Assessing the Terrorist Threat
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Terrorism Opinion Piece
THE EVOLVING NATURE OF TERRORISM--------NINE YEARS AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS Committee on Homeland Security U.S. House of Representatives 15 September 2010 Written Testimony Submitted by Professor Bruce Hoffman School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University - 2 - Several disquieting trends converged in New York City’s fabled Times Square entertainment district on Saturday evening, May 1st, 2010.1 First, a foreign terrorist group, with a hitherto local agenda and otherwise parochial aims, once more stretched its wings and sought to operate on a broader, more ambitious global canvas. Second, the conventional wisdom, which has long held that the threat to the U.S. was primarily external; involving foreigners coming from overseas to kill Americans in this country as had occurred on September 11th 2001, was once again shattered. Third, the belief that the American ‘‘ melting pot’’ --------our historical capacity to readily absorb new immigrants--------would provide a ‘‘ fire-wall’’ against radicalization and recruitment has fallen by the wayside. Finally, al- Qaeda and its allies have embraced a strategy of attrition that is deliberately designed to overwhelm, distract and exhaust its adversaries. Thus, the Times Square incident, despite initial claims to the contrary, was not a ‘‘ one off’’ event perpetrated by an individual variously described as ‘‘ isolated’’ or a ‘‘ lone wolf’’ but rather is part of an emerging pattern of terrorism that directly threatens the U.S. and presents new and even more formidable challenges to our national security.2 LOCAL GROUPS WITH NEW GLOBAL AMBITIONS IN ALLIANCE WITH OLD ENEMIES This was precisely the message that Faisal Shahzad sought to convey when he appeared before a New York Federal District Court in June 2010. -
Intelligence Security Law Enforcement
The Methods and Value of Behavioral Detection in Retail Michael Rozin, Doug Reynolds, Eric White MR The Threat is Real NY, USA Moscow, Russia Madrid, Spain London, UK Mumbai, India Terrorist Threat Adam Gadahn: 1. Simple Attacks. “ The fact is, the heroic Fort Hood operation opens up a host of new opportunities…“ 2. Act Individually “ We must look to further undermine the West's already-struggling economies with carefully timed-and-targeted attacks on symbols of capitalism which will again shake consumer confidence and stifle spending aspects of the Western Crusader culture….” 3. Don’t Travel Overseas “ And Brother Nidal didn't unnecessarily raise his security profile or waste money better spent on the operation itself by traveling abroad to acquire skills and instructions which could easily be acquired at home, or indeed, deduced by using one's own powers of logic and reasoning…. 4. Choose “Easy” Targets Terrorism Threat in USA • May 20, 2009 - Four Muslim converts were arrested in New York for plotting to bomb two Jewish synagogues and shoot down a military aircraft. The suspects were James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams and Laguerre Payen. • June 1, 2009 – Carlos Bledsoe aka., “Abdul Muhammad” carried out a deadly shooting at a recruiting station in Little Rock, Arkansas. One soldier was killed and one was injured. • July 28, 2009 – The FBI arrested seven men in North Carolina as a part of a terrorist conspiracy to wage an Islamic holy war overseas. All seven had received paramilitary training within the US. • September 19, 2009 – Authorities arrested Najibullah Zazi on terrorism charges. -
NYC Terror Plot Suspects Due in Federal Court
NYC Terror Suspect Held Without Bail in Connection to Alleged Transit Bomb Plot - Lo... Page 1 of 3 VIDEO RADIO MOBILE U-REPORT IMAG What's Hot Giant Saturn Ring Found Rush May Buy Rams Stonehenge a Burial Ground? Enter your zip code HOME U.S. WORLD BUSINESS POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT LEISURE HEALTH SCITECH OPINION SPORTS ON AIR U.S. Sponsored By FOX NEWS VIDEOS U.S. HOME NYC Terror Suspect Held Without Bail in TOP VIDEOS Connection to Alleged Transit Bomb Plot CRIME Print ShareThis Monday, September 21, 2009 AMERICA'S FUTURE SUPREME COURT A judge has ordered an Bear family N.Y.C. cabbies Details on Afghanistan-born Colorado caught in tree duke it out in busted terror NEWS ARCHIVE man who allegedly received Al street plot timeline HOT TOPICS Qaeda training and had bomb- H1N1 making instructions on his HOUSING MARKET computer be held pending a HEALTH CARE detention hearing Thursday. US Investigators say Najibullah Zazi, z Sharp increase in illegal hunting SECTION MAP z Bacon cheeseburger uses doughnut for bun SEE MORE a 24-year-old airport shuttle z Fishing buddies reel in 748-pound shark driver, played a direct role in an z Ohio woman grows world's largest pumpkin alleged terror plot that unraveled during a trip to New York City around the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. He has been charged with lying to the AP/Chris Schneider, Denver Post government in a matter involving Sept. 19: Terrorism suspect Najibullah Zazi is arrested by FBI agents terrorism. in Aurora, Colo. Zazi's father also appeared in court Monday and was expected to be released within 48 hours and allowed to return home with an ankle bracelet on a $50,000 unsecured bond. -
