The Ashcroft/Reno Definition of Terrorists

This analysis, entitled PROJECT MEGIDDO, is an FBI strategic assessment of the potential for domestic terrorism in the United States undertaken in anticipation of or response to the arrival of the new millennium. Project Megiddo was released to the public on 11/2/99. To receive the original document, please visit the FBI homepage at http://www.fbi.gov/ . "The Millennial Abyss" has converted this document into an html page for reader convenience.

PROJECT MEGIDDO
Table of Contents:

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

II. INTRODUCTION

When Does the New Millennium Begin?
Blueprint for Action: The Turner Diaries
Interpretations of The Bible
Apocalyptic Religious Beliefs
The New World Order Conspiracy Theory and theYear 2000 Computer Bug
Gun Control Laws

III. CHRISTIAN IDENTITY

IV. WHITE SUPREMACY

V. MILITIAS

VI. BLACK HEBREW ISRAELITES

VII. APOCALYPTIC CULTS

VIII. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JERUSALEM

IX. CONCLUSION

For over four thousand years, MEGIDDO, a hill in northern Israel, has been the site
of many battles. Ancient cities were established there to serve as a fortress on the
plain of Jezreel to guard a mountain pass. As Megiddo was built and rebuilt, one city
upon the other, a mound or hill was formed. The Hebrew word "Armageddon"
means "hill of Megiddo." In English, the word has come to represent battle itself.
The last book in the New Testament of the Bible designates Armageddon as the
assembly point in the apocalyptic setting of God's final and conclusive battle against
evil. The name "Megiddo" is an apt title for a project that analyzes those who believe
the year 2000 will usher in the end of the world and who are willing to perpetrate acts
of violence to bring that end about.

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The year 2000 is being discussed and debated at all levels of society. Most of the
discussions regarding this issue revolve around the topic of technology and our society's
overwhelming dependence on the multitude of computers and computer chips which make our
world run smoothly. However, the upcoming millennium also holds important implications
beyond the issue of computer technology. Many extremist individuals and groups place some
significance on the next millennium, and as such it will present challenges to law enforcement at
many levels. The significance is based primarily upon either religious beliefs relating to the
Apocalypse or political beliefs relating to the New World Order (NWO) conspiracy theory. The
challenge is how well law enforcement will prepare and respond.

The following report, entitled "Project Megiddo," is intended to analyze the potential for
extremist criminal activity in the United States by individuals or domestic extremist groups who
profess an apocalyptic view of the millennium or attach special significance to the year 2000. The
purpose behind this assessment is to provide law enforcement agencies with a clear picture of
potential extremism motivated by the next millennium. The report does not contain information
on domestic terrorist groups whose actions are not influenced by the year 2000.
There are numerous difficulties involved in providing a thorough analysis of domestic
security threats catalyzed by the new millennium. Quite simply, the very nature of the current
domestic terrorism threat places severe limitations on effective intelligence gathering and
evaluation. Ideological and philosophical belief systems which attach importance, and possibly
violence, to the millennium have been well-articulated. From a law enforcement perspective, the
problem therefore is not a lack of understanding of motivating ideologies: The fundamental
problem is that the traditional focal point for counterterrorism analysis?the terrorist group?is
not always well-defined or relevant in the current environment.

The general trend in domestic extremism is the terrorist?s disavowal of traditional,
hierarchical, and structured terrorist organizations. Even well-established militias, which tend to
organize along military lines with central control, are characterized by factionalism and disunity.

While several "professional" terrorist groups still exist and present a continued threat to domestic
security, the overwhelming majority of extremist groups in the United States have adopted a
fragmented, leaderless structure where individuals or small groups act with autonomy. Clearly,
the worst act of domestic terrorism in United States history was perpetrated by merely two
individuals: Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. In many cases, extremists of this sort are
extremely difficult to identify until after an incident has occurred. Thus, analysis of domestic
extremism in which the group serves as the focal point of evaluation has obvious limitations.

