Research Paper On Your Chosen Domestic Prea

Research Paper on Your Chosen Domestic Pre A

In Unit Vii Submit Your Research Paper On Your Chosen Domestic Pre A

In Unit VII, submit your research paper on your chosen domestic pre- and post-9/11 terrorist event. The research paper must be written using the following outline structure: 1. Title page 2. Introduction: In this section, identify the two terrorist events that have been previously selected, and briefly explain why these events serve as good comparison points for evaluating how terrorist activities have evolved over time. This section should be at least one page in length.

HLS 2050, Introduction to Terrorism 5 3. Pre-9/11 terrorist event: In this section, describe the first terrorist event that is being used for comparison. The description of this terrorist event must include the nature of the event, methods used by the terrorists, and eventual outcome of the event. This section should be at least one page in length.

4. Post-9/11 terrorist event: In this section, describe the second terrorist event that is being used for comparison. The description of this terrorist event must include the nature of the event, methods used by the terrorists, and eventual outcome of the event. This section should be at least one page in length.

5. Terrorist events comparison: In this section, compare and contrast the two terrorist events that were described in the previous sections.

Suggested areas for comparison include (1) motivations for attacks, (2) methods of attack, (3) impact on society, and (4) lessons learned from attacks that can be used to develop counterterrorist strategies. You should also discuss how terrorist strategies have evolved from the first event to the second event. This section of the research paper should be at least two pages in length.

6. Summary and conclusions: In this section, summarize the evolution of terrorism based upon the two selected events. This section should be at least one page in length.

7. References: Provide a reference list that is formatted per APA (6th ed.) guidelines. While the level of detail in each section of the research paper will vary, it is expected that the final paper will be six pages full in length, not counting the title and reference pages. An abstract is not required.

Research paper on Topic: Oklahoma City bombing and the Beltway sniper attacks. Reference: Burke, R. (2018). Oklahoma City, Before & After THE BOMBING: Reviewing the hazmat team and response. Firehouse Magazine, (5), 48. Retrieved from Oklahoma City Bombing Fast Facts. (2016). CNN Wire. Retrieved from The Beltway Sniper Attacks, Part One. (2016). Officer.Com. Retrieved from The Beltway Sniper Attacks, Part Two. (2016). Officer.Com. Retrieved from Malkin, M. (2003). Capitalizing on Beltway Sniper Slayings. Human Events, 59(9), 16. Retrieved from Taylor, R. W., & Swanson C. R. (2016). Terrorism, intelligence, and homeland security. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Paper For Above instruction

The evolution of domestic terrorism in the United States, particularly through the examination of pivotal events such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the Beltway sniper attacks, offers valuable insights into changing motives, methods, societal impacts, and counterterrorism strategies. This paper compares these two significant terrorist incidents to elucidate how terrorism has evolved over the decades, highlighting shifts in tactics, motivations, and the responses they prompted within national security frameworks.

Introduction

The Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the Beltway sniper attacks in 2002 stand as two of the most consequential domestic terrorist events in U.S. history. The Oklahoma City bombing, orchestrated by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, was rooted in anti-government sentiments and aimed to strike a severe blow against federal authority. Conversely, the Beltway sniper attacks involved two perpetrators, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, whose motives appeared intertwined with personal grievances and a desire to create chaos rather than ideological warfare. These events serve as compelling comparison points because they illustrate different motivations—ideological versus personal—and evolving tactics from mass destruction to targeted shootings. Analyzing these events enables an understanding of how terrorist strategies adapt in response to technological advances, societal changes, and counterterrorism measures.

Pre-9/11 Terrorist Event: Oklahoma City Bombing

The Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, was a domestic terrorist attack carried out by Timothy McVeigh, motivated by anti-government ideology and resentment toward federal agencies following the Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents. McVeigh, with help from Nichols, parked a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which housed multiple federal agencies. The method employed was a large amount of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (ANFO) placed within a rental truck, causing an explosion equivalent to 2 tons of dynamite. The attack resulted in 168 fatalities, including women and children, and over 600 injuries, marking it as the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history at that time. The method—using conventional explosives to inflict mass casualties—demonstrated the capability of lone actors driven by extremist ideologies to challenge federal authority and incite nationwide fear.