Across the Universe? a Comparative Analysis of Violent Behavior And
The author(s) shown below used Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and prepared the following final report: Document Title: Across the Universe? A Comparative Analysis of Violent Behavior and Radicalization Across Three Offender Types with Implications for Criminal Justice Training and Education Author(s): John G. Horgan, Ph.D., Paul Gill, Ph.D., Noemie Bouhana, Ph.D., James Silver, J.D., Ph.D., Emily Corner, MSc. Document No.: 249937 Date Received: June 2016 Award Number: 2013-ZA-BX-0002 This report has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice. To provide better customer service, NCJRS has made this federally funded grant report available electronically. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Across the Universe? A Comparative Analysis of Violent Behavior and Radicalization Across Three Offender Types with Implications for Criminal Justice Training and Education Final Report John G. Horgan, PhD Georgia State University Paul Gill, PhD University College, London Noemie Bouhana, PhD University College, London James Silver, JD, PhD Worcester State University Emily Corner, MSc University College, London This project was supported by Award No. 2013-ZA-BX-0002, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice 1 ABOUT THE REPORT ABOUT THE PROJECT The content of this report was produced by John Horgan (Principal Investigator (PI)), Paul Gill (Co-PI), James Silver (Project Manager), Noemie Bouhana (Co- Investigator), and Emily Corner (Research Assistant). -
The Internet and the Radicalization of Muslim Women
The Internet and the Radicalization of Muslim Women Sergio E. Sanchez California State University, Chico Department of Political Science Chico, CA 95929 [email protected] “to kill one and frighten 10,000 others” - Chinese Proverb Paper prepared for Presentation at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, Seattle, WA, April 2014. Abstract The Internet, with its built in anonymity and continuous availability – 24 hours a day, seven days a week- is for some the perfect venue for chatting, meeting new people, learning about topics of interest, and a source for countless hours of entertainment. Moreover, the Internet allows individuals from all over the country, or the world, who are from different socioeconomic backgrounds but who share similar interests and ideologies to interact and communicate privately. However, the Internet is also a readymade platform for the spread of hate, terror, and other radical ideas and messages, all of which can be transmitted at the speed of light, anonymously, and available on demand. The Internet is, therefore, an ideal venue for women to interact with likeminded individuals or organizations without having to sacrifice or tarnish their standing in the community or among their families. Women from repressive countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Palestine can participate in jihad without leaving their homes and without having to meet strange men face-to-face and, consequently, bring shame to their families or themselves – as per traditional Islamic practices. Likewise, women involved or interested in radical environmentalism can meet online, share ideas, and continue their struggle against governments and corporations. Similarly, women involved, or fascinated with, right-wing religious movements or hate groups such as the KKK or neo-Nazis can likewise meet in a private setting, virtually, with little concern that their reputations or image within the community will be tarnished by their surreptitious activities online. -
702 Surveillance Presentation
What you need to know Adam Klein, Madeline Christian and Matt Olsen 01 • 702 Basics 02 • 702’s Value 03 • Safeguards and concerns 702 Basics • Targets: Agents of a foreign power • Targets: Overseas • Targets: Non-U.S. persons overseas in the U.S. • Collection: Overseas • Collection: In the U.S. • Collection: In the U.S. • No judicial oversight • Requires annual judicial approval • Requires an individualized judicial order • Messages to or from a target are filtered out • Private-sector companies must turn over stored as they speed across fiber-optic cables that data associated with accounts validly targeted form the “internet backbone.” under Section 702. • Upstream collects data in motion. • Downstream collects data at rest. 702’s Value • Najibullah Zazi, a Colorado resident, was secretly plotting to bomb the New York subway. Zazi sent an email to an al Qaeda courier in Pakistan asking for bombmaking advice. Fortunately, NSA was monitoring the courier’s email under 702. • The FBI arrested Zazi and his accomplices before they could carry out the attack. • Mohamed Mohamud, an Oregon resident, exchanged emails with a foreigner abroad who was targeted under 702. Alerted by that contact, the FBI began investigating Mohamud. • He was eventually convicted of trying to bomb Portland’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. • Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli (aka “Hajji Imam”) was a top-level member of ISIS’s leadership in Syria. • Intelligence from 702 allowed the United States to locate and kill him in a Special Forces raid last year. • Section 702 can only be used to target foreigners— but Americans’ communications can be “incidentally collected” if they communicate with a foreign target. -
