How to Solve the Issue of Homegrown Terrorism

¶ … Homegrown Terrorism by Mantri (2011) looks at the phenomenon of homegrown terrorism in the United States. It shows that the nature of the threat of domestic terrorism is not comparable to the type of existential threat that the U.S. experienced throughout the duration of the Cold War. Nonetheless, the reality of homegrown terrorism is one that has to be confronted, and the Department of Homeland Security appears to be unable to effectively confront the issue, as the recent string of domestic terror attacks indicates (Mantri, 2011). The article recommends that the U.S. "harness the innate goodwill" of Americans overseas in an effort to combat the growth of domestic radicalization and domestic terrorism (Mantri, 2011, p. 88).

The key findings and issues of the article are that radicalization and homegrown terrorism are occurring in the U.S. in spite of the efforts of Homeland Security and other government agencies. Data is gathered from recent cases involving perpetrators who were at one time immigrants to the U.S. The essential premise of the article is that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not legitimately or adequately addressed the issue of terror in the U.S. The article recommends that the DHS focus more squarely on examining Americans connected with terrorist networks. The mistaken belief that the U.S. is somehow immune from domestic terror is in the process of being corrected, as more incidents occur, from Boston to San Bernardino to Orlando. Mantri (2011) recommends that the U.S. spend time cultivating the good will of Americans abroad in an effort to mitigate the risk of terror networks spreading and bad will festering both abroad and in the homeland.

The recommendations of Mantri are that the U.S. take part in re-shaping the narrative currently being promoted by Al-Qaeda, which is that its terrorist "warriors" are engaging in a romantic struggle to overthrow/destabilize the Enemy (the U.S.). The U.S. should engage its American Muslim population both domestic and abroad in an effort to take control of the narrative and alter the way in which Muslims view the U.S. Terrorists should be portrayed "as criminals, misfits, and murderers" (Mantri, 2011, p. 94) and the American Muslim population can assist in this re-shaping of the narrative. In order to gain their help, however, the U.S. must cease marginalizing Muslims or viewing them with suspicion or promoting Islamaphobia. As Mantri (2011) observes, "the biggest secret weapon in the U.S. arsenal is its large, prosperous, well-integrated moderate Muslim population," which has already given support to the U.S. in its attempts to win the war on terror (p. 94). Creating and propagating the counter-narrative that will help stem radicalization depends upon the help of influential Muslims who are sympathetic with the U.S. and want the country to be safe. Thus, the article recommends that the U.S. engage American Muslims to help reduce the rate and threat of radicalization.

Discussions with peers show agreement with the viewpoint of Mantri (2011) and suggest that enlisting the help of American Muslims is a good step towards establishing good will among the Muslim community and stemming the rising tide of radicalization.

As it applies to the criminal justice policy issue, the article aligns with policies regarding domestic issues: criminal justice policies should effectively integrate the Muslim population with the mainstream population and the government/political population so as to better gain support and intelligence, which can then be used to disrupt terror networks and thwart radicalization growth. Specifically, criminal justice policies could focus directly on crime control, as was the case with the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994. In this manner, a degree of social justice can be achieved that in turn helps to establish greater equality among citizens in the U.S. and that also helps to eliminate racial and ethnic prejudice. American Muslims can be viewed more as equals alongside other citizens, Islamaphobia can be reduced, and radicalization can be denied any connection with race, creed, class, or ethnicity.

Moreover, the criminal justice system can help to eradicate the stigma associated with being Muslim by taking part in the re-shaping of the narrative. The stigma that Muslims experience stems from a nationwide, even global, distrust of xenophobic proportions that has bloomed and crept across borders following 9/11 and the Middle East wars (Sheridan, 2006; Ciftci, 2012). This stigma can be erased through the efforts of criminal justice policy writers, who see the benefit of cultivating a good and positive relationship with Muslims who support the U.S. and want to work with the country to rid the world of radicalism. By appealing to influential Muslims, the criminal justice system can show that it is not on a crusade or witch hunt to lock up the Muslim population, deport it, or bar Muslims from entering the country; instead, it can show that by not encouraging profiling or persecution or prejudice that it is committed to harboring good will towards and good relationships with Muslims the world over so long as they respect the need for the U.S. to be safe.