Terrorism Analysis: Patriot Act, Lone Wolf Terrorism, and Policy

This report delves into the multifaceted threats of terrorism, offering a detailed analysis of the Patriot Act and the rise of Lone Wolf Terrorism. It begins by examining the Patriot Act, discussing its objectives to strengthen domestic security and expand law enforcement powers, while also addressing criticisms related to its constitutionality, expansion of executive power, and privacy infringements. The report then transitions to an in-depth study of Lone Wolf Terrorism, drawing on the findings of the Georgetown National Security Critical Issue Task Force (NSCITF). It outlines the NSCITF's key findings, including the lack of a standard definition, trends in attacks, and challenges in identifying and limiting LWTs. The report also highlights the NSCITF's recommendations, such as adopting a standard definition, improving leadership, and preventing radicalization. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and complexities of modern terrorism, offering valuable insights into policy implications and counterterrorism strategies.

Running head: THREATS OF TERRORISM
Threats of Terrorism
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Question 1:
The Patriot Act has been passed by the Congress for the purpose to showing response
towards the terrorist attacks which took place on 11th September, 2001. From the very beginning,
the objective of the Act was to strengthen the nature of the domestic security and at the same
time widen the powers of the agencies of law enforcement in order to reduce the acts of terrorism
("Introduction to Security (8th Edition), 2008). It is evident that, the Act has been allowing the
officials of federal government greater authority in tracking and intercepting communications as
well. As a result of this, the Secretary of the Treasury has been entrusted with regulatory powers
in order to combat corruptions of the financial institutions of US involved in the process of
money laundering (Sheppard, 2008). In this regard, it is important to categorize the purposes of
the Patriot Act for the purpose of deterring and reducing terrorism in the United States and all
around the world. The purposes of the Patriot Act can be summarized as-
I. Strengthening measures on the part of U.S for the purpose of preventing, detecting and at
the same time prosecuting the processes of international money laundering and financial
terrorism.
II. To involve in the process of special scrutiny foreign jurisdictions, financial institutions of
foreign countries and certain classes of international transactions and accounting types
that are susceptible to various criminal abuses.
III. To investigate in detail the relevant and underlying elements of the financial service
industry for the purpose of reporting potential money laundering.
IV. Strengthening measures for the purpose of preventing the utilization of the U.S. financial
system in order to gain personal interest by corrupting the foreign officials. In regard to

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this, it has facilitated the reimbursement of the stolen assets to the citizens of the country
to whom the assets actually belonged.
In spite of several attempts on the part of the Patriot Act, it faced various criticisms. Firstly,
the Act was declared to be unconstitutional and unethical by many critics. As a result of it, the
implementations on the part of the federal government did not receive assistance from the major
cities (Halibozek, Jones & Kovacich, 2018). Secondly, criticism was faced regarding the fact
that, the power of the executive was unfairly expanded by the Act which in turn has created
discrepancies in the process of crucial checks and balances (Theissen & Phil, 2017). Thirdly, the
most vital criticism faced by the Patriot Act was in regard to the provisions of Section 215 of the
Act. The right to privacy and freedom as a result of unreasonable investigation and seizures
caused infringement. This is due to the reason that most of the seizures were conducted without
notification. Fourthly, the Act faced major criticism in regard to the presence of controversial
provisions concerning electronic surveillance of the individuals threatening the natural security
of the country to the large extent (Halibozek, Jones & Kovacich, 2018). However, it is
noteworthy to mention here that, such practice was not initiated by the Act because surveillance
methods and practices have been established by the Foreign Surveillance Act (FISA).
The validity of the abovementioned criticisms can be measured in this regard. It is
worthwhile to refer here that, the Patriot Act from the very beginning emphasized on the
investigation of potential terrorists other than spying upon the innocent people of America
(Welch, 2015). However, the nature of the Patriot Act was such that it never paid attention on
reducing the activities of potential terrorists (FEMA.gov", 2018). It is worth noting that, the
controversial provisions depicted in the Act were considered to be the same expansions of the
law enforcement authorities which has been sought by the officials of the State and the federal

