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Trent Kenya 5 / 15 / 00 Over the past few years a new threat has been encountered by the United States. This threat does not come from away, but from within. It is know as domestic terrorism. This has been seen over the past decade in the form of violence and terrorism across the United States.
This has become a threat to American security and the American people in general. To battle against this issue, Congress has upheld the Anti-Terrorism Act in 1996. One of the best examples on examining these acts of uproar can be viewed, seen and understood by studying the case of the Oklahoma bombing which occurred in 1996. Major newspaper headlines have also described the World Trade Center bombing, the Unabomber's arrest, and Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta as other major cases.
All this demonstrates how sinister 1 terrorism is in American society. This paper will explain background data on anarchy / terrorism , case studies including the Oklahoma bombing, governments reaction toward terrorism. In addition terrorism now and the A number of terrorist attacks in the 1990 s have brought the fear to the public, giving rise to vulnerability 2 between many Americans. Most terrorist incidents in the United States have been bombing attacks, involving detonated and un detonated explosive devices, tear gas and pipe and fire bombs.
The effects of terrorism can cause loss of life and injuries to property damage and disruptions in services such as electricity, water supply, public transportation and communications. The dictionary defines terrorism as n. the policy of using acts to inspiring terror as a method of ruling or of conducting political opposition. though terrorism can be expressed in two ways. Domestic terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist acts are directed at situations of our government or population without unknown ways. International terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are foreign-based and / or directed by countries or groups outside the United States or whose acts pass national boundaries.
In the United States, most terrorist attacks have involved small anarchy groups who use terrorism to achieve a destined objective. Local, State and Federal law enforcement officials monitor suspected terrorist groups and try to prevent or protect the US against a suspected attack. Also, the US government works with other countries to end the cause of support for terrorism. A terrorist attack can take certain forms, depending on the technological approach available to the terrorist, the kind of the political issue causing the attack, and the points of weakness of the terrorist's target. Bombings are the most frequently used terrorist method in the United States.
Other possibilities include an attack at transportation facilities, an attack against uses or other public services or an attack involving chemical or biological weapons. Terrorist incidents in this country have included bombings of the World Trade Center in New York City, the United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC Mobil Oil corporate headquarters in New York City, the Oklahoma bombing, and the Continental Olympic Park. During these past few years, there has been a perception 3 that the United States is becoming more vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Many cases such as The World Trade Center Bombing, The Olympic bombing, The Unabomber's arrest, , and the Oklahoma bombing, has given many Americans fear among terrorism. Below are a few case studies World Trade Center Bombing: In February 1993, a bomb exploded in the World Trade Center in New York City. The World Trade Center is the third tallest building in the world, and more than 100, 000 people work and visit every day.
The bomb exploded in the parking structure underneath the building, damaging the base and subway tunnels. Smoke reached the top of the 110 -story building in minutes. Six people were killed; more than 1, 000 were injured. The FBI joined the Joint Terrorist Task Force in the research, which eventually brought 22 Islamic extremist to trial.
The trial revealed extensive plans to use terrorism to wreak havoc 4 in the United States, including targeting government In April 1996, federal agents arrested Theodore Kaczynski and charged him with the crimes committed by the so-called "Unabombers. " The Unabombers, who targeted university scientists and airline employees among others, had evaded authorities for over 18 years. According to the FBI, the suspect had killed three people and injured 23 others Olympic Bombing: During the Summer Olympic Games, in July 1996, a pipe bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia, killing two people and injuring more than one hundred others. The FBI said that the pipe bomb looked "homemade" with "nails and screws attached. " They suspected domestic terrorists, and members of local militia groups were questioned without any results. Olympic athletes and spectators became tense and worried.
Lines to attend Olympic events became even longer than before; spectators were submitted to more precise observation as they passed through metal detectors and had their bags inspected. One of the recent and major attacks from terrorism has been the Oklahoma bombing. Oklahoma City became the site of the most deadly terrorist bombing in the history of the United States. At 9: 02 a. m. , on April 19, 1995, a massive bomb exploded in a truck in front of the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168, injuring more than 500 people and destroying much of the building and damaging surrounding buildings.
