Domestic terrorism

Domestic terrorism, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, is equally as difficult to define as are the "differing definitions" for terrorism that "are offered by government agencies and other experts." [1]

The FBI, CFR says, "the lead federal agency dealing with domestic terrorism, has defined it as the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States or its territories without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives." [2]

Patriot Act I (U.S.A. Patriot Act), "passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, defines domestic terrorism as criminal acts that are 'dangerous to human life'and seem to be meant to scare civilians or affect policy. Civil rights groups have expressed concern that this definition is overly broad." [3]

Also see Wikipedia: "Domestic terrorism".

Examples of Domestic Terrorism

Anthrax Attacks

• Fall 2001 anthrax attacks, for which no one has yet been apprehended.

Cyanide Attacks

• Texas cyanide bomb case (and [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]).

Ricin Attacks

• Ricin attack on the Senate (and [9]).

Attacks on Abortion Clinics, Gay Bars, Etc.

• Various cases since September 11, 2001, including plotsttack abortion clinics (and [10]) and gay bars to the bombing of local racial-relations offices.

Related SourceWatch Resources

• Central Intelligence Agency
• civil liberties
• counterterrorism
• Department of Homeland Security
• hate mail
• homeland security
• MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base
• Patriot Act II
• psyops
• nuclear weapons
• treating dissent as treason
• war on terrorism
• weapons of mass destruction

External links

• Yahoo! search for domestic terrorism found 160,000 links (March 19, 2004).
• "War on Terrorism", Federal Bureau of Investigation web site.
• Terrorism Research Center.
• "How the USA-Patriot Act Would Convert Dissent into Broadly Defined 'Terrorism'," American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), October 23, 2001.
• "How the USA PATRIOT Act redefines 'Domestic Terrorism'," ACLU, December 6, 2002.
• Maria Glod and Jerry Markon, "Tracking Hate Groups Aids Terrorism Fight. Federal Agents Turn to Domestic Front," Washington Post, May 19, 2003.