Domestic Terrorism Essay Example for Free

Domestic Terrorism Essay According to Section 802 of the Patriot Act, the definition of domestic terrorism is one that encompasses acts committed within the borders of the United States, and is one where a person or organization commits an act that is: â€Å"dangerous to human life that is a violation of the criminal laws of a state or the United States, if the act appears to be intended to: (i) intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping† (ACLU, 2002). It is safe to say that the face of terrorism has always been changing, and domestic terrorism is not something new in the wake of 9/11; rather it is now run by smarter operations, elaborate infrastructures, and with perhaps strong connections to international terrorism groups and organizations. Domestic and internationally based groups have come to realize they can help one another in achieving their goals, or aiming at specific targets. Their common enemy is US Policy – be it domestic or foreign – and both types of organizations have made attacks at government agencies and bodies. The most notable of recent domestic terrorism attacks, is perhaps that of McVeigh and Nichols and the Oklahoma City Bombing. Their target was the FBI headquarters, and there has been circulated discourse on the foreign connections Nichols had prior to the bombing. It has been also cited that he had domestic militant group connections, in particular Posse Comitatus: â€Å"He attended meetings in Michigan of the Posse Comitatus, a militant, right-wing organization founded by Col. William Potter Gale and headed by James Wickstrom. Members of Posse Comitatus, according to legal documents released prior to McVeighs trial, have for years been in contact with Iraq and other rogue Arab nations that share a hatred of Israel† (O’Meara, 2001). Another such example of domestic terrorism is â€Å"They Army of God† and their crusade against gay night clubs, anti-abortion clincs, and doctors. They have been known to bomb clinics and nightclubs, having taken claim for 1997 bombings of a clinic and a nightclub in Atlanta, Georgia. It was also suggested, that the 2001 anthrax letters could have been connected to the group: â€Å"That letter spoke of the ungodly communist regime in New York and called for death to the New World Order and bore the nom de guerre signature of accused abortion-clinic bomber Eric Rudolph. In addition to the letters sent to Daschle and Brokaw, more than 100 abortion clinics also received letters containing white powder, of which a handful made reference to the Army of God, an extremist antiabortion group† (2001). There is a connection of Rudolph with the Aryan Nation, another organization who has been referenced to have foreign connections. What is significant in these examples is the opportunist attitudes of the domestic militant groups, and arguably, vice versa. The chief element is fear when it comes to how both domestic and international terrorism groups work, and in this way they certainly help each other. Domestic terrorism, however, is not just based on right-wing militants with political agendas. Left-wing and environmental groups aimed at ‘protecting’ society are often overshadowed by their right-wing counterparts. â€Å"Notable early participants in left-wing terrorism were various socialist and anarchist groups from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Leon Czolgocz, who shot President William McKinley in 1901, embraced anarchist beliefs, though no anarchist group would accept him for membership† (Knight, 2004). However, it is perhaps religious- and social- militant groups labeled under â€Å"right-wing† that have been of more concern in recent times, despite heavy protest often seen by environmental and anti-globalization groups. With the changes in the Patriot Act, and the steady advancement of technology, it is little wonder that the Internet be considered such a powerful tool in the fight against terrorism; as well as the fight for terrorism. Many militant and terrorist groups freely use the Internet to advertise, broadcast and relay messages to one another. It is no surprise, then that monitoring Internet usage should spark such a controversy. FBI and law enforcement should monitor activity of known militant groups, but it is such a hazy area in regards to First Amendment rights. Were monitoring to become a daily occurrence on the Internet, no doubt there would be another means of communication and way to incite violence – as there was in the decades prior to the Internet. â€Å"In August, 2004, the Electronic Frontier Foundation compiled a best-practices list for online service providers (OSPs) wherein it recommended that OSPs set policies to minimize data retention to limit their liability risks, avoid the high cost of having to search through all their data upon the receipt of a