Kevin,+Scott,+Nick,+and+Max

The ELF was founded in Brighton in the United Kingdom in 1992 and spread to the rest of Europe by 1994. It is now an international movement with actions reported in 17 countries and is widely regarded as descending from Animal Liberation Front because of the relationship and cooperation between the two movements. The ELF was classified as the top "domestic terror" threat in the United States by the FBI in March 2001, and its members are categorized as "eco-terrorists".
 * Earth Liberation Front (ELF)** By**:** Scott Bader
 * Goals/objectives:** The ELF’s goal is to take the __profit__ motive out of environmental destruction by causing damage to businesses through the use of property damage.
 * Why:** They want to preserve this earth, and leave it in better shape than it was in when they got it.
 * Religion’s role:** The ELF has no major religious backing, but it was many ideologies including: animal liberationists, anti-capitalists, green anarchists, deep ecologists, eco-feminists, and anti-globalisationists.
 * Recent activity:** One of the latest ELF arsons was reported on the morning of March 3, when explosive devices set fire to four multi-million dollar homes from the 2007 Seattle Street of Dreams in Echo Lake, Washington, costing $7 million in damage. Authorities described the act as "domestic terrorism" after finding "ELF" spray-painted in red letters, mocking claims that the homes were environmentally friendly: //"Built Green? Nope black! McMansions in RCDs r not green. ELF."//

The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) is an international, underground leaderless resistance terrorist group that engages in illegal direct action in pursuit of animal liberation. Activists see themselves as a modern-day Underground Railroad, removing animals from laboratories and farms, destroying facilities, arranging safe houses and __veterinary__ care, and operating sanctuaries where the animals live out the rest of their lives. Critics have compared them to terrorists. To further any action that helps the cause of animal liberation from oppression. To uncover animal abuse by trying non-violent methods if possible. The ALF was founded by people that believed that animals are not property, and that scientists should not be able to conduct such cruel and unusual experiments on them. This group wished to liberate these animals through acts of ecotage. The Animal Liberation Front is not directly influenced by a religion, rather it is more idealistic and tries to use non-violence to support their cause. In June 2006, the ALF claimed responsibility for a firebomb attack on __University of__ California, Los Angeles researcher Lynn Fairbanks, after a firebomb was placed on the doorstep of a house occupied by her 70 year-old tenant; according to the FBI, it was powerful enough to have killed the occupants, but failed to ignite. The attack was credited by the acting chancellor of UCLA as helping to shape the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.
 * Animal Liberation Front: Kevin Jang **
 * Goals/Objectives: **
 * Why: **
 * Religion: **
 * Recent Activity: **


 * Aryan Nation (AN)** By: Scott Bader

Aryan Nations is a white supremacist religious organization originally based in Hayden Lake, Idaho. Richard Girnt Butler founded the group in the 1970s, as an arm of the Christian Identity organization Church of Jesus Christ–Christian. The Federal __Bureau of__ Investigation has called Aryan Nations a "terrorist threat", and the RAND Corporation has called it the "first truly nationwide terrorist network" in the US.


 * Goals/objectives:** To further the power of white people in the United States.


 * Why:** They think that the white race is superior to all other races in the world.


 * Religion’s role:** They say they are an arm of the Christian Identity organization Church of Jesus Christ


 * Recent Activity: The **AN is still __active__ and moved to Florida in 2007. They are constantly trying to recruit and an AN leader actually was running for School Board in California. They would put them in a political office, and open the door for more powerful position.

A Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Since June 2007 Hamas has governed the Gaza portion of the Palestinian Territories. The European Union, the United States, Canada, Israel and Japan classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. To liberate Palestine from Israel and establish an Islamic State in the West Bank of the Gaza Strip To use any force possible to liberate Jerusalem from Israel. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Hamas believes that their land is to be protected and liberated from Israel’s rule. They wish for a united Islamic Palestine State that works together to further their goals. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Hamas is strictly ruled by Islamic beliefs, and its core is based upon the teachings of the Holy Islamic Bible. However, Hamas states that their fight is purely political and less religious than the world thinks. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">On 2 May 2011, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh condemned the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by the United States. Haniyeh praised Bin Laden, the founder of the jihadist organization al-Qaeda, as a "martyr" and an "Arab holy warrior". The United States government condemned his remarks as "outrageous". <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">In January 2009, a Federal prosecutor accused the Council on American-Islamic Relations of having links to a charity designated as a support network for Hamas. The Justice Department identified CAIR as an “un-indicted co-conspirator” in the Holy Land Foundation case in Dallas, which concluded with the sentencing of the two founders of the foundation to life in prison for funneling $12 million to Hamas.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Hamas: Kevin Jang **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Goals/Objective: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Why: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Religion: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Recent Activities: **


