Prior to beginning work on this discussion make sure you have read the required materials for this week. In addition, you can access any unclassified source or newspaper. Do not use any classified or “for official use only” (FOUO) sources.

For this interactive assignment you will utilize the international terrorist organization you chose in Week 2. Within this assignment, you are to demonstrate your understanding of the organization through both a discussion and a document which depicts the goals and objectives, and the tactics, techniques, and capabilities of your chosen organization.

Note: Both the international terrorist organization you choose for this discussion as well as the research you conduct will be utilized in the Week 5 Interactive Assignment and in your final Policy Proposal in Week 6.

The initial post must contain the following elements:

• The terrorist organization name
• The organization’s location
• Summarize the socio-political structures in place, if any that contributed to the rise of this terrorist organization.
• Identify the stated goals and objectives of the chosen terrorist organization.
• Analyze the tactics and techniques of your chosen organization. Include the various types of attack modes they utilize, such as IED/suicide bombing, firearms, biological, chemical, radiological, cyberattacks, and/or hostage taking. (You may have fewer or additional categories, depending on your chosen terrorist group). Explain the capability for each designation. Include actual events carried out by the specific international terrorist group.
• Describe their primary means of attack as well as their primary and secondary targets.
• Examine the organization’s primary strengths and weaknesses in carrying out their goals and objectives.
• Evaluate the organization’s effectiveness in meeting their objectives.

Your post must be at least 400 words in length. Support your post with examples from required materials, scholarly sources, or official government sources. Use APA formatting as outlined in the Ashford University Writing center to cite your sources in-text as well as at the end of your post.

In addition to your initial discussion post, create a document that depicts the tactics, techniques, and capabilities of your chosen international terrorist organization. The document must be uploaded with your initial post. You must use the provided template. Your goal in creating the document is to succinctly demonstrate your understanding of the international terrorist organization. A sample document has been provided for your convenience. In addition, you may wish to access the provided Word Tables Quick-Start Guide on how to add tables and colors to a table cell.

The document must contain the following elements:

• The chosen terrorist organization name
• The organization’s location
• Socio-political structure (brief description)
• Stated Goals and Objectives of the Terrorist Organization
• A table which contains the following columns:
  • Attack Mode: Tactics, Techniques, and Capabilities: Across the top axis list various types of attack modes such as Firearms, IED/Suicide Bombs, Biological, Radiological, Chemical, Hostage Taking, Cyber Attacks or another tactic not previously listed.
  • Evidence: In each box, list evidence of such tactics and techniques, including actual attacks carried out by the specific international terrorist group. Include between seven and ten pieces of evidence.
• Color code each “Attack Mode” box with the following designations:
• Red: Demonstrated an attack and a capability, and has the resources to carry out a future attack
• Orange: Elements are present for testing of an attack mode. Has the knowledge and availability of resources
• Yellow: Terrorist group is missing at least one or more elements, i.e., knowledge, capability, or availability of resources to carry out an attack
• Green: Does not have at least two of the following three elements: the knowledge, capability, or availability of resources to carry out a specific type of attack. As a reminder, access the provided Microsoft Word Quick Start Guide on how to insert colors into tables.
  • References: In the bottom row, include the sources you consulted for each piece of evidence you cite.

Attach the document to your initial post, and submit it to the forum.