Intelligence and Homeland Security
Description
Instructions
1. Introduction:
Select a terrorist organization likely to conduct a major and imminent attack within the United States and complete an in-depth profile on the group you selected. This is the first portion of a three part series of research papers that are employed over the course of this class with papers due in weeks 3, 6 and 8.
This same terrorist group and the hypothetical attack you describe in this Midterm paper will also be used for your following Progress and Final papers.
In the next paper (progress assignment due in week 6) you will describe how to collect and analyze on this terrorist group. In the final paper due in week 8 you will describe how to stop the attack by making recommendations on how the Homeland Security Enterprise can be better supported with domestic intelligence.
2. Terrorist Group Profile (Organizational Assessment):
Write a 5-7 page research paper that provides a description of the organization’s ideology, goals & objectives, leadership, funding, and terrorist capabilities. Describe the groups’ known or suspected weapons/lethal agents and delivery methods, and the tactics, techniques, and procedures that they may use here in the homeland.
Make sure you pick either an international terrorist group from the Department of State list of foreign terrorist organizations, or if you pick a domestic group make sure it is really a terrorist organization (not just radicals).
The Counter Extremist Project also has good details on Extremists Groups (but make sure to pick a DHS designated “High-Risk Jurisdictions DHS designated “High-Risk Jurisdictions international terrorist organization).
The first Red Cell paper is only to set you up to be able to research and write on how to conduct intelligence operations to protect the Homeland (the following papers).
3. Hypothetical Terrorist Attack:
In your paper describe in detail at least one major hypothetical terrorist attack on the U.S. Homeland by this group — an event that could happen in the immediate future (an imminent attack). If you are considering a group unlikely to attack the U.S, Homeland, then pick a different group that could potentially do so.
Describe the full spectrum of capabilities the group has to conduct attacks on our Homeland in your paper from a specific single site attack (an iconic building) to complex synchronized or multi-city attacks, or even the use of WMDs.
Describe only the terrorist capabilities and weapons that are relevant to an attack on our homeland (for example it does not matter that ISIS had battle tanks and other major weapons for this paper, only what they have that could be brought here to attack the US, or acquired here).
Explain what the impending terrorist attack on the U.S. homeland would look like and how they would do it ,such as attacking a specific sporting event or a certain target you select for the organization.
In sum, you must describe a specific physical attack (not just a cyber attack) on a target or targets that you assess the organization capable of conducting, and it must be an attack within the U.S. Homeland and b
