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“Assessing failures in anticipating the Oklahoma City

Bombing as a framework for preventing further domestic

terrorism”

David Doolittle

INTL 401 - Critical Analysis

Rebekah Mouhon

!ctober "1st# $01%

Section I Overview

!n A&ril 1'th 1''%# Ti(othy Mc)eih carried out a &lot to bo(b the Al*red +, Murrah

ederal .uildin in !klaho(a City, The &lot /as born o* his &erceived threat and rou&

ideoloies, Mc)eih had &arallel a(bitions o* the etre(ist Christian Identity ideoloy# beca(e

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involved /ith the (ove(ent# then took action, e related his &ersonal aenda to the (ove(ents

$nd a(end(ent stances# and acted out Christian Identity strateic &lans, 2hether associations

/ere in*luencin# or circu(stance# is critical to understandin the *ailure o* antici&atin the

attack,

Section II !re event" #vent Actions

Mc)eih kne/ 3a*ter seein the overn(ent kill .ranch Davidians in 2aco Teas he

/ould co((it terroris( 5.ro/n $010# n&6, Mc)eih ho/ever could not see the siee behind

 &olice check&oints 5Linder $007# n&6, e de&ended on the (edia &resentation and co((unity

associations *or con*ir(in any sus&icions, At a !ctober 1''" un sho/ in Tulsa !klaho(a#

Mc)eih s&oke /ith Andre/ 8tass(eier about ho/ the *ederal overn(ent neatively handled

the siee 5+ankrat9 1''7# n&6, 8trass(eier a tenant o* :lohi( City# a Christian Identity

co(&ound on the !klaho(a border# then ave Mc)eih his business card 5+ankrat9 1''7# n&6,

The Christian Identity (ove(ent used 2aco to a&&ear as victi(s in a continual

overn(ent &lot, They created e(&athy by sho/in the &ublic# the overn(ent /as /illin to

kill children to &ursue their aenda like they had at 2aco and at Ruby Ride Idaho 5;a&lan

1''%# 776, Mc)eih likely *elt he too /as a victi(, irst he /ashed out o* his li*elon oal to

 <oin the Ar(y 8&ecial orces 5Russako** 1''%# n&6, Then he *eared the overn(ent /ould

abolish his associative identity /ith *irear(s 5Linder $007# n&6, Mc)eih lived or (ade several

tri&s to :lohi( City 5Linder $007# n&6, A*ter leavin :lohi( Mc)eih and co cons&irator Terry

 Nichols bean buildin test bo(bs at Nichols Michian ho(e in 1''4 5Nichols $00"# n&6,

Robert Millar o* :lohi( City and Richard 8nell had a role in creatin the &lot, Millar

*ounded :lohi( City in the 1'%0=s 5astins 1''># n&6, Millar and 8nell /ent to a (eetin at

ayden Lake Idaho in 1'?"# to discuss the res&onse to a shootin death o* an adherent by la/

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en*orce(ent 5;ey et al $001# $''6, 2ith the su&&ort o* Millar and others# 8nell created the idea

to bo(b the Al*red + Murrah ederal .uildin in !;C due it 3housin (any overn(ent

aencies# had little security# and /ould cause an bi i(&act because it /ould not be e&ected

5;ey et al $001# $''6, Millar then o&ened :lohi( City to 8nell and other rou&s o* /hite

nationalists 5astins 1''># n&6, 8nell later /as sentenced to death *or his involve(ent in killin

t/o &eo&le 52hite 1''%# n&6, 8nell /as eecuted the evenin o* the bo(bin, e /arned there

/ould be a re&risal i* his eecution /as carried out 5;ey et al $001# "006,

:lohi( City (e(bers /ere i(&licated initially as additional sus&ects in the investiation,

2hen asked in a lie detector test# 3Mc)eih a&&eared evasive in ans/erin i* others /ere

involved 52riht $00># 1?16, Mc)eih also never ans/ered ho/ he selected his taret 52riht

$00># 1?%6, A in*or(ant in March 1''% said :lohi( City tenants /ere &lannin to blo/ u&

*ederal buildins and 8trass(eier had scouted locations in !klaho(a City 5;ey et al $001# $746,

A (e(ber o* :lohi( City is also re&orted to have told a hotel lobby e(&loyee in 8&okane

2ashinton A&ril 1'th# 3turn the television to CNN,, so(ethin is oin to ha&&en and it=s oin

to /ake &eo&le u& 5Linder $007# n&6, These *actors contribute to the likelihood so(e o* :lohi(

City had involve(ent or advanced /arnin o* the attack,

Individual and rou& dyna(ics created the sur&rise environ(ent *or the attack, Mc)eih

received (aterial su&&ort *ro( :lohi( City (e(bers, Mc)eih /as a &aid eta/ay driver *or

several Aryan Nation bank robbers livin in :lohi( City in Dece(ber 1''4 5;ey et al $001#

"076, Letter he sent his sister said 3e /anted her to launder so(e one hundred dollar bills

