How to prevent domestic terrorism

Walking the streets of America is a unique experience because of the diverse atmospheres within each city. From Los Angeles to New York one can find a multi-ethnic multi-religious population who represent all walks of life. America is dynamic and ever changing; a country that is industrious and prosperous, young and powerful. She encompasses the beliefs and traditions of the entire globe and uses democratic means to allow the voices of her people to be heard. America's economy helps to drive the international market and her capitalist corporations have touched every region on the planet. But America is under attack. She is under attack because of her industriousness, because of her economic strength. She is at war, and her people are being assaulted on numerous fronts. Today's world is hostile and America knows this well. After the attacks of 9/11 the United States government implemented legal action in order to prevent and protect the people from further assaults. The country has endured seven years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq and the hostilities still persist. Al Qaeda and other international crime networks have infiltrated the streets of the United States and have brought a war that seemed distant right to our doorsteps. Sympathetic Americans and foreign nationals have sided with the enemy of Uncle Sam and have used asymmetrical warfare to penetrate the borders of the United States.
Domestic terrorism is a serious threat to national security and is even becoming more cause for concern because of the spread of radical religious and political ideas that stem from Afghanistan and the Middle East. Government organizations such as Homeland Security, the FBI, ATF, and local police forces have prevented many attacks since 2001, but the threat continues to persist within America's cities. The psychological impact from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is impossible to measure, but the reality of violent criminal acts cannot be overlooked when trying to understand the mentality of a population at war. The Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine, the Unabomber, and the Virginia Tech assailant are cases of domestic terrorism that analysts choose to not relate to cases like 9/11, the USS Cole, and the Tanzania and Kenya embassy bombings. When trying to resolve the problem of terrorism and insurgency I think it is absolutely necessary to relate these cases because of their similarities. The most common attribute to the types of attacks are that they aim at killing whomever they can. The people of America cannot turn the other way when addressing the problems of terrorism at home. There is a problem that stems from abroad and from within the borders of the US and it needs to be addressed in a fashion that can be useful in fighting terrorism on the international and domestic front at the same time. The solution I propose to the problem of terrorism in America is one that should be implemented immediately in order save innocent lives from violent criminals who wish to cripple the government and general population of the United States. The solution I propose is that cultural changes be made to the populace to prevent recruitment of Americans into violent organizations who wish to do harm to innocent people. I also propose that these changes be implemented in the international community to prevent attacks in all parts of the globe from crime networks that sympathize and collaborate with al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. The first step in creating a cultural change is through the media. The affects of the media influence all classes of citizens and is a powerful tool that if used right can benefit the entire nation. The media is a force that can unify a country that is split between criminals and cops, representatives and constituents, and the rich and the poor. By being able to reach the diverse population of America the media can impact a nation wide culture that has been swept into violent ideologies which glorify crime and war. The prison population is proof of America's obsession with crime which is cause for concern since many of the inmates could be potential terrorist recruits. The US Department of Justice reported that in June of 2006 there were 2,245,189 prisoners held in federal or state prisons, or in local jails, and in 2005 over seven million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole. The number of crimes and terrorists acts in today's world is proof that action must be taken to prevent such acts before they ever begin. Before condemning those guilty of terrorism an internal charge must also be placed on the leaders who allow for such activity to persist. A simple way to explain the problem would be to say that the system that operates inside political powers is riddled with hypocrisy and corruption. An even easier answer would be to say that our leaders should simply live more ethically and lead by example, but the problem is far more complicated to have such easy solutions. I suggest that both state and non-state actors change cultural and social norms to deglorify war in order to live in a more peaceful world. A Washington Times online article reported that a top al Qaeda lieutenant named Adnan G. El Shukrijumah was seen in Honduras meeting with an El Salvador gang by the name Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. The article states that MS-13 has expanded into the Washington area, Virginia, Maryland, Oregon, Alaska, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Georgia, and Florida and that the gang is extremely violent. Al Qaeda and other terrorists groups have many options for recruitment opportunities and American residents are no exception. To prevent gang members and convicts from being lured into bigger crime schemes it is important to provide incentives for those who don't want to be repeat offenders. Criminal record expungencies, job and work assistance programs, and debt relief should all be offered to known criminals who stay clean of crime after getting out of the prison and jail system. Deterring terrorist recruitment should be a program built into the education of public schools and other institutions. Programs should seek to change cultural attitudes such as the no snitch policy, known as omerta to the mafia, which prevents citizens from telling authorities of crimes that could kill innocent people.
