US issues terror warning in the wake of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

 

The US Capitol Building. AFP/SLIM. 

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a terrorism warning in the wake of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. AFP. The 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York and Washington DC is considered a prime target for potential attacks. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), al-Qaeda's Yemeni affiliate, often considered the most dangerous remaining terror group, has been more active lately and has released the first issue of their Inspire magazine in quite some time. There is also concern that there will be blowback domestically from draconian anti-Covid measures. 

My Comment:

I think that there probably is a heightened threat level right now. From what I understand terror groups across the globe celebrated the fall of Kabul and it has massively increased their morale and recruitment. And for good reason. It just showed that the United States and our allies can be defeated. 

It's also clear that the United States is weaker than at any point in my lifetime at least. With Joe Biden essentially ignoring the Kabul crisis by going on vacation it shows that our President is incredibly weak. Terror groups watch the same news as everyone else and they know that our President and his entire team are out to lunch. 

With that being said, I don't think that a major, organized Islamic terror attack is likely in the United States. The biggest threat was ISIS and they have been all but totally destroyed. They no longer have the capability to launch a major overseas attack. And it's not like AQAP is in that much better of a position. I don't think they have pulled off a major international attack since the Charlie Hebdo attacks back in 2015. They are still a threat but mostly to their fellow Yemeni citizens and perhaps to Europe. 

Of course there is nothing saying that the risk comes from organized terror attacks. There is always a chance of lone wolf attackers. Indeed, if there is going to be a terror attack anytime soon, I think it will be from someone who is inspired by al-Qaeda or ISIS, and not directly controlled by them. Given the weakness of the Biden administration, the huge morale boost from the fall of Kabul and the symbolic importance of the 9/11 anniversary, I do think that we may see some violence somewhere. 

As for domestic threats, I am not sure. I don't think there is any organized right wing terror groups in the United States, at least none that aren't actually run by the FBI. The danger of right wing terrorism is mostly a myth. Left wing terrorists are depressingly common but have largely disappeared after the summer of destruction we had in 2020. But left wing terrorists are usually more focused on looting and rioting, not major attacks. 

But I do think the absolutely tyrannical way the government is acting will probably inspire violence. People tolerated some restrictions when the virus was out of control, but what they won't tolerate is people coming after their jobs. With vaccine passports being rolled out in some areas and workplaces requiring vaccines people are being forced to choose between their convictions and their livelihoods. When that happens violence is sure to follow...