Cjus820-discussion 1-reply 1 | CJUS 820 – Advanced Topics in Terrorism and Intelligence | Liberty University

Cjus820-discussion 1-reply 1 | CJUS 820 – Advanced Topics in Terrorism and Intelligence

The response must be 250 words and use at least 2 scholarly citation(s) in APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include texts, articles, presentations, the Bible, blogs, videos, etc.

Textbook: Taylor, R. W., & Swanson, C. R. (2019). Terrorism, intelligence, and homeland security (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson. ISBN: 9780134818146.

CYRAH

Discussion Thread: The Evolution of Terrorism

According to Taylor & Swanson (2019) the most prominent current issues that America faces are terrorism, intelligence, and homeland security. This notion is agreeable since most people find themselves in the age of technology and advancement. Social media plays a big part in communication in first-world countries and third-world countries utilize this to the fullest. In the case of cyber terror and cyber scams, there is a big push as of late for scamming Americans out of their hard-earned dollars. Terrorism prior to the attacks of 2001 may have seemed more extreme whereas current-day, it would appear more subtle. Terrorism has evolved from large, booming statement attacks to short, jutting-jabs of terrorism. What may seem menial to the utilitarian concept of peace and normalcy, would be addressed as the opposite to certain task forces that the national defense would identify as terror.

Prior to the 9/11 attack on the US, The U.S Department of State (2021) identified 21 foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and after the attack there has been an additional 51. Of the current total of 72 FTOs, there were 14 FTOs that were removed. Most of the FTOs did not receive national recognition as a FTO because all of them did not make as big of a statement as the terrorists who attacked the US on 9/11. Yet, these organizations are identified by the US Department of State and are addressed as FTOs, putting them on the same plane. Although FTOs usually have radical temperaments and measures that they take, many are less than cataclysmic but simultaneously just as important to address.

It is important to analyze the psychological process by which an individual adopts ideologies that call for violent acts (Weissman et al., 2014). FTOs typically recruit mercenary soldiers of their country or even neighboring countries to carry out an ideology with a high escalation of violence for their beliefs or religion. They also recruit people who have less to live for that come from meager backgrounds or may even have been trafficked to a location that puts them at the mercy of their captors. Terrorism has evolved from a regional challenge, Oklahoma City Bombing, Active Shooters etc. to a global issue with 9/11 and cyber terror. Over time, the evolution has gradually impacted the US as a focal point to cyber terrorists and their affiliates. A cyber threat is seen as an act of violence, hence all the speculation about US Representatives sending e-mail correspondence to foreign nationals that potentially jeopardize the national security of the US. Yes, an act of violence could be as little as sending a mildly-threatening e-mail to a US Official.

There has been terror since the biblical days, when kingdoms would invade other kingdoms and strip the land of its resources. “And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria” (2 Kings 6:24). It was in this same passage that a lady boiled, and ate her son because there was famine in the land, and that is what people resorted to.