History and Causation and Origins of MS-13 Terrorist Group - Coursework Example

MS-13 Name: Course: Tutor: Date: History (causation and origins) of MS-13 terrorist group Terrorism is an organized use of terror. It is difficult to put a definition to the word terrorism. This is because each state has a definition of their own. All forms of terrorism have similar characteristics, which include the fact that they are violent, are conducted by a group with a form of command, are mainly political in motives and aims, are designed to have repercussions that are far reaching psychologically, and are perpetrated by a non-state entity or sub national group. Mara Salvatrucha is the formal name of MS-13 terrorist group. Mara means Posse or gang, truchas means lookout person or trustee, while Salvatrucha means street tough Salvadorians. The number 13 has a link to Southern California. It is a group that is the most dangerous in the United States. It has a big concentration in Northern Virginia, and they are rapidly spreading. The group has a specialty in drug and human trafficking, rape, robbery, murder and extortion (Seifert, 2006, p. 52). MS-13 group have their origin in El Salvador and is formed by El Salvadorians. The formation was consequently of the war and torture that was common in Central America that caused the group to flee. They attempted to locate a place to live in the streets of Los Angeles. Other territorial gangs, Crips and Bloods, already occupied the street. The occupants of the street mostly came from broken families. The groups had an exposure to violence and were already used to it. In order to survive, groups had to be organized since the environment they were in was very hostile (Seifert, 2006, p. 52). The group became antisocial and violent since the environment around them did not support their activities. There have been speculations that MS-13 has had meetings with Al-Qaeda. There is no accuracy concerning the truth of the matter, but there are possibilities of combined terrorist organizations. The MS-13 operations extend from El Salvador to Canada. The members are identified physically through the white and blue colors they wear (AFOSI, 2006, p. 27). They can also be identified by navy blue bandanas, baggy pants, number 13 in their belts and long belt down to the knees. Presently, MS-13 is in 33 states in America. They are highly active in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Texas, California and Washington. Some of their groups have an organized way of conducting their business while some are not (AFOSI, 2006, p. 5). Each group has a leader whose responsibility is the daily operation of their groups. MS-13 is different from other groups because it does not have defined control structure. This makes the work difficult for the police to dismantle or target the group. Members are identified using specific tattoos and tags. Ideologies and goals Ideologies often influence the activities and objectives of terrorist groups. There are groups that have non-religious goals while some have secular ideologies. These groups often attempt highly discriminative and selective acts for the purpose of achieving political aim. The type of target group for the MS-13 reflects ideologies. The group targets high symbols of authority such as airlines, banks and multinational corporations. Their main goal is to inflict as many casualties as possible. Some terrorist groups can be supported by the state. This is where a government uses terror in order to achieve the objectives and goals of an individual ruler or the government. The government oppresses its own citizens to repress or control them. The state provides training, supplies and other forms of support to terrorist groups. The government can provide a safe place for them to hide as well as false documentation for the members so that they are not easily identified. Diplomatic services and protection can also be used to provide passports, immunity and protected grounds for the members. Its current status and where it operates, how it is funded. The intelligence community has to date not established support that will link the activities of MS-13 to Al-Qaeda (AFOSI, 2006, p. 4). The group operates under a set of regulations that are definite to a group. This means that members do not have general rules. The group is currently trying to take over an existing SUR-13. They are recruiting new members regularly, and their actual number is not known. MS-13 operates in approximately 42 states as well as the District of Columbia. Currently, the risk is high in the northeastern and western parts because of the elevated Salvadorian population in the mentioned areas. The group does not currently have any official leadership structure. The group is funded using money received from selling of drugs. MS-13 owns and operates legitimate businesses, which helps to boost their resources and expand their criminal activities. Some gang members also hold legal jobs or have their own firms, which they run. This means that they contribute financially to the group. Some states also fund terrorist groups especially when they want to use the group to repress its population. Examples of situations, attacks, or other activities the group has been involved in The most popular terrorist incidents include Arsons and fire bombings, kidnapping and hostage-taking, hijacking, armed attacks and assassination, bombings, cyber terrorism, robberies and extortion. The incidents above are for those who are non-members. As for members, an act called maiming is done to those who violate the rules. In 2005, members of the MS-13 group raided another gang’s drug store house in Texas. The sophistication and precision used by the raiders greatly alarmed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the police. The gang members used high-powered weapons, and other tactics to sweep the drug store like well-trained assault teams (AFOSI, 2006, p. 8). An intervention by the law led to the killing of two suspects. The incident shows that the group is efficient and dangerous. The group also proved very dangerous to the safety of the public. In 2005 also, FBI and Wisconsin police arrested members of the MS-13 who were involved in the theft of medicine. The medicine was stolen from 22 drug stores. The medicine was on transit to warehouses where they were to be resold (AFOSI, 2006, p. 10). The gang has special bags that are used to block electronic sensors from detecting items being stolen from the store. This portrays further, how sophisticated and special they are in their operation. In 2006, anti-American graffiti was found abandoned in a property that belonged to Miami Dade County. The graffiti later led to the death of many Americans (AFOSI, 2006, p. 23). Bullet casings were found on the floor, and many MS-13 gang graffiti were found on the walls. Opinion about how best to neutralize this group’s impact There is no defined form of control structure for the group hence it is very difficult to dismantle it. This means that the group is here to stay. This is the only solution that will ensure the companies that own vital systems of functioning carry sufficient levels of insurance (Chalk, 2005, p. 59). A research should be conducted on the ability of insurance to increase rapidly security in all sectors of government. Terrorist attacks have magnified economic consequences. This means that the state should provide adequate protection to its population. This lessens the risk of disruption after attacks and promotes resilience. The states can also device methods and tools that can be used to detect unusual behavior amongst a crowd of people. Such tools will help in the detection of terrorist planes, in the airspace and any implantations in the government buildings. Insurance will provide resources that will help compensate victims, families of the injured and deceased, rebuild destroyed infrastructure and assets and sustain operations of the business after disruption (Chalk, 2005, p.57). The state should aim to exclude domestic attacks because they are less risky than imported threats. The members can also be deported to their countries of origin. The visibility of tattoos can help the police in identification of the members. Group communication (sign language) other ways Members of the terrorist group communicate using various ways, which include hand signs, cell phones, graffiti and pagers. Sign language is used when the need to challenge affiliation arises or when greeting one another. The letter M is the most common hand sign used by the members of MS. The letter is created using three fingers while pointing the hand downward. Graffiti used include MS-13, MS, XIII or 13. They can also include the gang’s area code to indicate the area they are currently controlling (AFOSI, 2006, p. 7). The end of the letters MS and S could include the devil’s tail or a sign of the devil. The inclusion could be misleading, and the group can be mistaken to be involved with satanic activities. The members communicate regularly with other members in El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. Maintaining contact is necessary with other gang members and family for the purpose of providing financial support. The communication also assists in decision-making, and providing guidance on the next course of action (AFOSI, 2006, p. 7). The members also use slang terminology that is only understood by those who know the meaning. The slang language include such like words as the green light to mean permission to kill, material to mean drugs, collecting rent to mean extortion of money, home girl to mean active female gang member, bestia to mean MS street gang and so on. References AFOSI, (2006). AFOSI criminal analysis assessment, http://cryptocomb.org/MS13_USAF_CONUS_AFOSI_Criminal_Analysis_Assessment.pdf Chalk, P. (2005). Trends in Terrorism: Threats to the United States and the Future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. New York: Rand Corporation. Seifert, K. (2006). How children become violent: keeping your kids out of gangs, terrorist organizations and cults. New York: Kathryn Seifert. Read More

