Assignment:
Complete a 5-7 page research paper, excluding the title and reference pages. You can choose any aspect of domestic terrorism in America covered to date. However, you must choose a very specific issue that you will argue for or against (i.e. your thesis) as you comprehensively argue the key issues and their impact on American society (citizens, law enforcement, government officials, policies, etc.) Use examples to support your choice and position on the subject. You must cite and reference at least seven (7) scholarly sources within your paper.
My title for the research paper is "Ethical Issues in Combating Domestic Terrorism" I have included the Annotated Bibliography as well.
Abstract
With the ever changing use of technology by law enforcement, some of which are procured from the military, a growing debate over public policy and ethical values has emerged. Specifically regarding the use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly referred to as drones, to kill U.S. citizens targeted as terrorists. Although the proliferation of drones used for surveillance purposes continues to be a contentious issue throughout the United States, the specter of weaponized drones, as used by the military presents a new ethical debate concerning American's civil liberties versus national security. (Greenwald, 2013)
Annotated Bibliography
Bjelopera, J. (2013). The Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress (CRS Report for Congress). Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.
The report explains the complexities and ambiguities that surround the process of dealing with domestic terrorists. Apparently, the American criminal justice system and national security agencies have no standard definition for domestic terrorism. This has previously led to domestic terrorists being prosecuted under other laws other those meant for terrorists. This lack of clarity provides room for the mistreatment of domestic terrorists or handling them with too much leniency. Consequently, it places the people mandated to drive counterterrorism efforts in an unnecessary dilemma. The report also gives a true picture of how damaging domestic terrorism can be to the country.
Brooks, R. A. (2011). Muslim "Homegrown" Terrorism in the United States: How Serious Is the Threat? International Security, 36(2), 7-47. doi:10.1162/isec_a_00055
Article takes an extensive look at the threat posed by Muslim Americans as potential domestic terrorists. Apparently, immediately after 9/11, no one considered them a threat. However, by the time Osama bin Laden was killed, this perception had changed. They were seen as a possible threat to national security. The change of perception came with a few changes including closer scrutiny, which essentially amounts to profiling. The message this article carries is that counteracting domestic terrorism without violating rights and liberties is a tough call. It brings out the dilemma that confronts law enforcers in dealing with domestic terrorism.
Field, A. (2016). Ethics and entrapment: Understanding counterterrorism stings. Terrorism and Political Violence, 1-17. doi:10.1080/09546553.2016.1213721
Article focuses on sting operations usually conducted by security agencies against terrorists. These operations often entrap innocent people, leading to the loss of innocent lives. Critics consider this unethical, and recommend a change to this approach to counterterrorism or the use of other approaches. The key question is whether killing a few innocent people along with a dreaded terrorist or several terrorists is justifiable. From the perspective of security agencies, such collateral damage is permissible if the terrorist is considered very dangerous and difficult to locate. This ethical dilemma is one of the many that counterterrorism agencies deal with almost every time they carry out sting operations. Since sting operations are a counterterrorism strategy applicable to both international and domestic terrorism, this article bears relevance to the ethics of combating homegrown terrorism.
Gaines, L. K., & Miller, R. L. (2018). Criminal Justice in Action: The Core (9th Ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Book serves a critical introductory role to the field of criminal justice. It uses the best tools and techniques available to make its message vivid and riveting. Its scope of coverage within the boundaries of criminal justice is extensive. It gives elaborate explanations on all the possible carrier paths available in the field of criminal justice. Additionally, it highlights the ethics surrounding each these career paths. For instance, a case in which an FBI agent is interrogating a domestic terrorist is highlighted to bring out the element of ethics in domestic counter-terrorism. It is a good resource because it brings the criminal justice system's perspective and manner of handling domestic terrorism to the table and asks important questions in the process.
Jackson, B. A. (2009). The challenge of domestic intelligence in a free society: a multidisciplinary look at the creation of a U.S. domestic counterterrorism intelligence agency. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corporation.
Book focuses on the virtually everything to do with domestic terrorism. Its scope goes as far as the immediate post-WW II era, giving a solid history of this societal ill and America's efforts to combat it. The book covers both domestic terrorism and counterterrorism extensively. This makes it one of the best resources available on America's domestic terrorism and the government's efforts to curb it. The ethical aspect of domestic counterterrorism has been explored adequately under the subject of security versus liberty. This makes the book an all-rounded resource for matters on domestic terrorism.
McCulloch, & Pickering, S. (2009). Pre-crime and counter-terrorism. British Journal of Criminology, 2009(49), 628-645. doi:doi:10.1093/bjc/azp023
The article is wary of a growing trend in the counterterrorism landscape. Apparently, there has been a paradigm shift from post-crime criminal justice processes to pre-crime counterterrorism, which in itself sounds prudent. However, there has been a blurring of the boundaries between criminal justice and national security, which is dangerous. The bundling together of the two, mostly driven by the desire to pre-empt terrorist attacks, seems to have given states the mandate to employ their coercive abilities both internally and externally. This shift is a source of concern because states tend to use too much force when pre-empting possible terrorist attacks, leading to a violation of people's rights. The article's primary concern is to demonstrate that although society is warming up to this approach, it is laced with unlawful activities that create an ethical dilemma.
Mullikin, A., & Rahman, S. S. (2010). The Ethical Dilemma Of The Usa Government Wiretapping. International Journal of Managing Information Technology, 2(4), 32-39. doi:10.5121/ijmit.2010.2403
Wiretapping was introduced and accepted by Americans in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Over the years, it has been bogged down by controversy over its ethical soundness and legality. Although it does not focus exclusively on domestic terrorism, wiretapping is a counterterrorism strategy used to combat both domestic and cross-border terrorism. The article thus explores one of the most emotive ethical issues surrounding counterterrorism, making a perfect resource for counterterrorism research.