American Jihad Terrorism in the USA

¶ … September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States did not happen in a vacuum and were not isolated events. On the contrary, those terrorist attacks were one of a string of similar events, signifying the growing jihad movement around the world. Although most media attention since September 11 has focused on major international groups based outside of the United States, the reports of investigative journalists have shown that Muslim extremism has been brewing for decades even in the United States.

As early as 1974, Brian Jenkins was writing about international terrorism as a clear and present danger. Decades later, Jenkins continued to investigate the causes and repercussions of the September 11 terrorist attacks. In "Would-be Warriors," Jenkins (2010) documents dozens (46 to be exact) of only the publically reported cases of "domestic radicalization and recruitment" to jihad movements in America (iii). These recruitments are often voluntary, as individuals feel drawn to the movement and either participate in domestic terrorism cells or move abroad to participate in operations.

Jihadist movements are certainly a concern for all Americans and indeed all citizens of the world. In the decade leading up to the September 11 terrorist attacks, journalist Steven Emerson had begun an in-depth investigation of Muslim extremism in the United States. Emerson's findings became the basis for a television documentary and book called American Jihad, along with several other productions and publications. These findings predated the September 11 terrorist attacks, much as Jenkins's original reports from the 1970s.

Journalists have been aware that home-grown Muslim extremism was a problem not widely recognized or acknowledged by Americans. After September 11, however, the United States has been forced to reckon with the fact that terrorism can be fostered and fomented domestically as well as abroad. Responses to terrorism have been informed by such reports, and have led to measures of preventing terrorism (Jenkins, 2010). Investigative journalism does reveal the fact that while most Muslims in America are not part of jihad movements, jihad is by definition a Muslim extremist phenomenon.

Jihad sentiments can flourish in mosques and schools anywhere, including communities in the United States. Even the most innocent sounding organizations can have tacit connections to terrorist groups, either through shared resources and funding or through ideology (Emerson, 2002). There may also be certain types of people who are drawn to jihad movements, although Jenkins (2010) insists that there is no such thing as a "terrorist-prone personality" and no "single path to radicalization," (p. 7).

As Jenkins (2010) points out, most of the people who end up becoming involved in jihad and other types of terrorist organizations do so out of a string of interconnected but unfortunate circumstances. Nothing can be done except to remain vigilant and urge personal responsibility. Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind that jihad is only one brand of terrorist activity. Terrorism in the United States takes on many forms, much of which is not related to Islam at all.

Muslim extremism receives much media attention, but Americans are also at risk of terrorist attacks from domestic terrorism groups and "lone wolf" types as well. Cyberterrorism is also an increasing global threat. Rather than focus overly much on Islam, risking isolating the already marginalized and stigmatized Muslim community worldwide, it would be more.