 * 2010 Austin Suicide Attack (Andrew Joseph Stack III) : Max Clinton**

In his suicide note he writes why he did this. He expresses displeasure with the government, the bailout of financial institutions, politicians, the conglomerate companies of General Motors, Enron and Arthur Andersen, unions, drug and health care insurance companies, and the Catholic Church. He also had issues with taxes, debt, and the IRS. He had a long running feud with the IRS and that is probably why he flew a plane into an IRS building. He is considered a lone wolf terrorist.
 * Goals:**

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">**Recent Activity:** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">He only committed one act of terrorism because it was a suicide attack in 2010. He boarded his single-engine Piper Dakota airplane and was cleared to take off around 9:45 a.m. He indicated to the control tower his flight would be "going southbound, sir." After taking off his final words were "thanks for your help, have a great day."About ten minutes later his plane descended and collided at full speed into Echelon I, a building containing offices for 190 IRS employees, resulting in a large fireball and explosion.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">**Why:** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">He was very upset with the IRS and had been in a feud with them for years

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Religion did not really play a part in his act of terrorism.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Religion: **

He killed two people (himself and Vernon Hunter). Thirteen people were injured.
 * Threat to the US:**

He was a psychiatrist and seemed to be upset that some of his patients were not being prosecuted for their war crimes. He had also expressed some radical Islamic thoughts such as supporting suicide bombers. His main goal was to kill as many soldiers in uniform. He passed up several opportunities to kill civilians. In 2009 he entered the Soldier Readiness Processing Center in Fort Hood, Texas. With a pistol he killed 13 and wounded 29. He fired 214 rounds. He was shot and taken into custody by the US police. It was the worst ever shooting on an American military base. It is still not clear whether he did this due to a mental health issue or as a radical Muslim. Government agencies have not officially linked him to a radical terrorist group, but he has received praise from several terrorist groups. He could have been motivated by his radical view of Islam but it is still not clear if this is the main reason or a reason at all. He killed thirteen people and wounded twenty-nine. He is not really a threat to the US now because he is in prison. His action may inspire others to do the same thing though.
 * Fort Hood Shooting (Nidal Malik Hasan): Max Clinton**
 * Goals:**
 * Recent Activity:**
 * Why:**
 * Religion:**
 * Threat to US:**

In English known as “The Base”, it is a global Islamic organization that is Sunni and was founded by Osama Bin Laden. It calls for global Jihad and has a strict interpretation of sharia law. The United States, the United Kingdom, various other countries, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, and NATO classify it as a terrorist organization <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">**Goals:** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Their main goal is to drive Americans and American influence out of all Muslim nations, especially Saudi Arabia They also wish to destroy Israel and topple pro-Western dictatorships around the Middle East. Bin Laden also said that he wants to unite all Muslims and establish, an Islamic nation adhering to the rule of the first Caliphs. They also say that it is the duty of all Muslims to wage Jihad. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">**Why:** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">They believe that sharia law is necessary for Muslims to be good Muslims. They believe that Western ideas directly oppose Islam. They closely follow the writing of the Islamic author and thinker, __ [|Sayyid Qutb] __, and it is said that without him there would not likely have been an al Qaeda organization. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">**Religion:** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">Sunni Islamism <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">**Recent Activity:** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">It was reported on March 16, 2012 that Osama bin Laden plotted to kill Barack Obama and United States General David Petraeus. Failed underwear bomb plot a week ago. January 2011 Iraq suicide attacks were a series of three consecutive suicide bombings in Iraq which left at least 133 dead. November 2010 Baghdad bombings were a series of bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraq, that killed more than 110 people
 * Al Qaeda: Max Clinton**


 * RIRA**- Real Irish Republican Army


 * Goals-** The ultimate goal of the RIRA is to unite Ireland under a sovereign Irish banner and to expel the British from Northern Ireland through the use of force. Unlike the IRA, the RIRA rejects the Good Friday agreement that negotiated peace between the IRA and the British. Overall, the RIRA employs tactics similar to the IRA in that they utilize car bombs, snipers, and assassinations to spread terror and disorder.


