Assignment Guidelines
- Address the following in an analysis document of 1,000–1,250 words:
- What are the primary motivations behind international terror organizations that continue to plan to or actively strike against Western nations? Explain.
- Have these motivations changed over the past several decades? Have they changed since September 11, 2001? Explain.
- Are the motivations realistic and achievable? Why or why not?
- How would you characterize the level of threat to the United States posed by international terrorists? Explain.
- Based on your research, do you feel that the threat is increasing or decreasing? Why?
- What are the 3 primary terrorist organizations or movements that you believe pose the greatest threat to the United States? Why?
- Should the United States engage in an active dialogue with terrorist organizations in an effort to seek a peaceful solution? Why or why not?
- In what domains does the most effective solution for countering the terrorist challenge exist? Consider the following:
- National defense (e.g., armed military conflict)
- National security (e.g., intelligence and secret operations)
- International diplomacy (e.g., the United Nations; regional nation-state organization support; and negotiating with non-state organizations, including providing them with legitimacy)
- Homeland security (e.g., securing the nation’s borders and domestic investigations)
- Consider what the lack of a successful terrorist strike against the continental United States (CONUS) since 9/11 means to the current and near-term (5-year or less) threat horizon. Have overseas operations successfully countered the foreign-born terrorism threat? Explain.
- Have robust domestic HS efforts deterred terror groups and individuals from trying? Why or why not?
- Compile your responses in the final analysis document, and submit the file to your instructor.
