Assessing failures in anticipating the Oklahoma City

Bombing as a framework for preventing further domestic

terrorism
David Doolittle
INTL 401 - Critical Analysis
Rebekah Moughon
October 31st, 2015

Section I: Overview
On April 19th 1995, Timothy McVeigh carried out a plot to bomb the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The plot was born of his perceived threat and group
ideologies. McVeigh had parallel ambitions of the extremist Christian Identity ideology, became

involved with the movement, then took action. He related his personal agenda to the movements
2nd amendment stances, and acted out Christian Identity strategic plans. Whether associations
were influencing, or circumstance, is critical to understanding the failure of anticipating the
attack.
Section II: Pre event/ Event Actions
McVeigh knew after seeing the government kill Branch Davidians in Waco Texas he
would commit terrorism (Brown 2010, np). McVeigh however could not see the siege behind
police checkpoints (Linder 2006, np). He depended on the media presentation and community
associations for confirming any suspicions. At a October 1993 gun show in Tulsa Oklahoma,
McVeigh spoke with Andrew Stassmeier about how the federal government negatively handled
the siege (Pankratz 1996, np). Strassmeier a tenant of Elohim City, a Christian Identity
compound on the Oklahoma border, then gave McVeigh his business card (Pankratz 1996, np).
The Christian Identity movement used Waco to appear as victims in a continual
government plot. They created empathy by showing the public, the government was willing to
kill children to pursue their agenda like they had at Waco and at Ruby Ridge Idaho (Kaplan
1995, 66). McVeigh likely felt he too was a victim. First he washed out of his lifelong goal to
join the Army Special Forces (Russakoff 1995, np). Then he feared the government would
abolish his associative identity with firearms (Linder 2006, np). McVeigh lived or made several
trips to Elohim City (Linder 2006, np). After leaving Elohim McVeigh and co conspirator Terry
Nichols began building test bombs at Nichols Michigan home in 1994 (Nichols 2003, np).
Robert Millar of Elohim City and Richard Snell had a role in creating the plot. Millar
founded Elohim City in the 1950s (Hastings 1997, np). Millar and Snell went to a meeting at
Hayden Lake Idaho in 1983, to discuss the response to a shooting death of an adherent by law

enforcement (Key et al 2001, 299). With the support of Millar and others, Snell created the idea
to bomb the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in OKC due it housing many government
agencies, had little security, and would cause an big impact because it would not be expected
(Key et al 2001, 299). Millar then opened Elohim City to Snell and other groups of white
nationalists (Hastings 1997, np). Snell later was sentenced to death for his involvement in killing
two people (White 1995, np). Snell was executed the evening of the bombing. He warned there
would be a reprisal if his execution was carried out (Key et al 2001, 300).
Elohim City members were implicated initially as additional suspects in the investigation.
When asked in a lie detector test, McVeigh appeared evasive in answering if others were
involved (Wright 2007, 181). McVeigh also never answered how he selected his target (Wright
2007, 185). A informant in March 1995 said Elohim City tenants were planning to blow up
federal buildings and Strassmeier had scouted locations in Oklahoma City (Key et al 2001, 264).
A member of Elohim City is also reported to have told a hotel lobby employee in Spokane
Washington April 19th, turn the television to CNN.. something is going to happen and its going
to wake people up (Linder 2006, np). These factors contribute to the likelihood some of Elohim
City had involvement or advanced warning of the attack.
Individual and group dynamics created the surprise environment for the attack. McVeigh
received material support from Elohim City members. McVeigh was a paid getaway driver for
several Aryan Nation bank robbers living in Elohim City in December 1994 (Key et al 2001,
306). Letter he sent his sister said He wanted her to launder some one hundred dollar bills
(Key et al 2001, 306). McVeigh used other laundering tactics to avoid suspicion of involvement.
He bought used and sold methamphetamines in early 1995 with suspect Michael Fortier (Linder

