Introduction
9/11 marks a significant turning point in how the United States views terrorism. The event occurred when the world was experiencing a period of declining terrorist attacks. This paper compares the Oklahoma City bombing (1995) and the Fort Hood shooting (2009). The events are selected for analysis as they share several features and provide a good foundation for analyzing the terrorist acts pre- and Post-9/11. The two events exemplify the evolving nature of domestic terrorism in the United States and highlight the complex interplay between domestic and international factors influencing such acts of violence.
Pre-9/11 Terrorist Event: Oklahoma City bombing (1995)
The Oklahoma City bombing is a critical terrorist act in the US as it is the deadliest attack perpetrated by an American native citizen. The bombing occurred on April 19, 1995, just outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building (Doxsee et al., 2022). The act of terrorism was committed using a strong bomb prepared using a mixture of diesel fuel, agricultural fertilizer, and other chemical components.
The perpetrator was identified as Timothy McVeigh, who had served as a security guard and army trooper. He drove to the front of the building in a rented Ryder truck, parked it there, alighted, locked the lorry, and as he walked into his getaway car, he ignited the fuses leading to the explosion. Within a short while, a large part of the surroundings was characterized by significant devastation.
A section of the targeted building was lessened to rubble as many floors plummeted, several cars burned, and over 300 neighboring buildings were affected. The bombing led to the demise of 168 people, including 19 children, and many others suffered different injuries (Doxsee et al., 2022). The outcome of the attack qualifies it as the deadliest domestic act of terrorism in American history.
Post-9/11 Terrorist Event: Fort Hood shooting (2009)
The Fort Hood shooting stands out as the worst attack to be carried out in a military base camp in the United States. Hassan Nidal was a major in the army and served as a psychiatrist. Just after midday, he entered the Soldier Readiness Processing Center (SRP) building with two guns: a revolver and a pistol. His sole purpose was to shoot down as many fellow soldiers as possible before he could be stopped. At the end of the ordeal, he killed 13 people and injured over 30 others (Doxsee et al., 2022). The shooting was initially characterized as an act of workplace violence.
Terrorist Events Comparison
Terrorists
Individual attackers carried out the two acts of terrorism, McVeigh and Hassan, who were pushed by extremist ideologies. McVeigh was infuriated over the incident two years earlier at Waco (Doxsee et al., 2022). This motivated him to retaliate and publicize his anti-government sentiments as he felt the government overreacted to the situation.
Hassan was mainly influenced by the Muslim religion, given that at the time of the shooting, he was actively seeking to understand Islam. He desired to interpret the religion correctly to serve God best. He met and interacted closely with Anwar al-Awlaki, a respected and well-known Muslim leader. He was later found to be a key al-Qaeda recruiter and follower who inspired other actors.
The Oklahoma City Bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing shocked the nation and deeply affected the local community due to the scale and brutality of the attack. It led to an enhanced assessment of domestic security policies and strengthened counterterrorism efforts. For instance, the passage of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (1996) allowed the government to investigate and prosecute acts of domestic terrorism (Doxsee et al., 2022). The event underscored the need for improved intelligence and information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. It highlighted the importance of better security measures and safeguards in public buildings and areas and the need to recognize and address the threat of domestic terrorism and extremism.
The Fort Hood Shooting
The Fort Hood shooting deeply affected the community, the military, and their families, which raised apprehension about the safety and well-being of military personnel. The incident highlighted the significance of addressing mental health issues within the military, ensuring adequate support for service members, and addressing potential insider threats. It helped to strengthen coordination and communication between military and law enforcement agencies to prevent and respond to acts of violence (Doxsee et al., 2022). The happening underscored the need to identify and address signs of radicalization and extremism within the military.
Differences
A critical departure between the Oklahoma City bombing and the Fort Hood shooting was the parties involved. McVeigh was an American citizen who collaborated with fellow Americans Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier to launch an attack against their country. On the other hand, the Fort Hood shooting involved an act of lone wolf terrorism as it was planned and carried out by Hassan. The event was also characterized by radicalization as Hassan was a staunch follower of al-Awlaki, who played a crucial role in influencing his thinking about Islam (Doxsee et al., 2022). The shooting shows the growing influence of religion, mainly Muslims, which was not a standard feature before the 9/11 attack.
Summary and Conclusions
The 9/11 attack changed and enhanced the spotlight on terrorism. Before it happened, terrorism was primarily identified through separatist, leftist, and nationalist ideologies. After the September 2001 attack, the view shifted dramatically, and terrorism was classified as an extreme threat to international security. The motivation became more fundamentalist, and religious connotations were marked by a perpetual conflict between the West and militant Islam. The incidents shocked American society and provided vital lessons for the state and federal security agencies and the military.
Reference
Doxsee, C., Jones, S., Thompson, J., Halstead, K., & Hwang, G. (2022). Pushed to extremes: Domestic terrorism amid polarization and protest. Web.