Terrorism in the United States
The terrifying event that
occurred on September 11, 2001 is an example of what the world had been warned
about many times, “TERRORISM”. In 1998, for example, the U.S. government told
American citizens that they were potential targets for a terrorist group joined
by the now infamous Osama bin Laden (Eland, 1998). However, many did not think
any terrorist would be capable of the tragedy that leveled the World Trade
Center and took many thousands of human lives. Americans thought they could not
be touched, especially on their own turf.
While it may be that organizations
involved with Bin Laden that are in the United States, and have been for years,
there are other groups that U.S. citizens may not be aware of. Many have
probably forgotten The Order of the Rising Sun. Members of this group, in 1972,
possessed thirty to forty kilograms of bacteria that they planned to put into
the American water supply (Yonah, 1999). The nation is a main target for both
national and international terrorists. There are numerous foreign groups and
governments that target U.S. For example, Libya, Iraq and Iran in addition to
groups from Germany and Palestine(Yonah, 1999). While most of the damage done by
such organizations has been overseas, their presence is felt in the United
States.
Almost all foreign terrorist organizations have caused a problem in
the United States, in which the primary threats come from Middle East terrorist
organizations (Emerson, 2000). The concept that the Middle East groups are more
dangerous to the U.S., is not thought of as a prejudice comment. It is a concept
that has been realized by both the FBI and
CIA(Emerson,2000). The Middle Eastern
and Islamic terrorist groups that have members in the United States include the
Algerian Armed Islamic Group, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian group, the
Egyptian group, Al Gamat Al Islamiya, the PKK, the Islamic party, and Al- Qaeda,
which belongs to Osama bin Laden (Emerson,2000).
Al-Qaeda is the most
dangerous in respect to U.S. interests. The group was formed by Osama bin Laden
during the 1980s. In 1989, the organization stated it was their duty, and the
duty of all Muslims, to kill U.S. citizens and all U.S. allies (2001). Like
other groups, some of their plans were stopped such as the 1995 assassination
attempt of President Clinton (2001). Al-Qaeda has between several hundred to
several thousand members, but serves as a small group for a terroristetwork that
includes Sunni Islamic extremist groups (2001). The group has a presence in a
number of countries but maintain terrorist training camps in Afghanistan (2001).
Many of these terrorist organizations have cells in a variety of countries,
including the United States and while that is true, some may wonder how and why
terrorist organizations are allowed to exist in a democratic nation. As far as
the United States is concerned, the answer is easy. Many U.S. citizens recognize
that these groups are permitted, along with the Communist Party for example,
because the nation is based on religious and political freedom. Also, another
reason why the groups are able to flourish in the United States is because they
can hide under the umbrella of mainstream religions and because there are
loopholes in immigration policies (Emerson, 2000). America's borders are also
easily penetrable and there are limits on the FBI in terms of their ability to
perform law enforcement functions (2000). In other words, because of the
freedoms provided by the Constitution, the ability of the agencies of the
government to engage in covert operations is limited. The FBI and CIA's lack of
total freedom is not the only reason why these groups can easily live in the
United States without consequences.
Also responsible for the advent of these
groups in America is the lack of a vigilant media (Emerson, 2000). While the
American media can be relentless in some respects, it all too often ignores more
critical, but less sensational, stories. There is also a lack of governmental
attention in respect to the rise of the factions (2000). Perhaps political
correctness prevents increased scrutiny of these groups that live in a country
where political and religious beliefs are sacrosanct. Universities have not kept
track of foreign students or their spouses, and they have also provided easy
access to student visas from nations that support terrorism (2000). Visa fraud
is also prevalent and the creation of false credentials is something that occurs
quite frequently (2000). Thus, it is not difficult to enter the country and go
unnoticed for years, even if one is a member of a terrorist organization.
Terrorists do use the United States as one base of operations (Emerson,
2000). Some might ask why, particularly in light of the fact that most of their
missions are carried out in other parts of the world. But the answer is simple.
Terrorists look for places that afford them the most freedom (2000). Ironically,
they gravitate to the free world to promote its antithesis. Again, they enter
the United States quite easily. They may be hindered by recognition at different
points of entry which range from the visa granting process to the many unmanned
points where the border may be crossed (2000).
The number of major
international terrorists who have been allowed into the United States—some
having been granted Green Cards and even citizenship—is staggering (Emerson,
2000).Some include the head of Al Gamat Al Islamiya, Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman
and one of three top officials of Hamas, Musa Abu Marzook (2000). One of Osama
bin Laden's top lieutenants Ali Mohammed had not only been admitted into the
United States, but was a Special Forces Sergeant at Fort Bragg (2000). Ramadan
Abdullah Shallah served as a professor at the University of South Florida, while
also the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (2000).
Most foreign
nationals enter the U.S. with the use of false identification ; Islamic Jihad
leader Abdel Aziz Odeh entered the United States numerous times, without leaving
a record under his real name, which is another example of how lax the security
is in the country (Emerson, 2000). The fact that there have been few domestic
terrorist incidents does not mean that the members who reside in the U.S. are
not dangerous. In 1997, for example, two terrorists were arrested in a Brooklyn
apartment after a plan to bomb the New York subway system was thwarted (2000).
In addition to sneaking into the country, or residing legally, terrorists
also obtain entry into the United States merely by asking for political asylum,
or by engaging in any one of other immigration fraud schemes such as marriage
fraud, familial relation fraud, naturalization fraud, and work visa fraud ,
amongst others (Emerson, 2000). Terrorist operatives are sometimes smuggled into
the states from either Mexico or Canada (2000).
Clearly, terrorist
organizations are alive and well and living in the United States. However, it
appears that the nation has increased its security and is well aware that
terrorist threats must be taken seriously. Up until the twin towers fell,
members of terrorist organizations were able to freely move about the United
States, whether they entered legally or illegally, supporting activities such as
bombings, assassinations and other methods of destruction aimed at the Western
world. The future likely holds a less trustworthy planet and one would guess
that questionable people with questionable passports would be denied entry when
they get to U.S. borders throughout the twenty-first century. Still, the fact
that terrorists have been able to live in the United States unencumbered during
the past decade or so is rather chilling.
References
Alexander, Y. (1999). Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century:
Threats
and Responses. The World & I, 14, 80.
Eland, I. (1998, September 25).
The U.S. Government Is
Endangering American Citizens. The Cato Institute.
[Online]. Available: http://www.cato.org/dailys/9-25-98.html
Emerson, S.
(2000). INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND IMMIGRATION
POLICY:STEVEN EMERSON.
Congressional Testimony, PG (Reprinted in http://www.elibrary.com. Original
publisher not listed).
Terrorist Group Profiles. (2000). Dudley Knox
Library:
Naval Postgraduate School. [Online]. Available:
http://web.nps.navy.mil/~library/tgp/tgp2.htm
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