subpoena, and protect the privacy of their users† (Gardella, 2006). The Internet is the embodiment of First Amendment rights, with the exchange of ideas and the ability to converse freely at the heart of its ongoing success. Should legislation make Internet monitoring an acceptable practice, it could undermine the fabric of society and only force groups to work more underground than they already are. The innocent civilian would still be the victim. The grant-funded Hamm Report evaluated and compared the methods undertaken by domestic and international terrorism groups. Predominantly, it highlighted the different means favored by each organization and uncovered that: â€Å"International jihad groups are statistically more likely than domestic right-wing groups to commit aircraft and motor vehicle-related crimes; violations of explosive materials; and firearms violations. Right-wing domestic groups are more likely to commit mail fraud; racketeering; robbery/burglary; and violations involving machine guns and destructive devices† (Hamm, 2005). What this largely suggests is that, not only are domestic groups more ready and able to work within the infrastructure of the country, but are prepared to commit small-scale â€Å"warfare† on national targets. International groups, given distances and so forth, were more liable to commit terrorism acts of a larger scale, though not any less devastating than their domestic counterparts. What was also significant in the report was the â€Å"type† of person which domestic groups would recruit: â€Å"Unlike the jihadists, domestic right-wing groups recruit individuals specifically for their criminal skills. Typically headed by charismatic leaders, domestic groups are most successful at acquiring false identity documents, manufacturing illegal firearms, armored truck and bank robbery, and murder. They are surveillance experts, often spending weeks taking into account every moment in the taken-for-granted order of daily routines in and around their targets† (Hamm) It is logical to consider, if not also alarming that many right-wing groups have branches and feelers within the penal system and arguably do a lot of recruiting from the inside. International groups, as noted in the Hamm Report, do not rely heavily on specialists for mundane tasks, however there is prestige considered in both groups – it is an honor to be chosen. The concept of terrorism is two-fold: the act itself, and the fear of an act occurring. It is in this sense that domestic and international terrorism wave the same banner and are equally responsible for devastating lives – be it from bombing a nightclub, to an underground network behind car bombings. It is the threat that it could happen that has become imprinted in people’s minds. Arguably though, perhaps the more concern should be placed on domestic terrorism and the measures used to not only prevent it but to track the groups involved. They are using the system – from the postal system, to recruitment through the penal system – and this is as dangerous if not more so as an international group â€Å"training† overseas. The threat, as they say, is in our own backyard and we can not combat other threats if we are unable to contain the ones running rife within our own borders. References _. â€Å"How the USA PATRIOT Act redefines Domestic Terrorism† ACLU, 2002 (http://www. aclu. org/natsec/emergpowers/14444leg20021206. html ) Gardella, T. M Beyond Terrorism: The Potential Chilling Effect on the Internet of Broad Law Enforcement Legislation. † St. Johns Law Review. Spring 2006. (http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_qa3735/is_200604/ai_n17173795 ) Hamm, M. â€Å"Crimes Committed by Terrorist Groups: Theory, Research, and Prevention† Department of Justice, NCJRS, September 2005 (http://www. ncjrs. gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/211203. pdf ) Knight, J. Terrorism, Domestic (United States). Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security. (2004). (http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_gx5211/is_2004/ai_n19126728 ) OMeara, K. P. Iraq connections to U. S. extremists Nation: Domestic Terrorism Cover Story. Insight on the News. Nov 19, 2001. (http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_43_17/ai_80309410 )

Challenger :: essays research papers

