Terrorism Threats to the United States
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Attack Concerns
Dec 31, 2008
On December 3, 2008, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told reporters that the al-Qaida terrorist network continues to focus on attacks on U.S. targets vulnerable to massive economic losses, casualties, and political turmoil. There are also threats from radical animal rights and environmental domestic terrorists. His remarks were based on the 38-page Home Security Threat Assessment 2008-2013. (Associated Press, 12/25/2008)
U.S. Border Security Problems
Terrorist will continue to try to evade U.S. border security measures and place operatives inside the mainland to carry out attacks. They may pose as refugees or asylum seekers or try to exploit foreign travel channels such as the visa waiver program, which allows citizens of 34 countries to enter the U.S. without visas. Because there is a proposed cap of 12,000 refugees from Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, officials expect more will try to enter the U.S. illegally.
Radical Islamists Threats
Intelligence officials predict there will be a pool of radical Islamists that will increase over the next five years. They are described as a wave of young, self-identified Muslim "terrorist wannabes" who aspire to carry out violent acts. An example of one of these homegrown terrorists is that of five Muslim immigrants who were convicted of plotting to massacre U.S. solders at Fort Dix.
Of concern to Homeland Security is Hezbollah members who are based in the U.S. and do local fundraising through charity projects and criminal activity, like money laundering, smuggling, drug trafficking, fraud and extortion
Intelligence officials predict that in the next five years, terrorists will try to conduct a destructive biological attack with the possibility of infecting thousands of U.S. citizens, overwhelming regional care systems.
Cyber Terrorism
Cyber terror is a threat that is expected to increase during the next five years as hacking tools become more sophisticated and available. These could be used as a substitute for suicide attacks. Rather than offering themselves us as operatives to conduct physical attacks, they might use their online acumen. As yet, they are not capable of disrupting a major city's water or power systems that require more sophisticated capabilities that the terrorist groups do not possess.
Domestic Terrorism
Domestic terrorists are also of concern to Homeland Security. It was predicted that terrorists in the forms of radical animal rights and environmental extremists will become more adept with explosives and increase their use of arson attacks.
The Homeland Security Threat Assessment 2008-2013 does not specify its audience however typically it would go to law enforcement, intelligence officials and the private sector. In its determination of threats, intelligence officials consider the loss of life, economic and psychological consequences.
Meanwhile, U.S. government agencies will continue its Watchdog Program, tracking systems and protection of transportation systems to discover and stop any plans for attacks.
Source:
Home Security Threat Assessment 2008-2013
 |
