Terrorism

Recently I have been hired to compile a briefing regarding a possible terrorist group, which has been forming in my community. I am working closely with Homeland Security in an effort to alleviate the threats as well as finding solutions to the terrorization. I have received numerous reports from Homeland Security that a terrorist group has surfaced in my community and they request my expertise on this matter. In this briefing, I will be illustrating the type of terrorist group that has been recently formed and identified in my community, as well as including a brief description of them. In addition, we will closely look at the structure of the group and what type of typology may exist.

Homeland Security has informed me that a White Supremacy group has formed in my community. Being an expert on Terrorism, they have come to me for advice and direction towards this matter. This terrorist group has made threats to use bioterrorism as their choice of a violent mode against us. In my community there are 3 reservoirs, which supply drinking water to the city and surrounding towns. Attacks on these reservoirs will lead to numerous illnesses, as well as possible deaths. With these reservoirs being the targets, the terrorist group will accomplish their goals and incapacitate an entire county. Bioterrorism defined "is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. These agents are typically found in nature, but it is possible that they could be changed to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment. Biological agents can be spread through the air, through water, or in food." (Bioterrorism Overview, 2006) This type of biological weaponery can be found in our water supply or quite possibly be airborn.

In order to better understand White Supremacy groups, we need to first connect how the organization falls under the definition of terrorism. Terrorism, as defined by the State Department, is "the premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agaents, usually intended to influence an audience. The term Ð''international terrorism' means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country. The term Ð''terrorist group' means any group practicing, or that has significant subgroups that practice, international terrorism" (White, 2006, p. 6) According to intelligence gathered, the White Supremacy group has become unsettled, due to the fact that many different types races have infiltrated and settled within community.

A White Supremacy group has an ideology of being racist, holding that the white race is superior to all other races. In addition, white supremacy groups frown upon the idea of homosexuality. These White Supremacy groups have a framework of the nationalists nature. A nationalist group is a group which "fights for the whole of their homeland." (Schlosser, The Framework of Terrorism) These groups tend to have support sections, tactical sections, and intelligence sections. There are also four hierarchical

levels of the terrorist group. These are the command structure, active cadre, active supporters, and the passive supporters. In the command structure of the group, there are usually a select few that are nominated and respected as the leaders. The next level, the active cadre, usually takes charge of the "active supporters" within the group. This position eleviates this part of the framework for the command structure. Lastly are the active and passive supporters. The active cadres are the most important and influential in the group. "They maintain communication levels, provide safe houses, gather intelligence, and ensure that all other logistical needs are met. This is the largest internal group in the organization." The last category of the structure, the passive supporters, are not usually a part of the terrorist group, however, this group "represents a favorable element of the political climate" (White, 2006, p. 36)

There are three types of typologies that can be related the the White Supremacy terrorist group, these are as follows: geographic, goals and purposes, and modes of attack. Under geography, a White Supremacy group is usually domestic and is by "residents of a country within that