South Dakota could easily become a target for terrorist breeding ground

Al Qaeda has recently announced the future publication of an online English-translated terrorist magazine known as “Resurgence,” the first of its kind to be used as a recruiting tool for American citizens.

Modeled after a similar terrorist magazine known as “Inspire,” it would be used to appeal to American citizens looking to create homemade bombs and follow the radicalist ideals of the terror group.

An 80-second video was released by the terrorist organization to promote the magazine, using audio from a Malcom X speech, images of Islamic militants — United States soldiers — and video from the Boston Marathon bombing.

According to the NBC News article, “Al Qaeda Announces New English-Language Terror Magazine,” the Malcom X speech was chosen for its use of hateful and violence-promoting language: ‘The brief video appears to combine audio from a 1965 Malcolm X speech justifying violence — including the quote “talk the language that they understand.’ ”

It is expected the magazine’s promotion comes as an attempt by al Qaeda to recruit American citizens from within the United States. After being targeted by drone strikes and losing Osama bin Laden, the terrorist group seems to be trying to reestablish their power and influence throughout the world.

It is disturbing how easily publications such as these influence not just outside militants, but also American citizens. “Inspire,” the terrorist magazine promoted by the al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) group, was said to have promoted Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the Boston Bombers, to create and set off the bombs that killed three and wounded 264 individuals during the marathon.

Terrorist propaganda has existed for decades, but never before has it been easier to disseminate terrorist ideals to a vast population from many different countries across the globe. An anti-American group from the Middle East would not have had such an easy time attempting to win over U.S. citizens if they had not had the Internet at their fingertips. With hundreds of thousands of websites readily available to the public, it is easy to understand why al Qaeda and other terrorist groups have taken to the web to promote their ideals.

An English-translated terrorist magazine could be read by hundreds, thousands or millions of citizens in the United States, and it is expected that one or two of those individuals would be taken with the radical views of the organization and their affiliates.

Terrorist attacks in America can come from any town, city or state. While Washington, D.C. or a large city such as Chicago or Detroit seem to be viable targets, terrorists can also target smaller areas which seem unlikely to be victimized.

South Dakota has a small population of less than a million, but a terrorist attack at a university or a place of public office would receive just as much outrage and fear as it would in a larger city.

The University of South Dakota is one of a handful of colleges in the state — it could easily become a target for a terrorist-in-training. Or worse yet, one of our students could be influenced by the “Resurgence” magazine and attempt to build a bomb or set one off in a public area, such as a campus building or one of our many dormitories.

While it seems unlikely a USD student would read or utilize a terrorist magazine such as “Resurgence,” the publication should not be ignored entirely, nor should it be laughed or scorned for its methodology.

Terrorism has changed the foundation of America, and time and time again the safety of our citizens has been called into question. Al Qaeda may have lost much of its influence, but it still has the power and resources to attack us.

No longer is it just from outside our borders — they now have the ability to take us down from within, and an English translation of terrorist propaganda may just be enough to incite another attack on our nation.