DOMESTIC TERRORISM; THE ENEMY FROM WITHIN?

By: Clark Staten

On April 19th, 1995, America was deflowered. She lost her innocence to a horrendous blast that brought down the front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City, OK and killed more than 150 people. Described in a variety of ways by federal authorities and the media, this first major internal attack has been called "domestic" or "homegrown" terrorism, "Terror in the Heartland" and "Terror From Within". Whatever it has been called, the name is not horrible enough to adequately describe the atrocity that has allegedly been committed by Americans against Americans.

One thing is certain, most CT (counter-terrorist) analysts and experts say that they did not predict this sort of internal danger. Many knew that there were "right-wing" paramilitary groups who expoused radical views and had screamed about government intrusion into their lives. They also knew that there was disillusionment among the self-described "patriot", "constitutionalist", and "militia" groups in regard to proposed gun control laws. And, they knew that there were a number of people who felt that the law enforcement raid on the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, TX was a "massacre" perpetrated by officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF).

But, few say that they foresaw the devastating and brutal incident that occurred in Oklahoma. Most said that they may have expected small scale "shoot-outs" and other minor violence involving radical members of the paramilitary underground, but few said that they expected a major bombing and mass murder of fellow American citizens. Obviously, another wake-up call has occurred...this time involving a "domestic" threat.

Nature of the Threat

First, it is important to preface the remainder of this article by saying that terrorism, be its source from within or outside the United States, is most often the product of a frustrated extremist fringe of an otherwise well meaning group of people. In the case of a threat from extremist paramilitary groups within the United States, evidence would suggest that it is only a very small minority of people that are or could be responsible for this sort of violent act. A vast majority of the people involved in most conservative or so-called "right-wing" organizations are law-abiding, well-meaning, responsible citizens who work hard, pay their taxes, attend church regularly and would never participate in anything remotely resembling the catastrophe that occurred in Oklahoma.

Most also would not consider participating in any sort of violent overthrow of our recognized government. And, most believe, according to recent surveys, that the way to change the political system is to use "ballots, not bullets". Many admit that they are not happy with an allegedly "liberal ideology" of the Clinton Administration, but almost all say that the way to change the policies of the United States is to elect leaders who are more in line with their political agenda...not kill innocent women and children, as occurred in Oklahoma City.

Identification

That said, let's explore the often shadowy world of these "home grown" extremists. They essential fall into three or four groups, each with a radical fringe. CT reports say that some of these groups intermingle, while others are very separate, compartmentalized, and security conscious.

SKINHEADS
The "shock troops" of many of the white supremacist groups are often called skinheads. Most frequently 15-25 years old, white males, with very short hair and nazi tattoos, these "enforcers" of white supremacy ideals are often those that carry out public and violent acts against people of color, Jewish people and organizations, and others who disagree with their principles.

Unofficial reports place the number of hard-core racial skinheads in the United States at about 15,000. Intelligence reports suggest that they may have been involved in at least 31 murders, several hundred injuries, and numerous acts of mayhem in the past five years. According to the FBI, youth crimes are becoming more frequent and more violent. Skinheads and their "hate crimes" are surely contributing to their share to this disturbing trend.

Neo-Nazi Groups
According to law enforcement sources, several American Neo-Nazi organizations are alive and well, and awaiting the onset a "Fourth Reich" in America. Great believers in the teachings of Adolf Hitler and concepts of "master races" and "racial purity", the Nazis see themselves as an armed counterpoint to socialistic or communistic elements in the United States. Led by "skinhead shock troops", several Nazi organizations are well known for conducting public demonstrations, often as a precursor or justification for violent confrontation with their adversaries. In recent years, CT intelligence sources have drawn direct links between Neo-Nazi organizations, skinheads, and other white supremacy groups...such as the Aryan Nation.

Tax Protesters
Economics also play a role in some American's displeasure with a centralized government. Any number of citizens have deeply considered feelings about financially supporting a government, with whom they ideologically disagree. People in this group advocate an abolishment of all federal taxes, while still supporting local tax initiatives for schools, sewers, police and fire protection, and other usual expenses of their communities.

Most feel that a centralized federal government doesn't fairly represent them and that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses "repressive and invasive" tactics to collect "unnecessary" taxes to support unwanted programs like welfare, foreign aid, and environmental regulations. The more radical among this group refuse to file federal taxes returns or even to use a social security number.

Constitutionalists
Frequently, the most intellectual of those associated with this group of extreme conservatives, the "constitutionalists" are those that attempt to interpret the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to justify almost any action by their compatriots of the right. Adherents to this philosophy often defend a very literal rationalization of the words contained in the precious documents that were used to found the United States, regardless of the context in today's' more complex society. In fairness, some proponents of these concepts could be considered by some to be the "Watchdogs" of our constitutional freedoms. The fine line between defender of original intent or advocate of discontent is often decided by the viewpoint of the observer of the "constitutionalists".