On April 19, Timothy James McVeigh was arrested in Oklahoma for vehicle and weapons violations. On April 21, 1995, McVeigh was charged with violating Title 18, US Code, Section 844 {f} and 2, Maliciously Damaging and Destroying a Building by Means of Explosives. On May 11, 1995, Terry Lynn Nichols was charged with the same violation. Timothy McVeigh was charged with 11 counts of conspiracy 5 and murder by the federal government.
His trial took place in April of 1997. On June 2, 1997, McVeigh was convicted on all charges and was sentenced to death. Mcveigh's partner Terry L. Nichols was sentenced in a federal judge sentences Terry L. Nichols to life in prison. This was the ending to a part in American history that showed the nation's vulnerability to domestic terrorism.
On July 17, 1996, TWA Flight 800 exploded in the air off the coast of Long Island, shortly after taking off from New Yorks Kennedy International Airport. The explosion killed all 229 passengers and crew. People guess about whether the crash resulted from technical failure or a bomb. In response, President Clinton assigned Vice President Al Gore to head a new Commission on Aviation Safety and Security. The President also announced that the federal government would take on the primary responsibility and cost for airport security. Airline security has received renewed attention since the crash, even though no evidence has been found that the explosion was a result of a bomb.
More strict security measures are now in place. Governments reaction toward Terrorism In 1996 President Bill Clinton signed Antiterrorism Act to strengthen the power of the federal government to foresee 6 and respond to both international and domestic terrorism. The makes terrorism a federal crime punishable by death, as well as aids in the investigation, capture, and trial of terrorists in the United States, and includes terms that allow US deportation proceed ments without being bound by Terrorists to show classified information. Disallows fundraising in the US that supports terrorist organizations, and bars terrorists from entering the US The law also allows for the deportation of foreign terrorists without the need to disclose classified evidence against them, and it authorizes overdoing of up to $ 1 billion on state and local antiterrorism efforts. Both the American Liberties Union and the National Rifle Association opposed portions of the legislation that they claimed would provide the federal government with too much power. An earlier provision in the Anti-Terrorism Act that would have given the federal government power to wiretap suspected terrorist groups phones without a warrant was removed from the final bill, following objections from both Democrats and Republicans.
The Act would have allowed the information obtained in this way to be used in court. Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga. ) "We do not need to give our government vast new powers. " Members of civil liberties groups agreed, saying that this provision would have violated peoples right to privacy. Other lawmakers argued that tragedies such as the Oklahoma City bombing make it essential that the federal government be allowed to monitor militia Since the world has become so very technically advance it will be more difficult to find concealed or secret explosives, and these technological advances have made chemical, biological and even nuclear weapons much more widely available, and have thereby occupy the ability to inflict mass destruction.
As lawmakers debate what steps to take to prevent future attacks, many Americans ponder what sacrifices they are willing to make to counter the terrorist threat. Are air travelers willing to wait in longer lines at the airport so that sensitive equipment can inspect their bags for explosives? Are they willing to pay more for airplane tickets to finance new detection equipment? Are Americans willing to submit to increased security measures at the expense of their freedom of movement as well In conclusion lawmakers have tried to respond to the fear that America is becoming more vulnerable to terrorist attacks. But, many experts believe that the American public and lawmakers need to think about whether they are responding to fear or to facts. For these experts, the response to the explosion of TWA Flight 800 is an example of overreaction.
Investigators have not determined what caused the explosion, and yet, this explosion has prompted a revival of the Anti-Terrorism Act and President Clinton has requested the expansion 7 of the federal governments wiretapping rights once again. Should Americans give up a measure of freedom for the increased safety it will Bibliography: Bibliography Greenberg, Keith. Terrorism the New Menace. Brookfield CT, 1994 Gaines, Ann. Terrorism. Philadelphia PA, 1999 Close Up Foundation on Terrorism web Alexandria VA, 1997 FEMA backgrounder- terrorism web 1998 Lexicon publications, inc.
Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus. Danbury CT, 1993 Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. 1993 - 1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved
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