WEEK 1
Please respond to the following: “Defining Terrorism”
As the text explained, there is no agreed-upon single definition of terrorism. For example, almost every major U.S. government agency has their definition of terrorism. In fact, hundreds of different definitions of terrorism exist. Suggest the key factors that you believe contribute to the lack of a global definition for terrorism. Provide one (1) example of such a lack of a definition in action to support your response.
From the first e-Activity, create your own comprehensive definition of terrorism. Explain the key elements of your definition, and suggest at least one (1) reason why the elements are important to your personal definition of terrorism. Use your personal definition of terrorism to determine whether or not you believe Hezbollah meets the criteria as a terrorist group. Provide a rationale for your response.
Please respond to the following: “Origins of Terrorism in Western Society”
From the second e-Activity, determine the time period in which the meaning of terrorism at that point in time most closely resembled one (1) meaning of terrorism today. Determine the time period that you believe had a different meaning of terrorism than it does today. Provide a rationale to support your response.
From the second e-Activity, determine the two time periods / major events that you researched in which the perceived meanings of terrorism at those times were most closely related. Provide a rationale to support your choices.
WEEK 2
Please respond to the following: “Radicalization”
Analyze the critical paths that individuals may take as they undergo personal behavioral changes through the process of radicalization. Determine three (3) factors that you believe have the greatest effect on an individuals path to radicalization. Provide a rationale to support your response.
Determine the step in the radicalization process described by Marc Sageman in the text in which the individual is most vulnerable to discovery by law enforcement. Examine the significant implications that this vulnerability to discovery of those undergoing the radicalization process has for counter terrorism purposes.
Please respond to the following: “Terrorism Funding”
Describe several common sources of terrorism funding. Include at least one (1) legal source and one (1) illegal source of funding. Assess the importance of tracking and stopping the sources of terrorism funding. Justify your response.
As discussed in the text, narcoterrorism is a hotly debated topic of terrorism funding. Define narcoterrorism in your own words. Take a position on one
WEEK 3
Please respond to the following: “Terrorism and the Media”
Analyze the medias effect on terrorism. Speculate on the end result that each side (the media and the terrorist group) hopes to gain from the other. Assess the degree to which media coverage of a terrorist attack can affect the public and its perception of the terrorist group. Provide at least one (1) example of such media usage that supports your response.
Explain the various ways in which terrorists use the Internet to aid their terrorist activities. Evaluate the degree to which terrorists use the Internet to advance their cause. Provide at least one (1) example of such Internet usage that supports your response.
Please respond to the following: “Force Multipliers”
Describe at least four (4) different force multipliers that terrorists use. Evaluate the effectiveness of each of these force multipliers in contributing to the success of a terrorist attack. Justify your response.
Choose one of the four (4) force multipliers you described in the first part of this discussion and provide a specific example from an actual real-life terrorist attack that demonstrates the utilization of the force multiplier by a terrorist group. Assess the effectiveness of that terrorist groups use of the force multiplier in question. Justify your response.
WEEK 4
Please respond to the following: “Terrorism in Northern Ireland”
Per the text, by 1962, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) had all but ceased operating. In 1969, a Catholic civil rights movement had engulfed Northern Ireland when Catholics demanded the same rights as Protestants. The Northern Ireland government reacted to the movement with aggressive and repressive actions. When the situation escalated with violence, the British Army was sent in. Choose at least three (3) specific actions taken by the British Army during this time period that you believe contributed to the resurgence of the IRA. Provide a rationale for your response.
Of the three (3) specific actions you identified in the first part of this discussion, explainwith supporting factswhich single action taken by the British Army had the greatest impact on the resurgence of the IRA. Hypothesize what might have happened differently had the British Army not taken this single action.
Please repsond to the following: “The Russian Federation and Breakaway States”
Per the text, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, several breakaway states emerged in the region. Explain the potential threats that two (2) of these breakaway states poses to the U.S. Analyze these potential threats, and suggest the key measures that the U.S. can take in order to mitigate the threats in question.
Analyze the strategic mistakes that the terrorists made when attacking the Moscow Theater in 2002. Assess the level of influence that the terrorists mistakes from the Moscow attack exerted on the terrorists who perpetrated the attack on the Beslan school in 2004. Use examples from each attack to support your response.
WEEK 5
Please respond to the following: “Islam and the Shiite Sunni Split”
As explained in the text, Islam was founded by the prophet Mohammed. After his death in 632, a split occurred in Islam creating two groups who became known as Shiites and Sunnis. Assess the importance of the split in Islam to both the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq. Provide a rationale for your response.