Klu Klux Klan (KKK)
Well known for decades as major advocates of "white power" and segregation of the races, the KKK continues to flourish in some parts of the country. The Klan, known for their burning crosses, white sheets, and pointed hats, have reportedly been involved in hangings and shootings of black people, bombings of churches, and a number of other violent acts over the years. Klan proponents are reportedly great believers in the coming of a "racial holy war", which will someday pit Klan members and other "white-thinking" Caucasians against people of color and other members of the "ZOG" (Zionist Occupation Government).

Klan members allege that there is a major conspiracy between Jewish people, white liberals, black, brown, yellow, and red people, other "minorities", to take over the United States. Some even go so far as to suggest that all of the people mentioned above, with the help of United Nations troops, will soon undertake a national campaign to repress white people, take away their weapons, and imprison them in concentration camps.

Militias
The most openly militant of the conservative right wing are the "citizen militias". Dressed in combat fatigues, and carrying assault weapons, they are known to participate in paramilitary-style maneuvers and guerrilla training. Recognized militia groups have been reported in at least twenty-two (22) states. Membership estimates for each state vary, but they run from as few as 50 to as many as several thousand. The larger organizations are located in the Mid-West and Western parts of the United States, with notable groups in Michigan, Montana, Idaho, Texas, Arizona, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

With beliefs strongly rooted in the 2nd amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the right to keep and bear arms, and the viability of the "unorganized citizen militia", militia members openly convey their views concerning the possible government confiscation of their personally owned weapons and other perceived infringements of their individual rights. Unfortunately, there are also those that believe that it may be necessary to undertake a "violent overthrow" of the present government in order to protect their rights. Fearfully, it is this later group, who may strongly react to any investigation of their motives or practices by federal law enforcement agencies.

Least we forget: The Unabomber
In addition to the threat from "right-wing" extremists, another domestic threat has been alive in the United States for at least seventeen (17) years. It comes from a self-described "environmental anarchist", who has been periodically mailing package-bombs to members of the university, computer, airline, and scientific community. He has been dubbed the "Unabomber" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and allegedly has killed three(3) people and wounded another twenty-three (23) during his extended rampage.

Allegedly, a man with a great affinity for trees and wood, his most recent target is believed to be a Forestry association official in Sacramento, CA. According to law enforcement officials, one of the hallmarks of his attacks, is the fact that the homemade explosive devices always contain wooden pieces that have been handcrafted. Additionally, experts say that many of his devices are "explosive works of art", that always work efficiently and are constructed in unique and ingenious ways.

The greatest current fear, among CT analysts, regarding the Unabomber, is that he feels "upstaged" by the Oklahoma City bombing and may decide that he must undertake a larger act to make his political and ideological statements better known. In recent weeks, he has offered to discontinue his multi-year bombing campaign if a major magazine will publish his personal "manifesto" in its entirety, and investigators say that they fear that he is becoming more unstable and may be less cautious about what acts he might undertake in the future. Experts say that the Unabomber's past competence and technical capabilities justify concern about his future plans.

Conclusions
By now, and per usual, when reading one of these articles, you are probably asking yourself...what's this got to do with me?? Isn't this article by that same guy who thinks he knows all about terrorism...who's forever "crying wolf" and trying to scare me and my family, by telling us about all of these terrible things that happen in other parts in the world?? Does he think that I will actually believe that something like Oklahoma City could occur in my home town??

The answer and the hope is that...YES...that this article and those that follow in this series will educate, inform and provoke you to believe that "it can happen here...anywhere". These articles are intended to give you a knowledge base in regard to the potential of the threat, a profile of the criminals/terrorists, an understanding of the inherent tactics, and a basis for planning to respond to an unexpected and violent incident in the future.

In upcoming editions, we expect to report on and analyze the April 19th tragedy in Oklahoma City. We hope to alert you to those facts that can help to save your life, provide you with technical points, and to extensively report on the valiant efforts of those that participated in the rescue in Oklahoma. We hope to give you both the "big picture" and the intimate details of who, what, when, why, and how the Oklahoma City disaster occurred.

We welcome your input, questions, and suggestions regarding the both the scope and depth of this coverage, and will attempt to provide you with as much information as becomes available in regard to this complex and challenging rescue operation.

Anticipated Publication Date; July, 1995, EMS Magazine
(c) Emergency Medical Services Magazine, 1995
(Electronic Copyright) Emergency Response & Research Institute, 1995-96
All rights reserved, except as otherwise assigned.

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