2006, np). McVeigh frequented strip clubs after the robberies, once telling a dancer she would
remember his face forever after April 19th (Linder 2006, np).
April 19th 1995 the world would remember McVeigh when he killed 168 people in a
single truck bomb blast. Evidence gathered could not link Elohim City members with McVeigh,
Nichols, and Fortier to the attack. If McVeigh received material support, planned deception hid
the tracks. Despite reports McVeigh had undergone paramilitary training at Elohim City, the head
of training Strassmeier lied saying he met McVeigh only twice (Key et al 2001, 301). Millar
attested to never seeing McVeigh (Key et al 2001, 302). In a tight knit community of 300 this is
hard to believe.
Section III: Missed Indicators
If true the McVeigh Elohim City dynamic reveals indicators of how extremist
organizations influencing effects targeted individuals. The influence and effects may be
heightened when the individual is emotionally susceptible. Susceptibility possibly caused by
personal trauma low self esteem or perceived loss of identity. These chronological indicators can
only speculate to their ability to stop the attack. Lone wolves are exception difficult to
anticipate because every house pet, under the right circumstances, can become a predator:
1. The individual perceives a genuine threat and vocalizes support. McVeigh feared the
government was dissolving civil liberties ruining the country (Linder 2006, np) He sent letters
protesting resolution was needed, initially non violent (Serrano 1998, 55).
2. Lack of results in the individuals protesting, creates a call to action. McVeigh's viewing Waco
on the television enraged him prompting his commitment to action (Brown 2010, np).

3. General interest in any alternative solutions to the perceived threat has the individual contact
the extremist base. McVeigh ordered a copy of the white nationalist novel The Turner Diaries
from a Soldier of Fortune magazine (Stout 2004, 86).
4. The organizational targeting begins specifying the individual into roles: believer, actor, or
threat to the ideology. The extremist base began looking for actors or doers after Hayden Lake
meeting (Kaplan 1995, 58). McVeigh was offered membership in the Klu Klux Klan and Aryan
Nations (Final Verdict 2004, np).
5. The actor commits to a groups ideology, finding a parallel nature with the perceived threat.
McVeigh does not accept membership with the Klan because he was not a racist (Final Verdict
2007, np). He does align with Elohim Citys anti government views and becomes involved.
6. Spreading ideology becomes the actors motive. McVeigh sold copies of The Turner Diaries
at gun shows throughout the midwest looking for converts (Kifner 1995, np).
7. Having effectively assessed the individual as an actor the group directly or indirectly proposes
a plan. This assumes McVeigh was introduced to the plot by Elohim City members.
8. The actor builds the capability to carry out the attack with limited support. The group works to
reinforce the individuals ideologies during preparation. McVeigh is reported to have lived at
Elohim City for several months, trained, and participated in robberies for funding.
9. After gathering all necessities, the actor finalizes, then carries out the attack alone or with
limited trusted individuals. McVeigh and Nichols created a small cell named The Patriots
(Nichols 2003, np). Nichols helped secure chemicals and survivalist fertilizer for the bomb
(Linder 2006, np).
Section IV: Lessons Learned

Extremist recruitment of individuals has intensified through social media and the internet.
In the information age data collection of individuals in the early stages of the indicators may help
to prevent similar repeated attacks
Better understanding of extreme right ideologies modern evolution to public prominence
is needed. The New World Order conspiracy is originally white nationalist ideology springing
from an speech George W Bush Sr made (Kaplan 1995, 51). Today it is juxtaposed with the,
Bush Jr. did 9/11 conspiracists. Hiding white evolved nationalist fundamentals among public
concerns, similar to how Christian Identity did with the Waco Siege. This creates a potentially
dangerous environment for individual recruitment.
McVeigh was mostly motivated by the impact the government had on 2nd amendment
issues. Waco acted as confirmation to his fears. Recent gun tragedies have prompted the
Presidential Administration to push for further gun control. It is essential to limiting the chance
of further attacks, from ideologues or associative groups, to be extremely delicate in handling
how gun control is addressed and implemented.

Section V: Select Bibliography

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