Ideologies and goals Ideologies often influence the activities and objectives of terrorist groups. There are groups that have non-religious goals while some have secular ideologies. These groups often attempt highly discriminative and selective acts for the purpose of achieving political aim. The type of target group for the MS-13 reflects ideologies. The group targets high symbols of authority such as airlines, banks and multinational corporations. Their main goal is to inflict as many casualties as possible.

Some terrorist groups can be supported by the state. This is where a government uses terror in order to achieve the objectives and goals of an individual ruler or the government. The government oppresses its own citizens to repress or control them. The state provides training, supplies and other forms of support to terrorist groups. The government can provide a safe place for them to hide as well as false documentation for the members so that they are not easily identified. Diplomatic services and protection can also be used to provide passports, immunity and protected grounds for the members.

Its current status and where it operates, how it is funded. The intelligence community has to date not established support that will link the activities of MS-13 to Al-Qaeda (AFOSI, 2006, p. 4). The group operates under a set of regulations that are definite to a group. This means that members do not have general rules. The group is currently trying to take over an existing SUR-13. They are recruiting new members regularly, and their actual number is not known. MS-13 operates in approximately 42 states as well as the District of Columbia.

Currently, the risk is high in the northeastern and western parts because of the elevated Salvadorian population in the mentioned areas. The group does not currently have any official leadership structure. The group is funded using money received from selling of drugs. MS-13 owns and operates legitimate businesses, which helps to boost their resources and expand their criminal activities. Some gang members also hold legal jobs or have their own firms, which they run. This means that they contribute financially to the group.

Some states also fund terrorist groups especially when they want to use the group to repress its population. Examples of situations, attacks, or other activities the group has been involved in The most popular terrorist incidents include Arsons and fire bombings, kidnapping and hostage-taking, hijacking, armed attacks and assassination, bombings, cyber terrorism, robberies and extortion. The incidents above are for those who are non-members. As for members, an act called maiming is done to those who violate the rules.

In 2005, members of the MS-13 group raided another gang’s drug store house in Texas. The sophistication and precision used by the raiders greatly alarmed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the police. The gang members used high-powered weapons, and other tactics to sweep the drug store like well-trained assault teams (AFOSI, 2006, p. 8). An intervention by the law led to the killing of two suspects. The incident shows that the group is efficient and dangerous. The group also proved very dangerous to the safety of the public.

In 2005 also, FBI and Wisconsin police arrested members of the MS-13 who were involved in the theft of medicine. The medicine was stolen from 22 drug stores. The medicine was on transit to warehouses where they were to be resold (AFOSI, 2006, p. 10). The gang has special bags that are used to block electronic sensors from detecting items being stolen from the store. This portrays further, how sophisticated and special they are in their operation. In 2006, anti-American graffiti was found abandoned in a property that belonged to Miami Dade County.

The graffiti later led to the death of many Americans (AFOSI, 2006, p. 23). Bullet casings were found on the floor, and many MS-13 gang graffiti were found on the walls. Opinion about how best to neutralize this group’s impact There is no defined form of control structure for the group hence it is very difficult to dismantle it.

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