Rutvik+and+Oam

Oam Bhate, Stephen Chen

=Domestic Terrorist Groups: Terrorist groups based in the US that attack the US, including:=

Goal: use economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environment.
 * __Earth Liberation Front__**

September 4, 2009, Everett, Washington: The ELF claims responsibility for the destruction of two broadcasting towers used by the local radio station KRKO

__**James Wenneker von Brunn**__

Goal: White supremacist and Holocaust denier. To offend jews/African-americans

Von Brunn’s conviction in the 1980s was by "a Negro jury, Jew/Negro attorneys" and that he was "sentenced to prison for eleven years by a Jew judge." A Court of Appeals denied his appeal.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum shooting was a shooting at that nation's memorial to The Holocaust in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 2009, at 12:50 p.m. Security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns, 39, was shot, and later died from his injuries.

__**Animal liberation front**__ Goals: To inflict economic damage on those who profit from the misery and exploitation of animals and liberate the animals from places of abuse. To reveal the horror and atrocities committed against animals by performing nonviolent direct actions and liberations

The Sheepskin Factory in Glendale, Colorado is destroyed by arson on April 30, 2010. May 31, 2010 leather store in destroyed by arson Salt Lake City, UT.

__**Ku Klux Klan**__ Goal: advocate extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti- immigration through terrorism

A Klu Klux Klansman, Daniel James Schertz, from South Pittsburg, TN entered guilty pleas Thursday in connection with constructing pipe bombs for use in blowing up Hispanic immigrants. The pleas were to manufacturing explosives, transporting explosives, teaching others how to make explosives, and possessing a Ruger pistol while under a restraining order.

__**Scott Roeder**__

Goal: Destroy abortion clinics

George Tiller, a physician from Wichita, Kansas who was nationally known for being one of the few doctors in the United States to perform late-term abortions, was shot and killed by Scott Roeder, an anti-abortion activist. Tiller was killed during a Sunday morning service at his church

=International Terrorist Groups: Terrorist groups based outside the US that attempt to attack the US, including:=

__**Al Qaeda**__

Purpose: Al-Qaeda's purpose is to spread jihad worldwide through a number of means, including funding and training Islamic and ethnic guerilla movements, issuing propaganda aimed at inspiring freelance jihadists to commit acts of terrorism, and organizating and conducting complex attacks on countries it sees opposing it.

Religion: They are using the Islamic concept of jihad, though they are doing so in a radical way. These are radical Muslims.

Why US is targeted: They despise the USA because of its repeatedly interference with the Middle East and the amount of Western contamination in their culture and religions. They perceive the USA as a threat to their way of life and therefore have declared jihad.

1. Al Qaeda is a worldwide organisation, so it threatens the US both inside and outside its borders. 2. We don't think the violence is justified, but their way of life was disrupted in the Middle East because of Western countries, which does give them a legitimate argument to support their actions. 3. We don't think that the fact that we are US residents affects our perception of this organisation because we are foreign citizens.

__**Abu Sayyaf**__

Purpose: Abu Sayyaf seeks the establishment of an Iranian-style Islamic theocracy in the southern Philippines

Why the US is targeted: They are racist toward whites. Also, when they kidnap white Americans, they often get large ransom payments.

1. This group is a threat to the US because they kidnap Americans. However, their operations are limited to the Philippines so they are only a threat outside the US. 2. This group does not have any legitimate arguments to support their actions. If they want theocracy in the Philippines, they should not use violence, they should actually try to effect change in their government through democracy. 3. We can understand that they are trying to use violence to achieve their goals, which is a bad thing.

__**Jemaah Islamiyah**__

Purpose: Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) is a militant Islamist group active in several Southeast Asian countries that seeks to establish a pan-Islamic state across much of the region.

Religion: They are driven by Islam and wish to create a radical state.

Threat to US: They want to get their message across, so they have attracted US attention by attacking US targets.

1. This organisation mainly attacks US interests in Indonesia so they are mainly a threat outside the US. 2. This group does not have any legitimate arguments to support their actions. If they want theocracy, they should not use violence, they should actually try to effect change in their government through democracy. 3. We can understand that they are trying to use violence to achieve their goals, which is a bad thing.

__**Al Shabaab**__

Purpose: Same as al-Qaeda. This is the African branch of the worldwide organization. It is based in Somalia.

Threat to US: They don't despise the US per say; they are brainwashed by al-Qaeda to hate America. The only reason they listen is because al-Qaeda has money and have considerable influence over Somalis.

Religion: They are Muslim, so they agree with the concept of Jihad.

1. The US is a primary target. The Christmas Day Bomber is an example of al-Shabaab workings. 2. Since they mainly do this because they need money to survive, they do have a legitimate reason to support their actions. This is, sadly, one of the only ways some Somalis earn money besides piracy. 3. We don't think that the fact that we are US residents affects our perception of this organisation because we are foreign citizens.

__**Lashkar-e-Taiba**__

Purpose: Its stated objective is to introduce an Islamic state in South Asia and to "liberate" Muslims residing in Indian Kashmir.

Religion: They are driven by their desire for an Islamic state. They are radical Muslims.

Threat to US: They don't like the United States because the US supports India when it comes to Kashmir.

1. They are a threat to the US outside of its borders. They have attacked American citizens, but mainly in India. 2. This group does not have any legitimate reasons to support its actions. Many Muslims in Kashmir wanted to be a part of India. We believe they're just after land and scapegoating the Muslims in Kashmir. 3. We don't believe that the fact that we are US residents affects our perception of this organisation because two of our three group members are Indian.