¶ … 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...

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…