CTC Sentinel 2:1 of Islam Have Committed Another Historic Crime!” 11 There Was Speculation That He Was Trying to Establish (2009)
SEPTEMBER 2009 . VOL 2 . ISSUE 9 COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER AT WEST POINT CTC Sentinel OBJECTIVE . RELEVANT . RIGOROUS Contents Are the Afghan Taliban Involved FEATURE ARTICLE in International Terrorism? 1 Are the Afghan Taliban Involved in By Anne Stenersen International Terrorism? By Anne Stenersen REPORTS 5 The Insurgent-Narcotic Nexus in Helmand Province By Captain Michael Erwin, U.S. Army 8 The Expansion Strategy of Al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula By Gregory D. Johnsen 11 A Profile of Pakistan’s Lashkar-i-Jhangvi By Arif Jamal 14 The Failure of Salafi-Jihadi Insurgent Movements in the Levant By Bilal Y. Saab 18 The Dangerous Ideas of the Neo-Zarqawist Movement By Murad Batal al-Shishani 20 The July 17 Jakarta Suicide Attacks and the Death of Noordin Top By Noor Huda Ismail Afghan Taliban walk through a bazaar in Quetta, Pakistan in 2005. - Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images n a video aired on ABC News frequently use “al-Qa`ida-style” anti- 22 Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity in June 2007, Afghan Taliban Western rhetoric, and insurgents have 24 CTC Sentinel Staff & Contacts commander Mansour Dadullah endorsed suicide bombing as a tactic—a is shown speaking to a group of phenomenon previously unknown in Iaround 300 masked men. The men are Afghanistan. Moreover, the Afghan presented as “suicide bombers” about to Taliban’s most immediate enemies are go on missions in Western countries, in the United States and its allies, who particular to the United States, Canada, they claim have occupied their country the United Kingdom and Germany.1 since 2001. -
CTC Sentinel Objective
SEPTEMBER 2009 . VOL 2 . ISSUE 9 COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER AT WEST POINT CTC Sentinel OBJECTIVE . RELEVANT . RIGOROUS Contents Are the Afghan Taliban Involved FEATURE ARTICLE in International Terrorism? 1 Are the Afghan Taliban Involved in By Anne Stenersen International Terrorism? By Anne Stenersen REPORTS 5 The Insurgent-Narcotic Nexus in Helmand Province By Captain Michael Erwin, U.S. Army 8 The Expansion Strategy of Al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula By Gregory D. Johnsen 11 A Profile of Pakistan’s Lashkar-i-Jhangvi By Arif Jamal 14 The Failure of Salafi-Jihadi Insurgent Movements in the Levant By Bilal Y. Saab 18 The Dangerous Ideas of the Neo-Zarqawist Movement By Murad Batal al-Shishani 20 The July 17 Jakarta Suicide Attacks and the Death of Noordin Top By Noor Huda Ismail Afghan Taliban walk through a bazaar in Quetta, Pakistan in 2005. - Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images n a video aired on ABC News frequently use “al-Qa`ida-style” anti- 22 Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity in June 2007, Afghan Taliban Western rhetoric, and insurgents have 24 CTC Sentinel Staff & Contacts commander Mansour Dadullah endorsed suicide bombing as a tactic—a is shown speaking to a group of phenomenon previously unknown in Iaround 300 masked men. The men are Afghanistan. Moreover, the Afghan presented as “suicide bombers” about to Taliban’s most immediate enemies are go on missions in Western countries, in the United States and its allies, who particular to the United States, Canada, they claim have occupied their country the United Kingdom and Germany.1 since 2001. -
Has Adam Gadahn Forsaken the Lawful Jihad for Anti-Americanism? a Case Study of Ideological Contradictions by Paul Kamolnick
PERSPECTIVES ON TERRORISM Volume 8, Issue 6 Has Adam Gadahn Forsaken the Lawful Jihad for Anti-Americanism? A Case Study of Ideological Contradictions by Paul Kamolnick And if you say that this barbaric style is known in your tribal traditions, or your people’s traditions, or tolerated by your Shaykh or Emir, we would say: It is not allowed in our Islam . A fight that is not guided by the Shari’ah rules is not honored.[1] We denounce any operation carried out by a Jihadi group that does not consider the sanctity of Mus- lims and their blood and money. We refuse to attribute these crimes to Qa’ida al-Jihad Organization. .This position and the judgment is not to be changed if the act is carried out in the name of Jihad or under the banner of establishing Shari’ah and the legal measures, or under the name of promot- ing virtue and preventing vice. As long as it is forbidden in God’s religion, we are disassociated from it.[2] I have no doubt that what is happening to the Jihadi movement in these countries is not misfortune, but punishment by God on us because of our sins and injustices, or because of the sins of some of us and the silence of the rest of us.[3] Abstract Despite his importance as a senior Al-Qaeda spokesman, no detailed examination exists of Adam Yahiye Gadahn’s employment of fiqh al-jihad—that branch of Islamic jurisprudence regulating the lawful waging of jihad—to condemn or condone violence committed in the name of Al-Qaeda. -
30 Terrorist Plots Foiled: How the System Worked Jena Baker Mcneill, James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Jessica Zuckerman
