BLOG 11 : Chapter 21 - Revolution, Socialism and Global Confllict

Annotated Bibliography

Understanding Terrorism in America (From Klan to al Qaeda)

Christopher Hewitt's comprehensive book surveys the characteristics and causes of terrorism and governmental responses to it. He also examines the organization structure of terrorist networks, how they are financed and their ideological agendas. Groups covered include: Islamic fundamentalists, white and black racists, black nationalists, revolutionary communists, Neo-Nazis, militant Jewish groups, anti-abortionists and emigre groups. This book is essential reading for students of American politics and terrorism. It also provides a highly readable account for interested readers wishing to know more about a topic which has recently become tragically relevant to world affairs.

Hewitt, Christopher. Understanding terrorism in America: From the Klan to al Qaeda. Psychology Press, 2003.

"Law enforcement may engage in heavy surveillance or virtually ignore extremist groups. Arrests may be selective or extensive." (pg. 84) The authors explain that the Law enforcement sometimes doesn't always do something about all extremist groups. The second sentence shows to the reader that we put all our trust in the law enforcement to stop all the extremist groups but apparently not all the time.

“Congress granted increased powers to the FBI, and the federal government adopted a proactive policy aimed at preventing terrorist attacks by the surveillance of extremist groups.” (pg. 86) Their way to decrease terrorism in the United State is for Congress to give the FBI more power and give the federal government to have a stronger surveillance for all extremist groups.

“The new law allowed the FBI to investigate individuals even if they were not suspected of any specific offense.” (pg. 86) Even though the FBI is looking deeper into your personal life and see if you got any connections with people that are a extremist group who are either about or did an terrorist attack, is smart idea. 

Islamic State of Iraq creates reign of terror

The article looks at the reign of terror that was imposed by the militant Islamist group Islamic State in the northern and western Iraq. Topics covered include the group's actions against cities that allowed the existence off multiple religions, the threats facing Christians and Shi'ite, and the hardships of daily living for women and children.

Shamary, Anmar Al, and Gilgamseh Nabeel. "Islamic State in Iraq Creates Reign of Terror." USA Today 3.

“Women are forbidden to wear bright colors and prints. The home of Shi’ties and others have signs stating they are property of the Islamic State. And everyone walks in fear amid a new reign of terror.” (pg. 15) Women that are in the northern and Western Iraq are under the control of Islamic extremists and they have no form of freedom. The fear is present and will keep being there until the Islamic extremists aren’t taking under control. 

“But the extremists may have gone too far when they started blowing up revered tombs and mosques that did not conform to their religious views, such as the burial site of biblical prophet Jonah.” (pg. 15) The Islamic extremists will destroy and probably harm anything or anyone that doesn’t agree with their idea and views. Destroying those important, ancient tombs and mosque could potentially affect other people’s believes.

““I told my husband, ‘We have two leave,”” said Georges, a mother of three boys. “He hesitated, saying, ‘How can I leave the house I hearted from my parents?’ But I told him they might kills us and kill our sons in front of us. What are we going to do with a house if that happens? So he decided to listen to me, and we took our money and my jewelry and a bag of clothes and left.”” (pg.15) This family is between a life and death decisions with their three boys in their hands. Death is closer to them then they think and it’s the same thing with the other families. Its really just a matter of time. 

In the words of our enemies

Years before September 11, our enemy warned us--and we weren't listening. We are being warned today--by enemies like Iran, North Korea, and radicals and terrorists across the globe--but we are still not listening. Former deputy undersecretary of defense Jed Babbin exposes the demagogues, dictators, and death squads openly threatening America--with potentially devastating consequences, if we aren't alert to the danger. He reveals: what the Islamists themselves are saying about their plans for America--mass murder followed by imposition of Islamic sharia law; how Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is leading a radical anti-American revolution to organize the world's oil supplies against America; why China's plans go beyond regional hegemony to driving the United States out of the Pacific; how even so-called "friendly" countries, like Russia, are conspiring against us; how many countries have threatened to use nuclear weapons against America (more than you think).--From publisher description.

