Changing Character of Domestic Terrorism (From Domestic Terrorism and Incident Management: Issues and Tactics, P 204-217, 2001, Miki Vohryzek-Bolden, Gayle Olson-Raymer, et al., -- See NCJ-193133)

• NCJ Number: 193140
• Author(s): Miki Vohryzek-Bolden; Gayle Olson-Raymer; Jeffrey O. Whamond
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Research Paper
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter examines the trends in terrorism in four specific areas: the ideologies and activities of right-wing and special-interest groups; the increase in international terrorism links; the new tools and tactics of terrorists; and the new ideological positions adopted by some extremists—advocates of the Third Position.

Abstract

While the United States has been immune to large numbers of terrorist acts, the new century raises the possibility that more terrorist threats may become a reality—especially from right-wing extremists. The reasons for this include an increase in the number of terrorist groups motivated by religious imperatives; proliferation of amateurs involved in terrorist acts; and the increasing sophistication and operational competence of professional terrorists. Right-wing extremists who follow anti-government, racist, religious ideologies may feel displaced by the rapid changes occurring in American culture. The greatest fear that international terrorists will commit acts of terrorism on American soil concerns the actions of Islamic militants. The location of radical groups covers the United States and includes cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC. The tools of terrorists include cyberterrorism and the Internet and weapons of mass destruction. In regard to cyberterrorism, the main weapons include: computer viruses programmed to destroy software; logic bombs set to detonate at certain times and damage or rewrite data; and high-energy radio frequency guns that disable electronic targets through high powered electromagnetic impulses. In regard to weapons of mass destruction, the main weapons—nuclear, biological, and chemical—share three characteristics in common: immense lethality, portability, and accessibility. And finally the chapter reviewed the ideological positions of the Third Position. Third Positionists support a wide array of special issues that spread across both ends of the political spectrum—abortion, abuse of animals and the environment, and the abuses of capitalism and globalism. Third Positionists are, however, firmly entrenched within the right-wing in terms of their racism and anti-Semitism. References