For this week assignment I choose to write about the Animal Liberations Front and

Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan. These two groups are not similar at all except the US has classified

both as terrorist groups and both have performed attacks against US citizens and interest. The

Animal Liberation Front (ALF) is a domestic terrorist groups and has performed attacks in the

US, Canada, and UK. They were originally part of Hunter Saboteurs Association in England and

broke off in 1976. The FBI classified them as a domestic terrorist group in 1987. The FBI has

also estimated that the ALF and Earth Liberation Front between 1995 and 2005 have damaged

more than $110 million dollars worth of property and equipment. (FBI, n.d) The ALF’s primary

method is to break into medical and scientific labs and other animal holding areas and release the

animals. The Animal Liberation Front uses many tactics but arson seems to be their favorite.

They believe that using fire causes finical hardship on business they are attacking and view the

actions as justified in their pursuit. ALF took credit for burning fourteen trucks and trailers used

to haul cattle owned by Harris Farms in January 2012. They used containers with digital timers

on most of the trucks. ALF has attacked other animal processing plants and slaughter houses

across the US. Their credo is:

The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) carries out direct action against animal abuse in the

form of rescuing animals and causing financial loss to animal exploiters, usually through

the damage and destruction of property.

The ALF's short-term aim is to save as many animals as possible and directly disrupt the

practice of animal abuse. Their long term aim is to end all animal suffering by forcing

animal abuse companies out of business.

 It is a nonviolent campaign, activists taking all precautions not to harm any animal

(human or otherwise) (“Credo/Guide,” n.d.).

According to the website Animal Liberation Frontline in 2013 ALF released close to 10,000

animals since July of 2013. The ALF motive behind the action was to cripple the US’s fur trade

in the hopes of stopping animal cruelty. Member of ALF work alone and fund their own

activities. ALF operates in small decentralized groups to keep from getting caught by law

enforcement agencies and has been in the US since 1979. They are also allied with the Earth

Liberation Front. ALF’s website is http://www.animalliberationfront.com/.

Tehrik-E-Taliban Pakistan, which means Pakistan Taliban movement, is a terrorist

organization that has threatened US interest abroad and at home. Tehrik-E-Taliban Pakistan,

also known as TTP, was founded on December 13, 2007 by Baitullah Mehsud and operates

primarily along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. TTP’s Ideology is to enforce sharia, unite against

coalition forces in Afghanistan, and perform a defensive jihad against the Pakistan Army. TTP leaders

have also declared global jihad against the U.S. to avenge America’s presence and drone attacks in

Pakistan. The group has killed Americans in Afghanistan and attempted to in Pakistan and New

York City. Baitullah Mehsud was the leader till 2009 when he was killed by an American

missile strike. He was replaced by Hakimullah Mehsud. Hakimullah Mehsud was quoted as

saying, “From now on, the main targets of our Fidaeen are American cities. The good news will

be heard within some days or weeks. Today on-wards, the direction of our Jihad is American

states and cities.” (Szrom, 2010). TTP uses IEDs as one of its main weapons these include vest

IEDs and vehicle borne IEDs (VBIED) as well as roadside IEDs. TTP has been linked to Human

Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi who killing people on CIA base in Afghanistan. The ADL wrote

“In December 2009, Jordanian physician Human Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi (also known as
Abu Dujanah al-Khorasani), under Mehsud's leadership, carried out a suicide bombing at a U.S.

military base in Afghanistan. Seven American citizens – including several CIA officers and

analysts – were killed in the attack, and six other Americans were injured” (ADL, 2009).  This

attack was featured in the film Zero Dark Thirty

The TTP decided to attack the US by attempting to set off a VBIED in New

York’s Time Square. On May 1, 2010, Faisal Shahzad, attempted to set off a SUV that had a

homemade bomb inside in Times Square. He built the bomb from gasoline canisters and propane

tanks rigged with fireworks. Shahzad received his bomb building training while on a trip to

Pakistan and received about $12,000 dollars from the group to help purchase the materials he

would need to make a bomb once he was back in the US. TTP’s website address is

https://twitter.com/TehreekeTaliban.

Between the ALF and the TTP, the TTP is probably the most dangerous threat to the US.

Tehrik-E-Taliban Pakistan is a terrorist organization that has threatens U.S. interest abroad and at home.

If the United States implements all of its anti-terrorism statutes it can minimize or prevent future attacks

on American soil but it must not be passive in its role and must take active steps to protect its people and

infrastructure from the TTP attacks, such as Faisal Shahzad attempted car bomb in Times Square. TTP is

a terrorist group that may reside in Pakistan but they have shown that they have the will and have found

ways to attack us at home and abroad. The TTP has shown that it is willing to attack the US

wherever it can and is willing to use suicide bombers to accomplish its goal. If they can attack at

the right time and place they could even cause a major economic crisis such as 9/11. The ALF

on the other hand would less of an impact, unless they turned violent, since their attacks are not

very well coordinated and they try to remain anonymous. ALF would not cause a national panic
such as an attack from the TTP but they have the potential to cause extreme finical problems for

companies in the agricultural and research business.

FBI — Animal Rights Extremism and Ecoterrorism. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2014, from

http://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/animal-rights-extremism-and-ecoterrorism

ALF takes credit for Harris Farms arson fire. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2014, from

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/ALF-takes-credit-for-Harris-Farms-arson-fire-

137127693.html

Credo/Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2014, from

http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/alf_credo.htm

2,000 mink released in Wisconsin, latest in major ALF campaign | Animal Liberation Front-

Line: Animal Liberation Front (ALF) / animal rights news. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19,

2014, from http://www.animalliberationfrontline.com/2000-mink-released-in-wisconsin-

latest-in-massive-alf-campaign/

Szrom, C., (2010) Times Square Bombing Attempt: Analysis, Context, and Importance of

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Claims, Critical Threats, Retrieved from

http://www.criticalthreats.org/pakistan/may-1-2010-times-square-bombing-attempt-

analysis-context-and-importance-tehrik-e-taliban-pakista

ADL, (2010), Profile: Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. Retrieved from

http://www.adl.org/NR/exeres/E8CF6B69-8289-43B6-BD56-

6618B6F0DD35,DB7611A2-02CD-43AF-8147-649E26813571,frameless.htm