January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger the 25th space shuttle mission, was set to be launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at, 11:38am. Originally the launch was scheduled for January 22, at 3:43pm but had been set back several times due to bad weather. Hopes ran high the anticipation for the lift off was tremendous. This was to be one of the greatest missions ever. It would be a first for many things. The most publicized was that it would be the first time a schoolteacher was allowed to travel in space. The crew was picked and they were anxiously awaiting the countdown. On board the space shuttle that fateful day was.. Crew of the Challenger Michael J. Smith (Pilot) Francis R. Scobee (Commander) Judith A. Resnik (Mission Specialist 1) Ellison S. Onizuka (Mission Specialist 2) Ronald E. McNair (Mission Specialist 3) Gregory B. Jarvis (Payload Specialist 1) Sharon Christa McAuliffe (Payload Specialist 2) 3,2,1..Lift off..The 10th flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the twenty-fifth space shuttle mission, the Challenger had been launched from Pad 39B at 11:38am EST. Hopes ran high as many were lined outside to watch the Challenger being launched, the lift-off was being watched live on television for those who couldn't make it to the Kennedy Space Center. As the Challenger climbed higher and higher something that wasn't expected occurred. Seventy-three seconds after lift-off the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, killing all 7 crewmembers. The United States was devastated. Many people thought this would be one of the greatest missions ever. So what really happened? Many factors contributed to the explosion of the space shuttle. The temperature was 36Â °F at the launching site. After the Solid Rocket Boosters a.k.a. SRB was ignited a thundering noise was heard. Pictures and video showed black smoke coming from the bottom field joint of the right Solid Rocket Booster. That suggested that an O ring was being burned. At 58.8 seconds after lift-off a small flame could be seen on the SRB with enhanced film a few seconds later it could be seen without enhanced film. More time passed by the flame grew bigger and the SRB was beginning to rotate freely and in less than 2 seconds the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. The Challenger was at a height of 46,000 feet when it exploded.

Dramatic Techniques In Hamlet Essay

In your view, how have dramatic techniques been used to reveal memorable ideas in ‘Hamlet’? Support your view with detailed reference to text. Shakespeare’s intensely theatrical revenge tragedy ‘Hamlet’ utilises dramatic techniques to explore memorable issues, which transcend through today’s context due to their universality. The morality of vengeance, inevitability of death and the detrimental consequences of illusions and corruption are issues developed through linguistic diversity and construction. Hamlet’s contemplative and scholarly nature amongst the social and religious hierarchy enforced by the Middle Ages results in his ethical and metaphysical uncertainty of these ideas and subsequent downfall as a Shakespearean hero. ‘Hamlet’ explores how the resonating conflict between appearance and reality inevitably causes disorder within society through dramatic techniques. A.C. Bradley wrote that ‘Hamlet is called upon to assert a moral order in a world of moral confusion and obscurity.’ Hamlet’s metaphoric depiction of Denmark as ‘an unweeded garden’ juxtaposed against the ceremonious kingdom portrays this illusive nature of his society. The symbolic portrayal of a mirrored room within the Castle of Elsinore in Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 film production of ‘Hamlet’ further reflects the transparency of the kingdom and how its conflicting illusions result in the inevitable disorder of society. The dramatic irony of Claudius, the murderer, appearing to grieve over his brother’s death, highlights his misleading character, reinforced through Hamlet’s shock of this ‘villain, villain, smiling damned villain!’ murdering his father, the exclamation mark and repetition increasing dramatic force and atmosphere. The conflict between appearance and reality of Claudius’ guilt thus leads to Hamlet’s confusion and ambiguity, whilst the instability of the political leaders reverberates down the structural h ierarchy. Hamlet’s acknowledgement of his Machiavellian ‘antic disposition’ foreshadows his metamorphosing passions of composure and paroxysms of fury. His lucidity and the austerity of blank verse deteriorate into fragmentary prose, portraying his apparent madness. Through his syntactic variation and language, Hamlet’s illusive persona contributes further to the moral confusion of his world and its chaotic downfall, contrary to A.C. Bradley’s comment. Thus, through dramatic techniques, Shakespeare illustrates the inevitable consequences due to the conflict between illusions versus reality, a universal issue that still transcends through today’s society. Through dramatic techniques, Shakespeare explores the inevitability of death in his tragedy ‘Hamlet’. Hamlet’s beliefs parallel with the Renaissance, an era of the rebirth of learning and contemplation over the timeless philosophical ideas of existence. The antithesis ‘to be or not to be’ in Hamlet’s soliloquy intensifies his sense of conflict on the meaning of life. His divergence