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government after the Waco siege and the Oklahoma City (Howard et al., 2016). In this context,
arguments can be raised on the part that from the very beginning most of the Democratic and
Republican critics were of the opinion that, the nature of the surveillance powers of the Act was
such that it could be utilized for the investigation of other political offences rather than that the
activities of terrorism (Ombres, 2015). It is evident that the criticisms made in regard to the
Patriot Act can be easily addressed by the amendments that created limitations to the
extraordinary surveillance powers of terrorism rather than emphasizing upon the criminal
investigations (Griffith, 2015). The criticisms in regard to the provisions of Section 215 of the
Act have been considered to be most valid because it has permitted the government to seize any
tangible object without warrant.
Question 2:
It is evident that the Georgetown National Security Critical Issue Task Force (NSCITF)
has undertaken a study on the Lone Wolf Terrorism in the United States. In regard to this, the
valuable findings and the recommendations, it is important emphasize on the part that, whether
the nature of the recommendations are such that it would efficiently address the threat to the
Lone Wolf Terrorism (Wilner, 2017). It is worthwhile to mention here that, the (NSCITF) has
articulated eight findings for the purpose of informing the collective understanding of the Lone
Wolf Terrorism. The findings can be categorized below-
1. It was found by the (NSCITF) that there is no single definition in relation to the U.S
Government regarding the existence of the Lone Wolf Terrorism.
2. The (NSCITF) has identified four major trends of domestic LWT attacks that have been
highlighting multiple issues considered by the policy makers of US. Firstly, it has

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increased the targets of law enforcement and military personnel. It has identified the
increasing use of firearms for the purpose of conducting attacks. In this context, it has
increased radicalization with the help of the internet extremist media.
3. In spite of the existence of overarching trends, the (NSCITF) has determined that, the
nature of the profiling is such that it failed to target the potentiality of the LWT.
4. In regard to the fourth finding, the (NSCITF) has provided a structural framework for the
purpose of understanding that how an individual transforms into a LWT in order to
identify the possible points of intervention.
5. In the fifth finding, a typology has been developed by the (NSCITF) for the purpose of
organizing lone wolves in regard to the nature of their ideological autonomy and the
presence of social competence.
6. The (NSCITF) has identified the major challenges of utilizing traditional law
enforcement tactics for the purpose of identifying and limiting the powers of the LWTs.
In such finding, the (NSCITF) has highlighted the expansion of the internet and other
social media that has created an ability on the part of the individuals to become fully
radicalized without physical interaction with the others.
7. In the seventh finding, the (NSCITF) has demonstrated upon the enforcement of law
tactics that includes- surveillance, monitoring of targeted individuals and mistrust on risk
communities as a result of infringement on the civil and private rights.
8. In the eighth finding, it has been noted by the (NSCITF) that the US lacked the
comprehensive approach in real has been systematically organizing the efforts on the part
of the federal, local and the state governments for the purpose of combating Lone Wolf
Terrorism.

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It is noteworthy to mention here that, various recommendations were made in the research
conducted by the (NSCITF) which has rightly addressed the threat of the Lone Wolf Terrorism.
These recommendations can be categorized as-
1) There is no standard definition of the lone wolf terrorism which needs to be adopted by
the US Government.
2) Appointment should be made on clear leadership over the issues regarding Lone Wolf
Terrorism for the purpose of addressing the nature of future policy responses and thereby
improving the coordination of the government authorities in federal, state and local
spheres.
3) Finally, it is important on the part of the US government to initiate the prevention the
preventions and the short-coming of the process of radicalization.
It is worth noting that the natures of the recommendations are such that it would prove to
be beneficial for the USG in streamlining the responses of future policy. In this regard, these
recommendations can improve the coordination of the government at federal, state and local
level for the purpose of preventing future attacks on LWT (McCauley & Moskalenko, 2014).
It can be observed that, since time immemorial, from the beginning of the rise of the Lone
Wolf Terrorism, it has introduced new challenges towards the enforcement of law and the
efforts regarding counter terrorism. Mention can be made of the part that, the issues
regarding lone wolf terrorism is not a new threat; the nature of the threat is such that it is old
and re-emerging (Moskalenko & McCauley, 2017). It is known to all that the activities of the
Lone Wolf Terrorist is such that it has made it difficult for the authorities to detect and at the
same time prevent the attributes on the part of Lone Wolf Terrorists and as a result of this, it
made counterterrorism and intelligence gathering much more difficult.

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