THREAT REPORTS
THE FBI’s strategy to combat global terrorism
In many respects, the FBI, in its capacity of countering terrorism, is targeting the same groups that it did prior to and immediately after September 11th. There have, however, been new additions to their surveillance and target list such as the Al Qaeda offshoot Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the Islamic State (ISIS). That said, while September 11th and subsequent attacks in the United Kingdom and Spain were largely planned by cells in at least some degree of coordination with central organization that advises, trains, and possibly funds the activities of an individual cell. The existence of a central hub for a terrorist organization – while allowing for scaling to occur – leads to the creation of a central point of failure that can put the group’s goals at risk should the central infrastructure be neutralized.
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Global terrorism: The multibillion dollar business
When most people think of terrorism or terrorist groups, often thoughts immediately go to violent terrorist attacks, extremist ideologies, or war- zones. What individuals often don’t think of is the oxygen that keeps terrorist groups breathing – money. At their root, however, terrorist groups are in the business of raising funds and seeking out financial sustainability. Without solvency, groups would be unable to fund their operations and, therefore, unable to spread their ideologies. To quote Amos Gilad, the former director of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Political-Military Affairs Bureau, finance is indispensable and “like fuel for the car.”
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MITIGATING SCHOOL SHOOTING
Active shooter events are increasingly being discussed on the news as a fact of life for Americans. Many individuals live their lives concerned that they or a loved one will be a victim of an active shooter event. The Parkland and Newtown further amplified the anxiety as caused substantial loss life and were targeting schools and students. Such gruesome and heart-wrenching events create an impression that most school shooter events are such high-profile, mass casualty events. Such events are not, in fact, common nor are such mass casualty events, where four or more individuals die, increasing. According to numbers published by Northeastern University, schools are, indeed, safer than they were in the 1990’s.
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