The Most Dangerous Course of Action

The American public faces an unstable landscape in the wake of 21st century terrorism. Evolutionary trends in transnational and domestic terrorism indicate a shift toward increasingly violent acts as law enforcement and intelligence agencies apply pressure to these organizations. The collapse of nation-states, the splintering of transnational terror groups and criminal enterprise along with a resurgence of domestic extremism will contribute to a new era of ultra-terrorism in which no target is off-limits. The next generation of terrorist will evolve tactics derived from the active shooter, make use of increasingly powerful explosive devices, and construct improvised weapons of mass destruction in an effort to attack our most precious vulnerabilities. Cyber-warfare techniques, once intended for use against nations, will now be directed against individuals and the national infrastructure as technology and knowledge are proliferated across international borders and telecommunications networks. Extremist groups will encourage conspiratorial rhetoric and violence through the use of social media in an effort to recruit the average citizen. The Most Dangerous Course of Action will emphasize the need to strengthen the covenant between the American citizen, the state, and the federal government in the face of an asymmetric threat. The right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" does not come without a duty to maintain a state of informed preparedness, an awareness of community responsibilities as they apply to disaster management and an active involvement with the existing homeland security apparatus.