sophistication of terrorists. The globe is ever expanding in terms of communication and connection. People, who a few centuries ago where not even aware that other lands and other peoples even existed now can, with the click of a few buttons, interact instantaneously. With the advent of the internet, satellites, and international communication via wireless connectivity, the ability to acquire information is limitless. If you can the ability and the knowledge, then there is literally nothing you cannot access via the web. Computer hackers have been able to acquire even the most confidential, top-secret, and sensitive of information from sources as high as federal governments. The report states, "[Terrorists] are also seen as improving their technological sophistication across many areas of operational planning, communications, targeting, and propaganda…terrorism has become a 'web directed' phenomenon" (Perl 2006,-page 5). Terrorists can use this ability in order to acquire information about targets and even potentially rewrite program data on computerized weaponry, vehicles, and whole computer networks. It is terrifying to think that terrorists operating either independently from nations or sponsored by national governments could potentially log on to the internet and encrypt computer programs to turn our own artillery, designed for the defense of our country, into a weapon for our own destruction. By being able to utilize technology to create or usurp weaponry, terrorists can connect with one another and communicate in order to plan out even more widespread acts of terror than were possible before the advent of such technological advantages.

2. What assets in what locations of the country / world deserve the most attention based upon the trends identified in the readings?

Based upon the trends identified in the readings, there are certain locations of the world which require attention and of course there are places within the country that require more attention in the interest of national security than others will. Given the data acquired by the report, due diligence must be given to situations which indicate potentially greater threats of more violent and greater terrorist attacks in the future. Individuals who have exhibited their likelihood to be involved in radicalized Islam or who have been indoctrinated by jihadists should be given a high level of scrutiny by the government, including the Department of Homeland Security. Within the United States, bigger cities should be given more attention in terms of trying to identify and prevent potential dangers to the population or property of the country. Areas where individuals who have been identified as being potentially radicalized should also be given a higher level of scrutiny, because it is likely that they will have either attempted to radicalize others or will have made contact with other individuals who have themselves become radicalized. This was proven earlier this year with the incident at the Boston Marathon where an individual who had been identified as likely to have been radicalized did help in radicalizing another person and the two of them carried out an act of terrorism on innocent American citizens. Due to the high level of technological advancement already discussed locations where the technology which serves the government's security functions should be given high levels of attention to ensure their continued protection. Within other countries, areas where past instances of terrorism or attempted terrorism have originated should be given the most attention as they will be the most likely breeding grounds of further terrorist attempts.