 * Recent Activity-** On March 7th, 2009, RIRA members stormed an army barracks in Massereene and killed several British soldiers. This event was significant due to the fact that it was the first attack in Northern Ireland since the 1997 peace agreement.


 * Religion-** Although the majority of RIRA members are Irish Roman Catholic, religion doesn’t play a significant role in determining their actions. They are mainly concerned with sovereignty.


 * Threat to the US**- Undoubtedly, the RIRA poses no threat to the US. They are a terrorist organization centered only in Northern Ireland and only concerned with domestic affairs.


 * Hezbollah**- Shia militant Muslim group in Lebanon


 * Goals-** The goals of Hezbollah center on Shia radicalism and the elimination of the State of Israel. The group claims they are fighting a “defensive Jihad” against Israel due to the repeated conflicts between the group and Israel. Hezbollah isn’t necessarily anti-Semitic, but they are anti-Zionist. Additionally, Hezbollah serves as a powerful political party in Lebanon.


 * Recent Activity-** In 2006, Hezbollah launched a war against Israel that lasted for 34 days. The war was sparked by cross border raids conducted by Hezbollah that ended in the destruction of several Israeli Humvees and the death of several soldiers. Israel responded with an extensive bombing and artillery campaign that devastated Lebanon.


 * Religion-** Hezbollah is founded primarily on the basis of religion, specifically fundamentalist Shia Islam. In addition to attacking Israel, Hezbollah designates targets in a Jihadist, and thus religiously motivated, manner.


 * Threat to the US-** Due to the US commitment to Israel and Hezbollah’s fundamentalist religious beliefs, they could potentially be a threat to the US. This is because the US provides military support to Israel and growing anti-US sentiment in the Middle East.


 * Lashkar-e-Taiba**- An Islamic terrorist organization operating in South Asia and Pakistan. Their name means “Army of the Good.”


 * Goals-** Their primary objective is to promote independence for the Valley of Kashmir, which is currently controlled by India. However, they have professed that their goals are not simply limited to military activity in the valley. On the whole, they aim to eliminate India, Hinduism, and Judaism while simultaneously spreading Islamic rule to the rest of the World. Additionally, they consider the US and Israel inherent enemies of Islam and therefore target them for attack.


 * Recent Activity-** In 2008, Lashkar-e-Taiba trained and helped orchestrate the series of bombings and shootings that occurred simultaneously in Mumbai. Particularly, the group trained the ten gunmen involved in the attacks and likely provided funding. In the end, twenty members of the group were arrested in connection to the attack.


 * Religion-** Once again, Lashkar-e-Taiba is motivated by fundamentalist Islam. In fact, the groups eight pillars include ending persecution against Muslims, establishing Islam as the dominant way of life in the world, forcing infidels to pay jizya, fighting for the weak and feeble against oppressors, exacting revenge for killed Muslims, punishing enemies for violating oaths and treaties, defending all Muslim states, and recapturing occupied Muslim territory.


 * Threat to the US-** Because of their extremist ideology, Lashkar-e-Taiba poses a significant threat to the US. It was discovered that the group had designated several targets in the US for bombings and other various terrorist activities. More than that though, the group can be considered a threat to the US because it is a global jihadist organization.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The threats are more organized and dangerous when based outside of our borders. Domestic terrorism is often spontaneous and small, while international terrorism is highly trained and lethal. They are often backed politically and economically, giving them high fire-power to inflict maximum damage against targets. In essence, the threat of terrorism for the United States is mostly outside of our borders, but a small portion is also based within the borders. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Yes, some organizations such as the ELF and ALF are based on environmental protection, which is something that is a legitimate argument for their actions and beliefs. They vow to be non-violent but some of their actions are violent. The other organizations are based on religion but are often extremist in their views and are not supported by all of the people. The only legitimate argument we can understand is environmental protection. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Yes, the media portrays all terrorists as Islamic extremists, especially recently with the conflicts within the Middle East. The mass media pushes images of suicide bombings into the news, and the consequence is that all youth believe Islamic practitioners are related to terrorism. It is a stereotype that has been grown in the past few years and is generally kept within the United States.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Conclusion: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Answer these questions as a supplement to your evaluation:**1. Does the threat of terrorism for the United States lie mostly within or outside our borders?**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2. Based on your research, do the groups you listed as terrorists have any legitimate arguments to support their activities and beliefs? **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">3. Do you think that the fact that you are a citizen of the United States shades the way you perceive a terrorist's activities and beliefs? **