Sam+A.,+Chris,+Sam+S.,+and+John

=__**Domestic Terrorism:**__=

Animal Liberation Front (ALF)
Goal is to cause economic damage to people that profit off of animals and to stop animal abuse. The members target places such laboratories, farms, factories. They operate in small cells and there is no national organization or leadership. The FBI reported that the ALF began operating in the US in the 1970’s. The group claims that they are not terrorists because they protect animals and have never harmed anybody.
 * In April 2008 the ALF released 50 mink from a fur farm in Jefferson, Oregon
 * In January 2009 a fake bomb was placed at University of California San Diego’s school of medicine which lead to an evacuation
 * On May 31, 2010 a leather store in Salt Lake City, Utah was burned down by ALF members

Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
A white-supremacist group that has been around since the mid-1860’s. They use intimidation and violence to spread their beliefs. Their most well known terror activities are burning crosses and lynching. Membership in the Klan was estimated at several million in the 1920’s but the current membership is estimated to be between 3,000 – 5,000.

Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Dedicated to stopping environmental destruction and protecting our natural resources. The ELF Press Office claims that there goal is to use "economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environment". Their main targets are companies involved with logging and deforestation, SUV production, and energy production. There is no national leadership and individual members plan and conduct attacks. They were officially recognized as a domestic terrorist group by the FBI in 2001. They received publicity when they were featured on 60 minutes in 2005.
 * On March 3, 2008 the ELF set fire to four multi-million dollar homes and spray painted ELF in red letters on the homes. The fires caused $7 million in damage. They believed that the homes were falsely claiming to be Eco-friendly.
 * On September 4, 2009 the ELF used a stolen excavator to overturn two radio towers near Seattle Washing because they believed that the radio waves were dangerous.

Aryan Nation
A white supremacist group that is classified as the FBI as a terrorist threat. The main organization was headquartered in Hayden Lake, Idaho (until 2001) and there were several state chapters. Currently there are 3 main factions of the Aryan Nation. In September of 2000 the Southern Poverty Law Center won a $6.3 million dollar judgment against the Aryan Nation.

Austin IRS Attack
On February 18, 2010, Andrew Joseph Stack III flew his airplane into the IRS building in Austin, TX killing one person and injuring several others in an act of lone wolf terrorism. He cited many reasons for his grievance against the government of the United States as well as other problems with the country such as the bailouts, politicians in general, General Motors, Enron and Arthur Andersen, labor unions, drug and health care insurance companies, and the Catholic Church

=__International Terrorism__:=

Real Irish Republican Army
Their goal is to bring together a united Ireland by killing key government members and civilians. They have claimed responsibility for a number of bombings. Their weapons include: homemade mortars, land mines, and car bombs. They use car bombs most often to spread fear and terror. The group has become much weaker due to arrest of key leaders.
 * On March 7, 2009, the RIRA claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on the Massereene Barracks that killed 2 soldiers

Al Qaeda
Created by Osama bin Laden in the late 1980s. Their goal is to work with allied Islamic extremist groups to overthrow regimes it considers "non-Islamic," and expelling Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries. The exact number of members is unknown but could range from several hundred to several thousand. They are in many countries throughout the world. Their tactics often involve suicide bombing, car bombs, and IED's.
 * This group was involved in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000.
 * Responsible for the 9/11 Attacks.

Hezbollah (Party of God)
Their goal is to increase its political power in Lebanon, and oppose Israel and the Middle East peace negotiations. They are known or suspected to have been involved in numerous anti-U.S. terrorist attacks. . They have several thousand supporters and hundreds of terrorist operatives. They have operations in a number of countries throughout the world. This group is funded and supplied mainly by aid from Syria and Iran.
 * Involved in the the suicide truck bombing of the U.S. embassy and U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in October 1983
 * Involved in the U.S. embassy annex in Beirut in September 1984

Hamas
Their goal is to establish a Palestinian state in the Middle East. The organization has both a political part and a violent part that help them achieve their goals. Since June 2007 the group has occupied the Gaza Strip. It is unknown how many active members they have, but there are thousands of supporters.

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC)
The group was first started as a military wing of the Columbia Communist Party in 1964.Their goal is to overthrow and replace the government of Columbia with a Communist regime. They operate in rural areas of Columbia and are involved in many extortion and kidnappings. There are estimated to be between 9,000 - 12,000 armed members. = = =__Conclusion:__= 1. Does the threat of terrorism for the United States lie mostly within or outside our borders? - Our group believes that the threat of terrorism lies outside our borders due to the unstable regions where US interests indirectly and directly effect the people of those areas. There are many terrorist groups that dislike the US and its policies and are constantly planning attacks to harm the country.
 * In March 1999 the FARC executed 3 Indian US rights activists after they kidnapped them
 * On December 22, 2009 the FARC kidnapped and killed Luis Cuellar who was the Governor of an area

2. Based on your research, do the groups you listed as terrorists have any legitimate arguments to support their activities and beliefs? - Due to the US involvement internationally, our actions may have invoked feelings of sentiment towards our government, however, these terrorist acts on innocent civilians are not justifiable.

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? - Being a US citizen does shelter our views on terrorism due to the way the media presents the information and doesn't always explain why these events occur.