No. 2405 April 29, 2010 30 Terrorist Plots Foiled: How the System Worked Jena Baker McNeill, James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Jessica Zuckerman Abstract: In 2009 alone, U.S. authorities foiled at least six terrorist plots against the United States. Since Septem- ber 11, 2001, at least 30 planned terrorist attacks have Talking Points been foiled, all but two of them prevented by law enforce- • At least 30 terrorist plots against the United ment. The two notable exceptions are the passengers and States have been foiled since 9/11. It is clear flight attendants who subdued the “shoe bomber” in 2001 that terrorists continue to wage war against and the “underwear bomber” on Christmas Day in 2009. America. Bottom line: The system has generally worked well. But • President Obama spent his first year and a half many tools necessary for ferreting out conspiracies and in office dismantling many of the counterter- catching terrorists are under attack. Chief among them are rorism tools that have kept Americans safer, key provisions of the PATRIOT Act that are set to expire at including his decision to prosecute foreign ter- the end of this year. It is time for President Obama to dem- rorists in U.S. civilian courts, dismantlement of onstrate his commitment to keeping the country safe. Her- the CIA’s interrogation abilities, lackadaisical itage Foundation national security experts provide a road support for the PATRIOT Act, and an attempt map for a successful counterterrorism strategy. to shut down Guantanamo Bay. • The counterterrorism system that has worked successfully in the past must be pre- served in order for the nation to be successful In 2009, at least six planned terrorist plots against in fighting terrorists in the future. -
• on Jan. 6, 2010, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-Year-Old
2010 TERRORIST ACTIVITY IN FEDERAL COURTS On Jan. 6, 2010, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian national, was charged in a six-count criminal indictment for his alleged role in the attempted Christmas day bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit.1 On Jan. 14, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment adding three defendants, including Tahawwur Rana, to charges filed a month earlier against David Coleman Headley, alleging that they and others participated in conspiracies involving a planned terrorist attack against a Danish newspaper and the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, that killed approximately 164 people, including six Americans.2 On Feb. 22, Najibullah Zazi pleaded guilty to a three-count superseding information charging him with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (explosive bombs) against persons or property in the United States, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and providing material support to al-Qaida.3 On Feb. 25, Zarein Ahmedzay and Adis Medunjanin were indicted on terrorism violations stemming from, among other activities, their alleged roles in the plot involving Najibullah Zazi to attack the New York subway system in mid-September 2009.4 On March 4, federal grand jury indicted Abdow Munye Abdow on two counts of making false statements to FBI agents in a matter involving international terrorism. Abdow pleaded guilty to count one, involving a statement about who was in the car with him on a drive from Minnesota to Las Vegas. Abdow received an eight-month sentence for obstructing an FBI and grand jury investigation into the recruitment of young men in the U.S. -
Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States
S. HRG. 111–557 CURRENT AND PROJECTED NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES HEARING BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION FEBRUARY 2, 2010 Printed for the use of the Select Committee on Intelligence ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 56–434 PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Nov 24 2008 14:49 Aug 02, 2010 Jkt 055045 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 C:\DOCS\56434.TXT SHAUN PsN: DPROCT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE [Established by S. Res. 400, 94th Cong., 2d Sess.] DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California, Chairman CHRISTOPHER S. BOND, Missouri, Vice Chairman JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah RON WYDEN, Oregon OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine EVAN BAYH, Indiana SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia BARBARA A. MIKULSKI, Maryland RICHARD BURR, North Carolina RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin TOM COBURN, Oklahoma BILL NELSON, Florida JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island HARRY REID, Nevada, Ex Officio MITCH MCCONNELL, Kentucky, Ex Officio CARL LEVIN, Michigan, Ex Officio JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona, Ex Officio DAVID GRANNIS, Staff Director LOUIS B. TUCKER, Minority Staff Director KATHLEEN P. MCGHEE, Chief Clerk (II) VerDate Nov 24 2008 14:49 Aug 02, 2010 Jkt 055045 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 C:\DOCS\56434.TXT SHAUN PsN: DPROCT CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2, 2010 OPENING STATEMENTS Feinstein, Hon.