5;ey et al $001# "076, Mc)eih used other launderin tactics to avoid sus&icion o* involve(ent,

e bouht used and sold (etha(&heta(ines in early 1''% /ith sus&ect Michael ortier 5Linder

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$007# n&6, Mc)eih *re@uented stri& clubs a*ter the robberies# once tellin a dancer she 3/ould

re(e(ber his *ace *orever a*ter A&ril 1'th 5Linder $007# n&6,

A&ril 1'th 1''% the /orld /ould re(e(ber Mc)eih /hen he killed 17? &eo&le in a

sinle truck bo(b blast, :vidence athered could not link :lohi( City (e(bers /ith Mc)eih#

 Nichols# and ortier to the attack, I* Mc)eih received (aterial su&&ort# &lanned dece&tion hid

the tracks, Des&ite re&orts Mc)eih had underone &ara(ilitary trainin at :lohi( City# the head

o* trainin 8trass(eier lied sayin he (et Mc)eih only t/ice 5;ey et al $001# "016, Millar

attested to never seein Mc)eih 5;ey et al $001# "0$6, In a tiht knit co((unity o* "00 this is

hard to believe,

Section III $issed Indicators

I* true the Mc)eih :lohi( City dyna(ic reveals indicators o* ho/ etre(ist

orani9ations in*luencin e**ects tareted individuals, The in*luence and e**ects (ay be

heihtened /hen the individual is e(otionally susce&tible, 8usce&tibility &ossibly caused by

 &ersonal trau(a lo/ sel* estee( or &erceived loss o* identity, These chronoloical indicators can

only s&eculate to their ability to sto& the attack, 3Lone /olves are ece&tion di**icult to

antici&ate because every house &et# under the riht circu(stances# can beco(e a &redator

1, The individual &erceives a enuine threat and vocali9es su&&ort, Mc)eih *eared the

overn(ent /as dissolvin civil liberties ruinin the country 5Linder $007# n&6 e sent letters

 &rotestin resolution /as needed# initially non violent 58errano 1''?# %%6,

$, Lack o* results in the individual=s &rotestin# creates a call to action, Mc)eihBs vie/in 2aco

on the television enraed hi( &ro(&tin his co((it(ent to action 5.ro/n $010# n&6,

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", eneral interest in any alternative solutions to the &erceived threat has the individual contact

the etre(ist base, Mc)eih ordered a co&y o* the /hite nationalist novel 3The Turner Diaries

*ro( a 8oldier o* ortune (aa9ine 58tout $004# ?76,

4, The orani9ational taretin beins s&eci*yin the individual into roles believer# actor# or

threat to the ideoloy, The etre(ist base bean lookin *or actors or 3doers a*ter ayden Lake

(eetin 5;a&lan 1''%# %?6, Mc)eih /as o**ered (e(bershi& in the ;lu ;lu ;lan and Aryan

 Nations 5inal )erdict $004# n&6,

%, The actor co((its to a rou&=s ideoloy# *indin a &arallel nature /ith the &erceived threat,

Mc)eih does not acce&t (e(bershi& /ith the ;lan because he /as not a racist 5inal )erdict

$00># n&6, e does alin /ith :lohi( City=s anti overn(ent vie/s and beco(es involved,

7, 8&readin ideoloy beco(es the actor=s (otive, Mc)eih sold co&ies o* 3The Turner Diaries

at un sho/s throuhout the (id/est lookin *or converts 5;i*ner 1''%# n&6,

>, avin e**ectively assessed the individual as an actor the rou& directly or indirectly &ro&oses

a &lan, This assu(es Mc)eih /as introduced to the &lot by :lohi( City (e(bers,

?, The actor builds the ca&ability to carry out the attack /ith li(ited su&&ort, The rou& /orks to

rein*orce the individuals ideoloies durin &re&aration, Mc)eih is re&orted to have lived at

:lohi( City *or several (onths# trained# and &artici&ated in robberies *or *undin,

', A*ter atherin all necessities# the actor *inali9es# then carries out the attack alone or /ith

li(ited trusted individuals, Mc)eih and Nichols created a s(all cell na(ed 3The +atriots

5Nichols $00"# n&6, Nichols hel&ed secure che(icals and survivalist *ertili9er *or the bo(b

5Linder $007# n&6,

Section I% &essons &earned

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:tre(ist recruit(ent o* individuals has intensi*ied throuh social (edia and the internet,

In the in*or(ation ae data collection o* individuals in the early staes o* the indicators (ay hel&

to &revent si(ilar re&eated attacks

.etter understandin o* etre(e riht ideoloies (odern evolution to &ublic &ro(inence

is needed, The Ne/ 2orld !rder cons&iracy is oriinally /hite nationalist ideoloy s&rinin

*ro( an s&eech eore 2 .ush 8r (ade 5;a&lan 1''%# %16, Today it is <uta&osed /ith the#

