Assignment:
Research Paper Terrorist Group Profile and Homeland Security Policy Paper
The term paper consists of two parts:
Part 1 - Select a domestic or international terrorist organization that threatens the U.S. homeland and complete a profile of that organization. Your topic does not have to be approved by the instructor unless otherwise noted. If you have any questions, please contact your instructor. The group profile should be approximately 50 percent of the final paper and must include a discussion of the group's ideology, targeting, tactics, capability, and overall goals, analysis of attacks, and any statements or propaganda released by the group. Make sure you have enough information on the group to address all these factors and how it affects the US homeland.
A foreign terrorist group for this project must be on the official list of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) maintained by the U.S. Department of State. In the case of domestic terrorist groups, there is no sanctioned list from which to choose, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has made significant arrests from several groups that would fit the description of a domestic terrorist group. The FBI also names many other groups in congressional testimony. Materials presented in the course as well as recent news and congressional testimony, are good sources of information on how to identify domestic groups for this project.
Part 2 - Approximately 50% of the entire research paper. Use the group profile to conduct an analysis of one or more U.S. homeland security policies studied in the course, to assess the ability of the policy or policies to counter the threat posed by the group profiled. This analysis should begin with an introduction and explanation of the policy, followed by an analysis addressing the breadth of the information (from part 1) gathered on that terrorist group. The policy you analyze should be consistent with the group; for example, if you choose a domestic terrorist group, it would be improper to analyze the Secure Border Initiative and its ability to counter a domestic threat, because the members of the group are already within the nation's borders. If you find the policy deficient, make specific recommendations for policy change to counter the threat. If you deem the policy sufficient to counter the threat, explain the rationale for your conclusion.
Your finished project, including both elements of the paper, should be approximately 12 to 14 double-spaced pages (full pages), (not including cover page, charts, graphs, pictures, graphics, or reference pages) but including the abstract, submitted as one document. Make sure you present an introduction and a conclusion tying together both aspects of the paper. The final term paper must be formatted as follows:
• Title Page (does not count as part of the page requirement)
• Abstract (Heading)
• Part 1 (Heading): Identify the Terrorist Group
-Group's Profile (Sub-heading)
-Group's Ideology (Sub-heading)
-Group's Targeting (Sub-heading)
-Group's Tactics (Sub-heading)
-Group's Capabilities (Sub-heading)
-Group's Overall Goals (Sub-heading)
-Group's Analysis of attacks (Sub-heading)
-Group's Released Statements or Propaganda (Sub-heading)
• Part 2 (Heading)
-Identify one or more homeland security policies (Sub-heading for the specific policy or policies)
-Assess the ability of the policy or policies to counter the threat posed by the group profiled (Sub-heading could be "Policy Assessment, etc."). In this assessment and/or analysis must include an introduction and explanation of the policy, followed by an analysis addressing the breadth of the information (from part 1) gathered on that terrorist group.
-Recommendations (Sub-heading)
-Conclusion (Sub-heading)
-References (Sub-heading)((does not count as part of the page requirement)
If your final term paper does not meet the minimum page count (12 to 14 pages), your grade will be reduced for not meeting this specific element of the assignment.