James Feldkamp is a professor at George Mason university and he can most certainly be considered an expert on the history of terrorism. As we all know this is something which we are facing now mores than ever before and people like James can see worrying trends of terrorist activity which we all must stand up and take note of. Our response to terror has almost always been a reactionary response and try as we might it is actually very difficult to get ahead of these new ways of attacking. As the years move forward so too does the sophistication of terrorists and these are the threats which James believes we will see more of in the coming years.
Small and Powerful
Over the years we have seen some truly devastating attacks on a big scale like 9/11 which of course require careful planning, training and preparation in order to carry out. These large scale attacks obviously have a greatly damaging consequence to human lives but terrorist organizations have opted for smaller, more concentrated attacks in recent years. We have already seen attacks in France, the USA and in the UK which have involved vehicles ploughing into innocent civilians and these attacks are much easier to carry out and can still send the required message. Vehicle attacks are tough to prevent and that is what makes them so potent.
Cybercrime
Terror groups such as ISIS don’t just want to kill and they are in fact looking for any possible way to destabilize a nation and show their strength. This is why we will see more cyberattacks in the coming years as these organizations look for more ways in which they can cause mass chaos. Over the years we have seen attacks on homeland security and even on big corporations like Sony, terror groups may not have been responsible for these but it is an indication of what can be done. Terror organizations don’t only use soldiers with guns, they also have highly skilled computer experts within their ranks looking to attack, using software as their weapon.
In-House Recruiting
The way to win the war on terror is to cut the problem out at its source, something which is very difficult given the widespread activity that is taking place in our cities and towns. There are many groups who are targeting impressionable teenagers, looking to bring them in to fight for their cause. We have seen lots of examples here in the US whereby mosques have been essentially turned into recruitment vehicles, looking to spread hate and terror right here on our doorsteps. When many people think of ISIS for example they may think about Jihadis in Syria and Iraq, but they can in fact be recruited and trained in our own country, a very worrying trend which again becomes much harder for the authorities to get on top of.
As you can see, terror continues to move with the times. Be informed and aware to protect your business and self.
