Domestic Terrorism and Election Interference
Report of the Department of Homeland Security
https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/2020_10_06_homeland-threat-assessment.pdf
The Department of Homeland Security released its first annual report on “threats to the homeland” earlier this month. It is cautiously couched, but fingers Russian electoral interference and white supremacists as the most prominent threats. It includes China and Iran, antifa, drug smuggling, cyber criminals and illegal immigration as other threats to the homeland. I’ve included some key findings and warnings.
“Russia—which possesses some of the most sophisticated cyber capabilities in the world—can disrupt or damage U.S. critical infrastructure networks via cyber-attacks. Russian state-affiliated actors will continue targeting U.S. industry and all levels of government with intrusive cyber espionage to access economic, policy, and national security information to further the Kremlin’s strategic interests.”
“Some state or non-state actors likely will seek to use cyber means to compromise or disrupt infrastructure used to support the 2020 U.S. Presidential election and the 2020 U.S. Census. Given the national importance of these events, any related cyber activities—or mere claims of compromise—might fuel influence operations aimed at depressing voter turnout or census participation, misinforming about democratic processes, or shaping perceptions about the integrity or outcome of the election or census (see subsequent section regarding Foreign Influence in the Homeland).”
“Ahead of the 2020 U.S. elections, adversaries are using covert and overt influence measures to try to sway U.S. voters’ preferences and perspectives about candidates, political parties, policies, and the electoral process itself. Influence actors will adjust their goals and tactics as the election nears. Russia uses online influence operations in its attempt to sway U.S. voter perceptions. As noted earlier, although some Russian influence activity appears to be in support of or in opposition to specific political candidates, Moscow’s overarching objective is to undermine the U.S. electoral process and weaken the United States through discord, division, and distraction in hopes America becomes less able to challenge Russia’s strategic objectives.”
“The primary terrorist threat inside the United States will stem from lone offenders and small cells of individuals, including Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) and foreign terrorist-inspired Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs). Some U.S.-based violent extremists have capitalized on increased social and political tensions in 2020, which will drive an elevated threat environment at least through early 2021.”
“Among DVEs, racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists—specifically white supremacist extremists (WSEs)—will remain the most persistent and lethal threat in the Homeland.”
“WSEs have demonstrated longstanding intent to target racial and religious minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, politicians, and those they believe promote multi-culturalism and globalization at the expense of the WSE identity. Since 2018, they have conducted more lethal attacks in the United States than any other DVE movement.”
“We also remain particularly concerned about the impacts from COVID-19 where anti-government and anti-authority violent extremists could be motivated to conduct attacks in response to perceived infringement of liberties and government overreach as all levels of government seek to limit the spread of the coronavirus that has caused a worldwide pandemic.”
President Trump strangely enough has been loath to criticize either Russia interference in our elections or the white supremacist movements that together represent the highest threats to our nation’s domestic security. And he downplays and disregards the clear and present danger of Covid 19, making it far more lethal and widespread than it would be in a well-run democracy. Wittingly or not, he is the biggest threat to our nation’s homeland security.
Prepared by: Lucien Wulsin
Dated: 10/19/20