and uncertainty is reinforced in his metaphoric and rhetorical questions on whether ‘to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ or ‘to die: to sleep- no more’. Personification of ‘this fell sergeant Death is swift in his arrest’ characterises death and highlights its inevitability. The skulls in the graveyard scene symbolise mortality, emphasising the inescapable fate for all humans. Hamlet’s anaphora ‘Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust’ reflects on the cycle of life, the repetition lengthening his soliloquy on mortality. The following rhyming couplets ‘Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, might stop a hole to keep the wind away’ loses the seriousness of the issue, his language indicating procrastination to delay the plot further. The additional placement of the graveyard scene before the final catastrophic downfall foreshadows the destined death of Hamlet, intensifying the ultimate climatic tension. Thus, through construction and language, Shakespeare explores the universal issue of mortality and the inevitability of death. The morality of vengeance is explored through various dramatic techniques in ‘Hamlet’, and resonates through time as a universal issue, allowing it to be memorable. J. Kerrigan’s interpretation ‘Hamlet knows that revenge would gratify the stern militaristic father whom he loves, and he appears to want to please him; but he cannot overcome his radical sense of its pointlessness’. Hamlet’s hyperbolic comparisons and juxtaposed imagery comparing Claudius to his father as a ‘hyperion to a satyr’ signify his intense devotion to his father, who embodies an older medieval feudal world. However, Elizabethan and Protestant views opposed revenge, causing his scholarly nature to diverge between his repressive feminine side and aggressive male side and debate the moral complexities of vengeance. Shakespeare portrays the dramatic irony of Hamlet’s inaction since he originally claims to ‘sweep to my revenge’ with metaphorical ‘wings as swift as meditation’. This reaction parallels with Laertes’ blind anger through destructive imagery and vengeful language ‘to hell allegiance, vows to the blackest devil, conscience and grace to the profoundest pit!’ However, Hamlet’s indecision is strongly juxtaposed against the impulsive characterisation of Laertes and Fortinbras, lengthening the play further and adding to a sense of delay and dramatic suspense. Through Shakespeare’s use of dramatic techniques, the universal concept on the morality of vengeance is explored in ‘Hamlet’. Shakespeare’s use of dramatic techniques in his exploration of the detrimental effects of corruption and deception allow it to be a memorable issue, which resonates within our modern world. Derek Marsh states ‘Hamlet is a noble figure, shocked by corruption yet holding beliefs in responsibility and justice which stop him yielding to despair or acquiescing in the evil.’ Repeated imagery of poison and disease reveal this ‘rank corruption, mining all within’ the ‘rotten’ state of Denmark, a rigidly structured hierarchy of the seventeenth century. The dramatic irony of Rosencrantz’s and Guildenstern’s corruption and betrayal to Hamlet increases the audience’s suspense, however the inevitable consequences of deception result in their ironic deaths and Hamlet’s decent into evil, contrary to Marsh’s comment. Hamlet’s juxtaposed imagery in his uncertainty of the ghost’s loyalty, being ‘a spirit of health’ or a ‘goblin damn’d’ reflects in his moral conflict between trust and deception, causing his detrimental inaction. Ophelia’s references to ‘rosemary’, ‘pansies’, and ‘violets’ metaphorically depict her feminine and vulnerable qualities of ‘remembrance’, ‘thoughts’, springtime and love, susceptible to the corruptive dominance of her father and brother. These strong patriarchal influences result in her ultimate madness and death, signifying the subsequent victimisation of women due to men’s power games. Thus, the universal issue of corruptive and deceptive relationships and their detrimental consequences are explored through the use of dramatic techniques. [Rhyming in the Play-within-a-play displays Hamlet’s machiavellian need to ‘catch the conscience of the king’ ( allows audience to observe both characters inside and outside this set play ( adds to suspense and intrigue of action. mounting tension + Claudius’s sudden exit] ‘Hamlet’ ultimately explores the universal ideas on the morality of vengeance, inevitability of death and the detrimental consequences of illusions and corruption. Hamlet’s conflict between these difficult ethical and metaphysical issues, results in the weakness of his mind, his hamartia, causing his ultimate downfall. Through dramatic techniques, a new dimension amplifies meaning and atmosphere, allowing the audience to experience an overall cathartic effect.