Post-9/11 Terrorist Event: Beltway Sniper Attacks

The Beltway sniper attacks occurred over three weeks in October 2002, across Maryland and Virginia, resulting in 10 deaths and 3 injuries. The perpetrators, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, targeted random victims in a series of shootings from a modified Chevrolet Caprice. Their methods focused on precision shooting from a distance, often at close range, with a high-powered rifle. The motives appeared personal and ideological grievances blended with a desire for notoriety and financial gain. Unlike the Oklahoma City truck bomb, the sniper attacks involved covert, small-scale assaults rather than large explosive devices, emphasizing terror through unpredictability and media manipulation. The outcome caused widespread fear and led to increased police coordination, as well as the realization that lone or small groups could wield significant terror through mobile, covert operations.

Comparison and Contrast of Terrorist Events

Fundamentally, the Oklahoma City bombing was an act of ideological extremism against government institutions, employing a large-scale bomb to inflict maximum casualties. Its motivation derived from anti-government beliefs, and it exemplified the capacity of lone actors to execute devastating attacks with readily available materials. Conversely, the Beltway sniper attacks, while also involving lone perpetrators, targeted individuals for reasons that appeared more personal, with motivations intertwined with psychological issues and a desire for infamy. Their methods shifted from bomb-based mass destruction to precise shootings, demonstrating an evolution towards stealth and unpredictability.

Impact-wise, the Oklahoma City bombing prompted widespread fear of domestic militias and led to legislative and security policy reforms, such as the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. It revealed vulnerabilities in federal building security and fostered a national dialogue on terrorism. The Beltway sniper attacks created a climate of fear across the metropolitan DC area, prompting law enforcement to adopt advanced surveillance and investigative techniques, including ballistics analysis and public cooperation. The attacks underscored the threat of smaller-scale, mobile terror tactics and highlighted the importance of behavioral profiling and swift police response.

Lessons learned from these incidents informed counterterrorism strategies by emphasizing intelligence gathering, community outreach, and rapid response to threats. The Oklahoma City bombing demonstrated the necessity for improved bomb detection and federal building security, while the Beltway sniper case underscored the importance of behavioral analysis, enhanced surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation. Furthermore, the evolution from large-scale bombings to targeted shootings illustrates the need for flexible, adaptive security measures that can address diverse terror tactics.

Conclusions

The comparison of the Oklahoma City bombing and the Beltway sniper attacks highlights significant evolution in the landscape of domestic terrorism in the United States. Initially characterized by ideologically motivated, large-scale bombings, terrorism has shifted towards smaller, more covert operations driven by personal grievances or complex motivations. This evolution reflects changes in terrorist tactics, including a move towards stealth, mobility, and media manipulation aimed at instilling widespread fear with less reliance on large explosives. Understanding this progression is essential for developing effective counterterrorism strategies that can adapt to the changing nature of threat and safeguard national security in an increasingly complex threat environment.

References

• Burke, R. (2018). Oklahoma City, Before & After THE BOMBING: Reviewing the hazmat team and response. Firehouse Magazine, (5), 48.
• Oklahoma City Bombing Fast Facts. (2016). CNN Wire.
• The Beltway Sniper Attacks, Part One. (2016). Officer.Com.
• The Beltway Sniper Attacks, Part Two. (2016). Officer.Com.
• Malkin, M. (2003). Capitalizing on Beltway Sniper Slayings. Human Events, 59(9), 16.
• Taylor, R. W., & Swanson, C. R. (2016). Terrorism, intelligence, and homeland security. Pearson.
• FBI. (2006). Oklahoma City bombing case files. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. (2004). The 9/11 Commission Report.
• Weinberg, L. (2004). Lone wolves: The terrorist motivation and operational tactics. Journal of Homeland Security.
• Miller, J. (2010). Domestic terrorism: An overview of tactics and strategies. Routledge.