In order to successfully educate the people of America large amounts of money must be devoted for specific programs. The money provided should be publicly known and directed towards the institutions most in need of assistance. The appropriations should not only be used for the general public's ethical education, but also to government officials who provide service to the institutions where these programs will be ran. Transparency and open investments are essential in creating a safe environment where honesty and morality are expected to thrive. The people who teach the media conglomerates and other corporate executives how to live and operate ethically should consist of peoples from diverse ethnic backgrounds who are also experienced in the scholarly study of ethics, morality, philosophy, and business. Ethics committees and education programs are essential to government responsibility and accountability and should be a requirement for any official selected to work in any of the three branches of government, and it should be understood that the social norms of America are and have been rooted in the ability for individuals to live freely and justly while also operating under the word of the law. Trust between government officials and citizens has been lost through lies and false promises that Americans resent. The Savings and Loan Scandal, Iran Contra, and the present war in Iraq are examples of how the US government has lied to the citizens and used fraudulent means to affect policies. This mistrust must be erased so that active cooperation between law enforcement and public citizens increases. Military action and policy should also be examined in order to understand the ability to deter terrorism. Timothy McVeigh conducted the largest terrorist act on US soil as an American citizen, and he was ex-military. Lee Harvey Oswald and the shooter at Penn State were also ex-military and a number of US soldiers have defected and conspired with known terrorists including an ex-Marine who ran amongst warlords in Somalia. National Guards members have allowed smugglers to cross the border for bribe money and illegal appropriations for the war in Iraq have also lead to terrorist activity such as illegal petroleum smuggling that originated from American dollars. One could even wonder if every American wasn't paying a terrorist a dime a gallon every time they filled up at the pump. While such problems exist the military does have disciplinary codes that punish those who get caught for their operations, but I feel as though it is necessary to wonder why criminals and defectors in the military would do such a thing to begin with. After questioning such a thing I realize that each individual case must be looked at separately, but I also feel that there is a commonality in the psychology in all of those who participate in terrorist activities. My conclusion is that they all share the same emotion of anger that is caused by an injustice they feel is reason enough to kill someone for. I don't know if it's possible to heal the injustices of everyone but I do propose a solution to US soldiers who are the most important figures in the war on terrorism.
First the military should give enlisted personnel more money. Veterans who have served four years or more, and especially those who have served combat tours, should receive benefits that exceed corporate paychecks that Blackwater and Halliburton employees receive. It is unfair that a person who has served in the military and been to war is paid less then the value of the equipment they carry. After leaving the armed services the government, meaning members of congress who can allow this to happen, should provide medical, dental, and housing benefits that allow soldiers to live comfortably for up to ten years or more. Congressmen should not bow down to Aerospace, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and others. The money spent by these corporations improves the quality of equipment that soldiers use, but it does not pay a mortgage or a car loan when one puts the corporate toys away. It is disgusting to think that the government is willing to spend millions of dollars on equipment that US soldiers use, but it will not spend a few extra thousand for active duty personnel and veterans of the armed services to live comfortably at home. I don't know if Timothy McVeigh was frustrated by his living standards after leaving the military but the injustice he felt may have been healed with such compensatory acts. The war on terrorism has created new threats in the military and al Qaeda sympathizers are not just a problem abroad, but at home in the streets, in the jails, and in the government itself. New strategies are needed to end these threats and money is a key tool that can help to change the culture and living standards of potential terrorists. Education and culture are shaped by the media, and the information war between stock holders, investors, and owners should be overran by a force only possible through large amounts of appropriations. The military industrial complex is an essential portion of the US economy and the money pouring from this industry needs to be spent wisely. Government workers and contractors need to consult in order for laws to be passed that allow for these appropriations to be used more effectively on the war against terrorism. Programs for ethics training and implementation, veteran benefit adjustments, and media controlled cultural development are only a few of the necessary tools for preventing terrorism. The bullets and the guns are still important when fighting walking smart bombs, but social demands require money be used in many areas for the war against terrorism to be successful. In a world where people fear their neighbors and condemn their brothers, where war is imminent across the globe, and when the maiming of innocent lives has become normal it is necessary to take action using the steps I have recommended. The culture and livelihood of people across the globe cannot continue to grow into a grotesque masque of bloodshed that spreads and grows without the proper restraints. The world is in need of guidance and the US has the opportunity to take a great step in showing the populace which way to go, so take the steps I suggest and this masque shall uncoil and show the true desires of humanity; peace, happiness, and health.

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