Case Study: Domestic Terrorist Attacks

The U.S. has experienced several domestic terrorist attacks in the last few decades. Use the Internet and Strayer databases to research one (1) of the following three (3) domestic terrorist attacks:

• 1993 World Trade Center Bombing
• 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing
• 2009 Fort Hood Shooting

Write a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you:

Describe the person(s) or group(s) responsible for the attack.

Assess the validity of the motivations / beliefs of the person(s) or group responsible for the chosen attack. Indicate both the stated motivations / beliefs of the perpetrator(s) and the statements about the motivations / beliefs of the perpetrator(s) made by law enforcement or government sources.

Describe any known planning for the attack, such as gathering supplies, surveillance of the target, or any outside support / assistance.

Examine the planning activities of the person(s) or group(s) responsible for the chosen attack, and determine whether or not law enforcement should or could have been identified and prevented the activities in question.

Summarize the actual attack. Assess the degree to which the attack achieved the intended goals of the perpetrator(s).

Examine the repercussions of the attack, and identify whether or not any security / legislative changes were enacted as a result of the attack. Evaluate the effectiveness of the security / legislative changes that were made in attempts to prevent future attacks. If no security / legislative changes were enacted as a result of the attack, suggest at least three (3) changes that should be made and provide a rationale for your response.

Summarize the lessons that could be learned from the attack.

Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Explain the definitions of terrorism and the criminological and sociological explanations for terrorist behavior.
• Interpret the operational functioning of terrorist groups.
• Analyze current terrorist threats and the role of terrorist networks.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in Terrorism and Antiterrorism.
• Write clearly and concisely about terrorism and antiterrorism using proper writing mechanics and APA style conventions.