Terrorist Recruitment Getting Closer to Home
As the summer season officially kicks off with the Memorial Day weekend, most Americans are looking forward to all sorts of summer activities, including travel. What they are probably not thinking about is terrorism. Unfortunately, since 9/11 terrorism has become a continuous battle that the US government is forced to face every day. For the most part Americans have been spared from the daily reminders that the fight on terror still continues. However, those fights appear to be coming closer once again.
On May 8th, Admiral William Gortney, leader of the Northern Command, issued a statement calling for a rise in the terrorism threat level for all US military installations across the nation. The threat level was raised from “Alpha” to “Bravo,” indicating an increased potential for terrorist activity. Military installations include bases, National Guard facilities, medical facilities and recruiting offices. According to a statement released by the spokesman for the Northern Command, “We have a general concern, obviously, that ISIL is focusing on the uniformed military and law enforcement…We have the same concern about the potential threat posed by violent homegrown extremists.”
The military command is not the only one voicing concerns over terrorism threats. Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, commented that the current threat is “one of the highest I’ve ever seen [since 9/11].” His comments came on the heels of the FBI stating the terrorist recruitment efforts in the US have ramped up and the FBI is struggling to keep track.
In the battle against terrorism the sands keep shifting. What was once Al-Qaeda has now morphed into ISIL and other small off-shoots of terrorist bands that are infiltrating every sector of societies. What was once a threat of foreign fighters has now morphed into a threat of foreign and domestic fighters. What was once a battle against actual enemy training camps has now become a battle against training and recruitment via the World Wide Web.
No one wants to live in a constant state of fear, but that does not mean we need to ignore that reality. If your summer plans include travel overseas be sure and check the US State Department website for travel warnings. Be aware of your surroundings, both aboard and at home, and encourage your representatives to remain vigilant in the fight on terror.
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