Domestic terrorism: definitions, causes, and policy responses

Domestic Terrorism

America is home to people with varied cultural backgrounds who have been confined into one political and geographical territory. These people may have issues and conflicts but still find themselves living together because of shared territorial borders (Zalman, 2013). The United States has managed for a very long time to contain multitude of people with diverse religious, political, and cultural views in relative harmony. Incidences of terrorist attacks that have been meted out on America domestically, exemplifies the distrust people have with the American ideal of democracy where people from backgrounds can all claim loyalty to and the benefits of the American system. Domestic terrorism is not something unique to the 20th and 21st century America (Zalman, 2013). It is something that dates back to the pre-independence period when the colonialists used violence to proclaim independence. Colonists staged rebellion to the British authorities to into changing its policy of taxing colonist tea importers' imports, while offering a tariff-free trade to East India Tea Company (Zalman, 2013). This example paints the Boston Tea Party as the pioneer domestic terrorists. This classification is important when it comes to comparing the goals and tactics of different national liberation groups. The first terrorists in the United States based their ideology on white supremacy. White protestant Christians were deemed superior to other ethnicities and races. Public life was supposed to reflect this hierarchy (Freilich, Chermak & Caspi, 2009). This was rampant in the civil war era a period during which slavery was legal. The white supremacist became more vocal after the civil when the union and the Congress began enforcing equality of all races. Groups like the Ku Klux Klan emerged during this period. They used a variety of means to terrorize and harm African-Americans and their white sympathizers (Freilich, Chermak & Caspi, 2009). The Congress outlawed this group in 1871. This did not deter them from carrying out violent incarnations. The KKK as it is known exists to date. It continues to spread racist ideology against immigrants.

The Bolshevik Revolution in the Soviet Union in 1917 had some effect in the U.S. The 1920 bombing of the Wall Street was attributed to this. This was the first terrorist activity to be investigated by the FBI. Spates of unsolved bombings also took place in the 1920. This gave rise to the infamous Palmer Raids where Americans of Russian origins were arrested enmasse. The 1920s was also a period when KKK violence increased (Zalman, 2013). They terrorized African-Americans, Jews, Catholics, and Immigrants.

Domestic violence exploded in the period between 1960s-1970s. This is when plans were hijacked. Flights going to and from Cuba were frequently hijacked (Zalman, 2013). This was not motivated by political intention though. Meanwhile, post-colonial national liberation was taking place in different geographical locations in the world. Guerrilla warfare was the most widely used military tactic in Algeria, the Middle East, and Cuba (Zalman, 2013). This youthful fashion was also used in the United States. Youths who were opposed to what they termed American Imperialism, energized by the civil rights ideals of the blacks, women, gays, and others strongly opposed America's involvement in the Vietnam. The youths were very radical and violent. Such platforms gave rise to groups like the Black Panthers and Weatherman. A group like the Symbionese Liberation Army is famously remembered for kidnapping heiress Patty Hearst. Domestic terrorist activities have claimed lives of many Americans including Presidents and the Congressmen. Remember the right wing terrorist John Wilkes who shot President Abraham Lincoln in April 14, 1865 (Johnston, 2013). The Secretary of State William H. Seward was also separately injured by Wilkes accomplice Lewis Powell. President Lincoln succumbed to this gunshot the following day. On 4th May 1886, a bomb was thrown during labor rally at Haymarket Square that killed 7 policemen (Johnston, 2013). Many were reportedly injured. The police managed to kill four suspects. On 30th December 1905, a former Idaho governor, Frank Steunenburg was killed by a bomb. Many incidences perpetrated by domestic terrorists have been documented ranging from gunmen fire, plots to bomb fuel pipelines, hostage taking, use of liquid explosives on airlines, and radioactive source thefts (Johnston, 2013). However, the New York City, Alexandria, and Somerset County incidences stand out because of massive loss of human lives. The most recent one which received a lot of international media attention was in Newtown, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts. In Newton the perpetrators shot at elementary school children killing 20 children and 6 adults. The shooter eventually killed himself (Johnston, 2013). In Boston, the two bombing incidences killed 3 people including a child and injured 183 people. It took place during the Boston Marathon.