Analyze the fundamental differences between Shiites and Sunnis in relation to the war on terrorism. Hypothesize one (1) way in which the analysis of such differences and the information that it yields is useful relative to the current situation in Iraq. Provide a rationale for your response.
Please respond to the following: “Militant Islam”
Per the text, the militant version of Islam first began in the 11th century and has continued to develop in modern times. Determine whether or not you believe that the three (3) individuals most recognized as founding this militant philosophy influenced Osama Bin Ladens decisions and / or his role in terrorism. Provide support for your rationale.
Examine the seminal contributions that each of the three (3) individuals from the first part of this discussion have afforded to the militant Islamic philosophy. Choose the one (1) contributor that you believe has had the most influence on current Islamic Jihadists. Defend your choice, and explain the key reasons why the person you chose was the most influential.
WEEK 6
Please respond to the following: “Black September”
From the first e-Activity, assess the effectiveness of the Black September group in achieving its intended goals as a group. Provide examples of such effectivenessor lack thereofto support your response.
From the first e-Activity, analyze the Black September attack on the 1972 Munich Olympics, and examine the crucial lessons that law enforcement and counterterrorist organizations learned in the aftermath. From the perspective of the terrorists, give your opinion on whether or not you believe the Munich terrorist attack was successful. Use facts from your research to support your opinion.
Please respond to the following: “Controversial Counterterrorism Polices and Tactics”
Explore the key reasons why you believe counterterrorism policies are often considered controversial. Discuss your viewpoint on controversial counterterrorism tactics in general, and determine whether you agree or disagree with their use. Provide examples of such tactics to support your position.
From the second e-Activity, describe at least three (3) controversial counterterrorism tactics that Israel currently utilizes. Summarize the key arguments for and against these tactics. Explain your position on the controversy surrounding the counterterrorism tactics. Provide a rationale for your answer.
WEEK 7
Please respond to the following: “Revolutionary Terrorism and the American Revolution”
From the first e-Activity, define revolutionary terrorism in your own words. Examine at least one (1) terrorist group that you believe to be comprised of revolutionary terrorists. Provide a rationale for your response.
From the second e-Activity, defend or criticize the claim by some individuals that the Colonists who fought against the British in the American Revolution were terrorists and not freedom fighters. Provide a rationale for your response.
Please respond to the following: “Al Qaeda”
Give your opinion on whether or not you believe the killing of Osama Bin Laden has negatively affected Al Qaeda and the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Use examples of such effects to support your position.
Per the text, two noted terrorism experts, Marc Sageman and Bruce Hoffman, disagree on the current operational capabilities of Al Qaeda. Determine the expert viewpoint that you believe most closely aligns with your opinion of the current operational capabilities of Al Qaeda. Support your position with facts from the text.
WEEK 8
Devise your own definition of homegrown terrorism. Give your viewpoint on the potential threat that homegrown Islamic terrorism poses to the U.S. Provide a rationale for your response.
From the e-Activity, provide one (1) example of what you believe to be a specific homegrown terrorist attack that occurred in the U.S. Provide a rationale for your response.
Please respond to the following: “Homeland Security: Who Is in Charge?”
As common knowledge suggests, there are many agencies directly involved in homeland security that are not part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Examine at least three (3) agencies that are not part of the DHS, but play a direct role in homeland security. Hypothesize the key reasons why you believe these three (3) agencies are not part of the DHS. Justify your response.
Determine whether you believe the three (3) agencies you identified in the first part of this discussion should remain separate from DHS or whether they should be merged with DHS. Provide a rationale for your response.
WEEK 9
Please respond to the following: “Homeland Security Bureaucracy”
Chapter 14 of your textbook describes two (2) viewpoints on the expanded homeland security bureaucracy that resulted from the creation of the DHS. Take a position on the expansion debate. Support your position with facts from the text.
Suggest the key changes that you would make to the existing homeland bureaucracy in order to improve its effectiveness. For each of your suggested changes, provide a rationale for your suggestion, and determine the fundamental manner in which your suggested change would impact the effectiveness of the DHS.
Please respond to the following: “Security and Liberty”
Benjamin Franklin said, Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Explain whether you agree or disagree with this statement, and assess its relevance in relation to the USA PATRIOT Act. Provide a rationale for your response.
From the e-Activity, analyze one (1) provision of the USA PATRIOT Act that some consider unconstitutional. Take a position on whether or not you believe the USA PATRIOT Act should be considered unconstitutional overall. Provide facts to support your answer.
