Instructions This assignment is the first portion of a three-part series of research papers employed over the course of this class, with papers due in weeks 3, 6, and 8. This week, you will 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 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 intelligence 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 by domestic intelligence. Objectives: This assignment assesses CO-5; LO-5.1. [content page] Directions For this assignment, complete the following steps: Download the assignment template [download] to write your paper. Locate sources to aid in writing your paper. Write a MAX double spaced 57-page research paper that provides a description of the organization’s ideology, goals and objectives, leadership, funding, and terrorist capabilities. Describe the groups’ known or suspected weapons/lethal agents and delivery methods, and the tactics, techniques, and procedures they may use here in the homeland. In your paper, describe in detail at least one major hypothetical terrorist attack on the U.S. Homeland by this groupan event that could happen in the immediate future (an imminent attack). You do not need advance permission from the instructor on which group you choose, but if you are considering a group unlikely to attack the U.S. Homeland, pick a different group that could do so. Additional Assignment Information Selecting a Terrorist Organization Make sure you pick either an international terrorist group from the Department of State list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations [webpage] 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 extremist groups [webpage] (but make sure to pick a terrorist organization). For example, the KKK is not a terrorist group (or even illegal, in fact); they are a domestic hate group that has had members conduct violent acts and murder. For more on that, see the FBI’s definition for international terrorism and domestic terrorism [webpage] (while either a domestic or international group can work for these papers, overseas terrorist groups are the best ones to facilitate your following research papers). Purpose of the Red Cell Paper This 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). So, a domestic terrorist group may make your progress and final papers harder to write if the group is not sending terrorists from overseas. Describing the Attack You can 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). You need to 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. When it comes to picking a target(s) in one or multiple cities for your hypothetical attack(s), you can use your imagination and try to think like a terrorist (big impact, well covered by media, and fear spreading). Restrictions and Requirements Also, it needs to be a planned attack by a group or at least a cell from the group; it can NOT be a lone wolf, nor can the attack be by a radicalized individual or citizens. While these homegrown attacks are much more likely, these lone wolf or radicalized individuals attacking within the U.S. do not allow you to develop your future research papers on how to collect, analyze, and then disrupt these attacks (the topics of your progress and final papers). In sum, you must describe a specific physical attack (not just a cyber attack) on a target or targets that you assess the organization is capable of conducting, and it must be an attack within the U.S. Homeland and be conducted by a trained group or a cell of terrorists (not a homegrown or cyber-only attack). In other words, if you pick al Qaeda or ISIS/ISIL, then the attack cell needs to come from overseas, like what happened on 9/11 or with the 2009 underwear bomber coming into Detroit or the New York City subway bombing plot, also in 2009 (a traditional terrorist cell that was trained overseas). Tell us how it was planned and surveyed, how they got into the U.S., how many there are in the attack cell, etc. If you are stumped on what they could target specifically, then I suggest this article, Soft Targets are Easy Terror Targets [webpage]. Using the Terrorist Attack Cycle Conducting a successful major terrorist attack is a complicated operation involving a lot of planning, resourcing, reconnaissance, and rehearsals. Most groups use the terrorist attack cycle and include separate teams or cells for each of the following functions: support and logistics, weapons and bomb-making, reconnaissance and scout teams, as well as the attack cell itself. In your paper, consider how your selected organization will use the terrorist attack cycle (see the STRATFOR video below for more information), and specify exactly how many terrorists are in this attack cell. Also, specify how they will do the scouting and reconnaissance, how will logistical and other support be secured, in what manner will practice runs and rehearsals take place, and exactly how the attack will unfold so you need to specify how exactly they will attack and what exact location or target will they attack in one specific city (or multiple simultaneous attacks within one or more cities). Attack Cell Requirements So, for your Red Cell papers, have your selected terrorist group use a cell of at least three personnel in the attack cell and use an attack model. Some example terrorist attack models include the Tokyo sarin gas attack of 1995 and the London subway/bus bombings of 2005. You could also describe a complex attack using multiple teams, like what happened in Mumbai, India, in 2008, the West Gate Mall in Kenya in 2013, and the Paris attack in 2015 (to name a few). But an attack by a single individual is NOT what we are looking for since a lone actor (an inspired/radicalized individual) is not an attack by a terrorist cell (so no homegrown-only attacks). Make sure to explain exactly how many terrorists are in the attack cells, who did the scouting/reconnaissance, who is providing logistical and other support, how they infiltrated into the US, etc. Submission Guidelines Your paper must be a MAXIMUM double spaced 5-7 pages (the Title and Reference pages do not count towards the minimum requirement). Scholarly and credible references should be used. At least 5 scholarly articles are required for this assignment. Scholarly sources include peer-reviewed articles, government publications, and academic texts. Type in Times New Roman, 12 point, and double-space. Students will follow the current APA Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework. Points will be deducted for using Wikipedia or encyclopedic-type sources. It is highly advised to utilize books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, archived documents, etc. All submissions will be graded using the assignment rubric. Resources & Supports STRATFOR : Watch this 3-minute video on the terrorist attack cycle. Terrorist Planning Cycle [webpage]: See Appendix A in the Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century (page 121). APA Style Guide [webpage] and Reference List Examples [download]: Provides information on how to cite in proper APA format. APA 7 Example Paper [download]: Provides an example paper with annotations. Submitting and Confirming a Submission : Watch this 3-minute video if you need guidance on submitting your assignment. Attachments HLSS320 Midterm Assignment Template.docx (20.97 KB)