Extremism and Domestic Terrorism, Which is which

Discussions regarding domestic terrorism are often muddied by the lack of clear distinction between domestic terrorism and extremism. Extremism is often applied to homegrown actors whether they are domestic terrorists or adherents of jihadist ideologies. Law enforcement agencies have reportedly viewed extremism as something that is synonymous with terrorism (Smith, 2011). Matters have been worsened by the fact that domestic terrorist activities are not uniformly treated in the United States. Extremism involves hewing to particular ideologies that may take the shape of criminal activity all with the view to advancing ideologies. Anarchist extremists' belief in particular ideologies drives them into adopting certain criminal tactics. Extremism is all about an ideology outside a society's key values. Belief in such ideologies may drive somebody into supporting racial or religious supremacist ideals and divorcing core principles of democracy and human rights. Home grown violent extremist are often classified as domestic terrorists (Smith, 2011). They should not be classified as domestic terrorists in actual sense. The Department of Homeland Security defines homeland violent extremists as persons of any citizenship who have lived or operated primarily in the United States and are engaging or preparing to engage in ideologically motivated terrorist activities to further their social or political objectives promoted by foreign terrorist organizations. The homeland Violent Extremist according to DHS and FBI are not domestic terrorists. Homeland violent extremists and domestic terrorists are two distinct groups of terrorist actors. The federal government has been a little bit reluctant in coming up with official and public list of domestic terrorists organizations and individuals. However, the following organizations can be classified as domestic terrorist organizations (Masters, 2011).

Examples of Domestic Terrorist Organizations

Domestic terrorists are a threat to America's peace. Unlike foreign terrorist organizations that have to engage in risky border crossing, domestic terrorists are already within the American territory. They have undue access to important installations like the road transport, the railway transport, the air transport. They can carry out lethal attacks if due diligence is not practiced by the security agencies. A number of organizations can be categorized as domestic terrorist organizations because of the scope of their activities. One such organization is Occupy Wall Street. They are currently being investigated by the FBI despite their members' appeal that they are a peaceful organization. Despite the fact that OWS is not as violent as other terrorist organizations the activities they engage in betray them. They have destroyed property worth millions of dollars. Remember the fire at Fort Collins that destroyed many homes and condominiums. Occupy Wall Street gatherings are synonymous with assaults, rapes, rampant drug use, murders, stealing, and vandalism. In their past gatherings the self appointed leaders chanted for the execution of President George W. Bush.

Phineas Priesthood also falls within the category of domestic terrorists. It is a Christian-based terrorist organization that uses violence to promote its hateful messages. The organization's teaching goes against the doctrines of Christianity as it teaches hatred to everyone different from them. They are against interracial relationships, homosexuality, abortion, Judaism, multiculturalism, and taxation. They look forward to America strictly occupied by white Christians (Freilich, Chermak & Caspi, 2009). They have in the recent past attacked abortion clinics and doctors. The FBI has labeled them as a terrorist organization.

The Jewish Defense League is another example of a domestic terrorist organization. This religious organization uses violence to promote its ideals. The organization is resolute that they will stop at nothing to end anti-Semitism while at the same time being vocal against acts of terrorism. The organization was established in 1968. It gained notoriety for its harsh criticism of the Soviet Union. Its members are willing to fight for their cause. According to an investigation done by the FBI in 2004, the JDL perpetrated at least 15 terrorist attacks in the 1980s. Its leader Rubin Irv was in 2001 arrested and charged with plotting to blow up a mosque in Los Angeles.

Earth Liberation Front has cells in virtually all western world countries. They call themselves the Elves. They use Guerilla warfare tactics in their quest to halt destruction of the ecosystem (Parson, 2008). These tactics include destroying expensive and important infrastructure like power lines and businesses (Ackerman, 2003). In the United States they burn down ski resorts, logging camps, and Park Ranger offices. They are also known for attacking fast food locations like the McDonald's. They once destroyed a laboratory in Michigan University because the laboratory was used to create genetically modified organisms funded by Monsanto (Grubbs, 2010). In reality, Monsanto only donated a paltry 2000 USD to send 5 African students to a conference on biotechnology. In their wisdom they have maintained that whatever they did was justified.

The Army of God revels on religious pretexts to harm others. They use violence to discourage abortion and homosexual activities as exemplified in their attacks on gay night clubs and abortion clinics. One of its members, Eric Rudolph, planted a bomb at the 1996 Olympics venue in Atlanta, Georgia. Two people succumbed and whopping 150 others injured. He explained without remorse in 2005 his action was an indictment to the government for its abortion on demand viewpoints. He confessed to bombing two abortion clinics and a gay night club.

