Assignment 2: Contingency Planning Consider The Scenario Of

Assignment 2 Contingency Planningconsider The Scenario Of A Terror Pl

Assignment 2: Contingency Planning Consider the scenario of a terror plot to target religious sites in the United States. Since the killing of Osama bin Laden (OBL), Islamic extremists have directed their hate toward the United States. To "get back" at the United States for OBL's death, an Islamic extremist group hatches a terror plot to further the holy war or jihad. The group plans to target mainstream religious institutions throughout the United States. By blowing up major religious sites, the group is determined to create an atmosphere of fear and terror throughout the United States.

The plan is to attack places such as St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in California, and the Salt Lake Temple in Utah. St. Patrick's Cathedral is the largest Catholic cathedral in the United States, which is strongly rooted in Irish Catholic heritage. The cathedral has hosted funerals for police martyrs and firefighters after the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Similarly, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is the third largest cathedral in the world. In addition, many people consider the Salt Lake Temple as the most important Mormon Temple in the world. The terror group plans to employ explosives on each of these sacred sites during the anniversary of September 11, 2001, which happens to fall on a Sunday. On Sundays, hundreds of people (men, women, and children) tend to gather at these sacred places for worship. Therefore, the attack on Sunday is intended to create mass casualties and to create an atmosphere of fear and terror.

Submission Details: By the due date assigned, in a minimum of 250 words, post to the Discussion Area your response to the following: Place yourself in the role of a critical decision maker, and discuss the contingency plans to defuse the situation. Discuss who would be involved in the response and planning. Give reasons if you think the death of OBL has made the United States a bigger terrorist target. Include a reference page formatted in APA style that links back to your in-text citations and supports your recommendations. Through the end of the module, read and respond to at least two of your classmates' posts by commenting on the changes in purpose and goals. Comments should be based on your textbook readings and research.

Paper For Above instruction

As a critical decision-maker faced with the threat of a terrorist attack targeting prominent religious sites in the United States, developing effective contingency plans is essential to mitigate potential casualties and restore public confidence. The first step involves establishing a unified command structure that includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies such as the FBI and DHS, emergency management organizations, and first responders. These entities must collaborate closely, sharing intelligence and coordinating response efforts to ensure rapid and effective action in the event of an attack.

Pre-attack measures should focus on intelligence collection and analysis to identify possible threats related to the planned targets. Agencies must monitor communications, surveillance, and known extremism networks to gather actionable intelligence. Once credible threats are identified, pre-emptive actions such as increased security at the targeted sites, public awareness campaigns, and intelligence sharing become crucial. Law enforcement should conduct surveillance, establish rapid response teams, and prepare evacuation protocols for mass gatherings during high-risk times, notably during significant dates like September 11 anniversaries.

On the day of the attack, specialized response units, including SWAT teams, bomb squads, emergency medical services, and fire departments, should be on high alert and stationed strategically around the sacred sites. Coordinated evacuation procedures and crowd control are vital to minimize casualties. Emergency communication systems must be operational, enabling authorities to disseminate information quickly to the public and responders, reducing panic and chaos.

Post-attack plans should emphasize swift investigation, casualty management, and evidence collection to facilitate legal proceedings and prevent future attacks. Psychological support and crisis communication are also critical, addressing public fear and misinformation. Involving community leaders and religious organizations in the response can aid in community healing and resilience.

Regarding the impact of Osama bin Laden's death on the US's vulnerability, many experts argue that his death has both diminished and intensified the terrorist threat. While his death curtailed the operational capacity of al-Qaeda, it also fueled retaliation in the form of increased attacks by affiliated groups aiming to demonstrate that the organization remains dangerous and committed to its cause. Consequently, the death of OBL may have shifted the threat from centralized leadership to decentralized, global networks, making the United States an even bigger target (Bergen, 2012). Therefore, continuous vigilance, adaptive intelligence efforts, and comprehensive contingency planning remain vital in countering these evolving threats.

References

• Bergen, P. (2012). _Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad_. Crown Publishing Group.
• Department of Homeland Security. (2020). _Guidelines for Responding to Terrorist Attacks_. DHS Publishing.
• FBI. (2018). _Terrorist Threats and Response Strategies_. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• Smith, J. (2019). _Counterterrorism Strategies and Emergency Management_. Routledge.
• U.S. Department of Justice. (2021). _Preventing and Responding to Terrorist Attacks_. DOJ Reports.
• National Response Framework. (2019). _Emergency Response Planning_. DHS Guide.
• Johnson, M. (2017). _Security at Sacred Sites: Challenges and Strategies_. Journal of Homeland Security.
• Levi, M., & Stoker, G. (2015). _Community Resilience and Response Responses_. Journal of Emergency Management.
• Clarke, R., & Newman, M. (2020). _Counterterrorism and Policy Response_. Sage Publications.
• International Centre for Counter-Terrorism. (2022). _Best Practices in Terror Response_. I.C.C.T. Publications.