Babbin, Jed. In the Words of our Enemies. Regnery Publishing, 2007.

x “Moderation in Iran is now, and been since 1979, a façade. The Iranians are a very capable adversary. They have adapted to the new means of fighting wars - television, the Internet, and more-better than the rest of the terrorist world. With the vast majority of their population under age thirsty and with the proliferation of television, the Internet, and more-better than the rest of terrorist world. With the vast majority of their population under age thirsty and with the proliferation of televised media, they are working hard to make the world believe that they are not only moderates, but Westernized. In truth, they are neither. They are, as they have been since they overthrew the Shah twenty-eight years ago, the most radical and dedicated terrorist regime in the world.” (pg. 90) The Iranians are on another level when it comes to talking about terrorism. They are capable of being more advanced than other terrorist groups in the world. They are dangerous and they have future plans to attack the United States. As Americans, they have to more aware with what they could potentially do to destroy this big land. 

“We know Iran is killing Americans daily. And yet, we fail to listen carefully to the words of its leaders.” (pg. 91) Even though, the other countries look up to the United States, it may not always be safe from the inside and outside. We tend to be arrogant and always act like we are the strongest country but in return Iran keep on killing Americans everyday in the United States.

x “In the same manner, “death to America” is also meant for the Iranian nation not to forget that the world’s hegemonic powers who formerly had great interests this country and who lost those interests because of the Islamic Revolution are always trying to once again secure those interests and increase their wealth at the cost of the hindering our country’s progress and destroying the bright prospects of our talented youngsters.” (pg. 92) Twenty-six years after the revolution, the Iranian people still chant the slogan of “death to America”. The Iranian nation wants to increase their wealth by harming the people in America, like a sort of jealousy and revanche. 

Inside the mind of ISIS: understanding its goals and ideology to better protect the homeland: hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, second session, January 20, 2016. 

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE. “Inside the mind of ISIS : understanding its goals and ideology to better protect the homeland : hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, second session, January 20, 2016.” 20 Jan. 2016, United States, United States.

All the statements comes from Chairman Johnson

x “ISIS also appears to have a significant online army that grows daily, and these ‘‘virtual’’ soldiers may never set foot in the territory that ISIS controls, but they are waging an aggressive social media campaign that calls on people to do the group’s bidding from thousands of miles away. These battlefield recruits and online supporters are attracted not only to ISIS’s ideology, but to its image as well. And what is that image? Well, the image that ISIS would like to project is that of a winner.” (pg.2)

x “I think the amount of land they control in Syria and Iraq is down by about 30 percent in recent months and continues to diminish. But even as they suffer serious defeats on the battlefield and lose key leaders, ISIS still attempts to project an image of indestructibility. And they do this through fictitious claims and propaganda on social media, and also by ignoring the truth about the progress that coalition forces are making. This winner message appeals to many young men who crave fame, fortune, love, and increased social standing.” (pg.3) Even though ISIS have been losing ground lately, they keep on using their social media propaganda to keep on showing their power and ignoring the progression of their adversary. 

x “At the end of the day, this battle against ISIS is a war of words and ideas as much as it is a war of military power and action. That is why it is so important that we not only continue to crush ISIS on the battlefield, but also counter their hateful message.” (pg.3)

x “So from 2012, the number of attacks reported by the State Department in this report was 6,771. In 2014, the number of attacks had grown to 16,800 worldwide. That is 2.5 times the number of attacks just 2 years earlier.

In terms of deaths, in 2012 there were 11,000 individuals killed in terrorist attacks. In 2014, there were 43,500. That is almost a fourfold increase in terrorist attacks. So the fact of the matter is, the risk, the threat of Islamic terror, from my standpoint, it is real. It is growing, and statistics prove it.” (pg.2)

x “As the Paris and San Bernardino terror attacks showed us, ISIS and ISIS-inspired attacks remain a major threat in this country. In fact, just last week, ISIS carried out attacks against our allies in Turkey and I believe in Indonesia.” (pg.2) 

Senator Carper

x “One of ISIS’s key strengths is the large number of recruits that they are able to pull in. And despite the heavy losses inflicted on ISIS by coalition forces in recent months, the number of ISIS fighters on the ground in Iraq and Syria remains pretty much the same thanks to a stream of new recruits flowing into the region on a regular basis.” (pg.2)