Another domestic terrorist organization in the United States is the Animal Liberation Front (Best & Nocella, 2004). This organization engages in freeing animals from laboratories, farms, and factories. The claims that they are non-violent are betrayed by the fact that they cause millions of dollars worth of damage to farmers and animals while attempting to save animals (Grubbs, 2010).

The Black Liberation Army was founded in 1970 with a view to promoting equal rights for African-Americans through violence. Its strength has since diminished. However, its splinter still enjoys some significant following that still adheres to its original belief system. At its inception it carried out bank robberies and the murders of at least 13 police officers. They are also remembered for hijacking a Delta airlines flight in 1972, demanding 1 million dollars in ransom before diverting the flight to Algeria. It is unclear how some of their actions were meant to benefit African-Americans who were living in the United States.

The Sovereign Citizens have a weird system of beliefs that advocates for perpetration of violence and anarchy amongst the populace. Members of this organization believe that although they live within the United States territory they are sovereign from the government and should therefore not pay taxes, acknowledge law enforcement officers, or abide by the government laws (Fitzgerald, 2013). They believe that the government oppresses them and therefore file thousands of frivolous cases every month as a way of getting back at the government. They threaten judges and politicians who they perceive to be threatening their way of life (Fitzgerald, 2013). They have on a number of occasions shot and killed law enforcement officers who have stopped them from minor violations such as speeding. They have no respect for any form of authority.

The Crips is a domestic terrorist organization that was founded in the 1970s in Los Angeles. The gang originally protected the neighborhood fro outside threats (Fitzgerald, 2013). Its membership has grown to over 30,000 members across the United States. They have no belief system or agenda. They merely act out of need or impulse with no regard for anyone else. They use murder to scare the public and the rival gangs. They are blamed for widespread use of PCP, Crack Cocaine, and amphetamines (Fitzgerald, 2013). They are ruthless and unpredictable.

As has previously been stated in the introduction Ku Klux Klan is one such terrorist organization that has survived for a very long time. It dates back to post civil war era. It was created to restore white supremacy by assaulting freed slaves and their sympathizers. This group assassinated prominent African-Americans in the political religious cycles. Some were very prominent community leaders (Freilich, Chermak & Caspi, 2009). They have currently focused their attention on illegal immigrants, homosexuals, urban criminals and African-Americans. They have killed many people through the history of America. They have also engaged in destruction of property that belongs to the minority households.

Domestic terrorism and law enforcement

Domestic terrorism in the United States is a cyclical phenomenon in the sense that it has discernable peaks. It appears to be fuelled by political polarization and widespread distrust of the government on both the extreme right and the extreme left. From these developments the cycle of domestic terrorism is likely to continue for some time. The domestic terrorism cases are conducted by lone actors. The intensity of these attacks often differs if the attack by McVeigh and Nichols is anything to go by. Basically, the implications of domestic and foreign terrorist attacks are the same. Law enforcement officers must appreciate that terrorist attacks do not appear in vacuum. Perpetrators of terrorist attacks follow a discernible cycle. That cycle involves behavior that can be identified and detected before the attack is conducted. The government cannot physically protect all potential targets from all sorts of terrorist attacks. Some places are vulnerable to attack should an assailant's preoperative activity go undetected. It is the responsibility of the citizens to guarantee their own security. They have to report suspicious activities to the authorities and practice good situational awareness. They should also have updated and appropriate contingency plans for their families and businesses.

The United States government, after the September 11th terrorist attack, put a lot of emphasis on counterterrorism policies. This has not deterred domestic terrorists with extremist ideologies from killing American citizens and damaging property across the country (Smith, 2011). Not all of these criminals have been prosecuted using terrorism statutes. Is the American government taking domestic terrorism less seriously? The federal government should come up with a domestic terrorism scope that is proffered that assists policy makers in countering domestic terrorism. The executive branch agencies should release annual statistics on domestic terrorism prosecution and name individuals and movements involved. Lack of accounting from the side of the congress makes it difficult for the policy makers to exercise oversight by comparing levels of domestic terrorist activity against violent homegrown jihadist activity. It is thought provoking that domestic terrorism rarely features in the Director of National Intelligence Priorities Framework (Smith, 2011). There is no standard across federal agencies applied to domestic terrorism cases with respect to intelligence gathering and program prioritization. There is no standard for collecting intelligence from state and local investigators with respect to domestic terrorism.