3.ush r, did 'E11 cons&iracists, idin /hite evolved nationalist *unda(entals a(on &ublic

concerns# si(ilar to ho/ Christian Identity did /ith the 2aco 8iee, This creates a &otentially

danerous environ(ent *or individual recruit(ent,

Mc)eih /as (ostly (otivated by the i(&act the overn(ent had on $nd a(end(ent

issues, 2aco acted as con*ir(ation to his *ears, Recent un traedies have &ro(&ted the

+residential Ad(inistration to &ush *or *urther un control, It is essential to li(itin the chance

o* *urther attacks# *ro( ideoloues or associative rou&s# to be etre(ely delicate in handlin

ho/ un control is addressed and i(&le(ented,

Section % Select Bibliography

.ro/n# 8cott, FIntervie/ /ith !klaho(a City .o(ber Ti(othy Mc)eih Released As

+art o* M8N.C 8&ecial G 2r9,co(,F 2r9,co(, A&ril 1'# $010, Accessed !ctober $$# $01%,

htt&EEarchive,/r9,co(Ene/sEarticleE>70'0E1EIntervie/-/ith- !klaho(a-City-.o(ber-Ti(othy-

Mc)eih-Released-As-+art-o*-M8N.C-8&ecial,

Final )erdict The alse Connection bet/een Ti( Mc)eih and The Turner Diaries,F

2hite Nationalist Ne/s oru(, $004, Accessed !ctober "0# $01%, htt&EEsolareneral,orE/&-

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contentEu&loadsElibraryE*inal-verdict-the-*alse-connection-bet/een-ti(-(cveih-and-the-turner-

diaries,&d* ,

astins# Deborah, F:lohi( City on :tre(istsB Hnderround Railroad,F Los Aneles

Ti(es, ebruary $"# 1''>, Accessed !ctober $7# $01%, htt&EEarticles,lati(es,co(E1''>-0$-

$"Ene/sE(n-"1%'%1elohi(-city,

;a&lan# e**rey, FRiht 2in )iolence In North A(erica,F Terror ro( The :tre(e

Riht, 1''%, Accessed !ctober $%# $01%,

htt&EE///,researchate,netE&ro*ileEe**rey;a&lan4E&ublicationE$""$$'0%1Riht/inviolen

ceinNorthA(ericaElinksE%4'db>>a0c*$b?0">1"a>ba$,&d* ,

;ey# Charles# ),J, La/ton# Dale L, +hilli&s# and eore ., 2allace,  Final Report on the

 Bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building , !klaho(a City# !klaho(a !klaho(a .o(bin

Investiation Co((ittee# $001,

;i*ner# ohn, FT: HN N:T2!R; Mc)eihBs 2orld -- A 8&ecial Re&ort,K .o(b

8us&ect elt at o(e Ridin the un-8ho/ Circuit,F The Ne/ ork Ti(es, uly 4# 1''%,

Accessed !ctober $"# $01%, htt&EE///,nyti(es,co(E1''%E0>E0%EusEun-net/ork-(cveih-s-

/orld-s&ecial-re&ort-bo(b-sus&ect-*elt-ho(e-ridin-un,ht(l,

Linder# Doulas, F!klaho(a City .o(bin 5Mc)eih6 Trial,F Hniversity o* Missouri

;ansas City La/ De&art(ent, $007, Accessed !ctober $4# $01%,

htt&EEla/$,u(kc,eduE*acultyE&ro<ectsE*trialsE(cveihE(cveihtrial,ht(l,

 Nichols# Nicole, FDo(estic Terroris( 101 - Nichols ortier,F Do(estic Terroris( 101

- Nichols ortier, Auust $7# $00", Accessed !ctober $"# $01%,

htt&sEE/eb,archive,orE/ebE$00"1$0>1""144Ehtt&EEeyeonhate,co(E(cveihE(cveih',ht(l,

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+ankrat9# o/ard, FThe !klaho(a City .o(bin Trial,F The Denver +ost !nline, March

11# 1''7, Accessed !ctober $$# $01%, htt&EEetras,denver&ost,co(Ebo(bEne/s17,ht(,

Russako*# Dale, FAn !rdinary .oyBs :traordinary Rae,F 2ashinton +ost, uly $# 1''%,

Accessed !ctober $%# $01%, htt&EE///,/ashinton&ost,co(E/&-

srvEnationalElonter(Eoklaho(aEbE(cveih,ht(,

8errano# Richard A, One of Ours: Timothy McVeigh and the Olahoma !ity Bombing ,

 Ne/ ork Norton# 1''?,

8tout# Chris :, Psychology of Terrorism: !oping "ith the !ontinued Threat , 2est&ort#

Conn, +raeer K# $004,

F2hite 8u&re(acist :ecuted or Murderin $ in Arkansas,F The Ne/ ork Ti(es, A&ril

$0# 1''%, Accessed !ctober $4# $01%, htt&EE///,nyti(es,co(E1''%E04E$1EusE/hite-

su&re(acist-eecuted-*or-(urderin-$-in-arkansas,ht(l,

2riht# 8tuart A, Patriots# Politics# and the Olahoma !ity Bombing , Ca(bride

Ca(bride Hniversity +ress# $00>,