Brokered Convention - Definition

A brokered convention occurs when none of the presidential candidates enters their party’s national convention having won enough delegates during the primaries and caucuses to secure the nomination. As a result, none of the candidates are able to win the nomination on the first ballot, a rare event in modern political history that forces delegates and party elite to engage in convention-floor jockeying for votes and multiple rounds of balloting to reach a nomination. A brokered convention is different from an â€Å"open convention,† in which none of the delegates are pledged to a particular candidate. Pledged delegates are those that are assigned to a specific candidate based on the outcome of a states primary or caucus. In the 2016 Republican presidential contest, 1,237 delegates are needed to secure the nomination. Brokered Convention History Brokered conventions have become rare since the 1800s and early 1900s. In fact, no presidential nomination has gone beyond the first round of balloting since 1952. Since then presumed presidential nominees secure enough delegates for the nomination months before the party conventions. Nomination conventions of the past were lively and unscripted, where party bosses negotiated for votes on the floor. Those in the modern era have become humdrum and anticlimactic, as the nominee has already been chosen through the lengthy primary and caucus process. According to the late New York Times columnist William Safire, writing in Safire’s Political Dictionary, brokered conventions of the past were â€Å"dominated by factional party leaders and favorite sons, who dealt directly or through ‘neutral leaders’† or power brokers. â€Å"As the state primary or caucus system has taken over, the outcome has become rarely in doubt,† according to Safire. â€Å" †¦ The convention then becomes more of a coronation, much like what usually happens when an incumbent president is a candidate for renomination.† Why Brokered Conventions Are Rare One of the most significant developments of the 20th century helped to make brokered conventions a rarity: television. Delegates and party bosses did want to expose viewers to the ugly machinations and brutal horse-trading of the nomination process. â€Å"It is no coincidence that brokered conventions ended after networks began to televise them,† political scientists G. Terry Madonna and Michael Young wrote in 2007. The 1952 Republican National Convention, though settled on the first ballot when Dwight Eisenhower beat Robert Taft, â€Å"appalled thousands who watched it on TV. Since that time, both parties try mightily to orchestrate their convention as a political love feast - lest they antagonize viewers who will be voters in November,† according to Madonna and Young. Most Recent Republican Brokered Conventions For Republicans, the most recent brokered convention was in 1948, which also happened to be the first televised national convention. The top contenders were New York Gov.  Thomas Dewey, U.S. Sen. Robert A. Taft of Ohio, and former Minnesota Gov. Harold Stassen. Dewey failed to win enough votes to win the nomination in the first round of balloting, getting 434 votes to Tafts 224 and Stassens 157. Dewey inched closer in the second round with 515 votes, but his opponents tried to create a bloc of votes against him. They failed, and on the third ballot, both Taft and Stassen withdrew from the contest, giving Dewey all 1,094 delegate votes. He later lost to Harry S. Truman. Republicans came close to having another brokered convention in 1976, when President Gerald Ford only narrowly won the nomination over Ronald Reagan on the first ballot. Most Recent Democratic Brokered Conventions For Democrats, the most recent brokered convention was in 1952, when Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson won the nomination in three rounds of balloting. His closest rivals were U.S. Sen. Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee and U.S. Sen. Richard B. Russell of Georgia. Stevenson went on to lose the general election that year to Eisenhower. Democrats came close to having another brokered convention, though, in 1984, when Vice President Walter Mondale needed the votes of super delegates to beat Gary Hart at the convention. Longest Brokered Convention The most ballots cast in a brokered convention was in 1924, when it took 103 rounds of voting for Democrats to nominate John Davis, according to Madonna and Young. He later lost the presidential contest to Calvin Coolidge.