The Project Megiddo intelligence initiative has identified very few indications of specific
threats to domestic security. Given the present nature of domestic extremism, this is to be
expected. However, this is a function of the limitations of the group-oriented model of
counterterrorism analysis and should not be taken necessarily as reflective of a minor or trivial
domestic threat. Without question, this initiative has revealed indicators of potential violent
activity on the part of extremists in this country. Militias, adherents of racist belief systems such
as Christian Identity and Odinism, and other radical domestic extremists are clearly focusing on
the millennium as a time of action. Certain individuals from these various perspectives are
acquiring weapons, storing food and clothing, raising funds through fraudulent means, procuring
safe houses, preparing compounds, surveying potential targets, and recruiting new converts.
These and other indicators are not taking place in a vacuum, nor are they random or arbitrary. In
the final analysis, while making specific predictions is extremely difficult, acts of violence in
commemoration of the millennium are just as likely to occur as not. In the absence of intelligence
that the more established and organized terrorist groups are planning millennial violence as an
organizational strategy, violence is most likely to be perpetrated by radical fringe members of
established groups. For example, while Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler publicly frowns on
proactive violence, adherents of his religion or individual members of his organization may
commit acts of violence autonomously.

Potential cult-related violence presents additional challenges to law enforcement. The
potential for violence on behalf of members of biblically-driven cults is determined almost
exclusively by the whims of the cult leader. Therefore, effective intelligence and analysis of such
cults requires an extensive understanding of the cult leader. Cult members generally act to serve
and please the cult leader rather than accomplish an ideological objective. Almost universally, cult
leaders are viewed as messianic in the eyes of their followers. Also, the cult leader?s prophecies,
preachings, orders, and objectives are subject to indiscriminate change. Thus, while analysis of
publicly stated goals and objectives of cults may provide hints about their behavior and intentions,
it is just as likely to be uninformed or, at worst, misleading. Much more valuable is a thorough
examination of the cult leader, his position of power over his followers, and an awareness of the
responding behavior and activity of the cult. Sudden changes in activity - for example, less time
spent on "Bible study" and more time spent on "physical training" - indicate that the cult may be
preparing for some type of action.

The millennium holds special significance for many, and as this pivotal point in time
approaches, the impetus for the initiation of violence becomes more acute. Several religiously
motivated groups envision a quick, fiery ending in an apocalyptic battle. Others may initiate a
sustained campaign of terrorism in the United States to prevent the NWO. Armed with the
urgency of the millennium as a motivating factor, new clandestine groups may conceivably form
to engage in violence toward the U.S. Government or its citizens.

Most importantly, this analysis clearly shows that perceptions matter. The perceptions of
the leaders and followers of extremist organizations will contribute much toward the ultimate
course of action they choose. For example, in-depth analysis of Y2K compliancy on the part of
various key sectors that rely on computers has determined that, despite a generally positive
outlook for overall compliance, there will be problem industries and minor difficulties and
inconveniences (U.S. Congress, Senate, Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem,
Investigating the Impact of the Year 2000 Problem, February 24, 1996, pp. 1-6.). If they occur,
these inconveniences are likely to cause varying responses by the extreme fringes. Members of various
militia groups, for example, have identified potentially massive power failures as an indication of a United
Nations-directed NWO takeover. While experts have indicated that only minor brownouts will occur,
various militias are likely to perceive such minor brownouts as indicative of a larger conspiracy. (Ibid, p. 3.)
The Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem has stated that
some state and local governments could be unprepared, including the inability to provide benefits
payments (Ibid. p. 5.). This could have a significant impact in major urban areas, resulting in the
possibility for civil unrest. Violent white supremacists are likely to view such unrest as an affirmation
of a racist, hate-filled world view. Likewise, militia members who predict the implementation of
martial law in response to a Y2K computer failure would become all the more fearful.

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II. INTRODUCTION

Are we already living on the precipice of the Apocalypse - the chaotic final period
of warfare between the forces of good and evil signaling the second coming of
Christ, as forecast in the New Testament?s Book of Revelation? Or, will life on
earth continue for another 1,000 years, allowing humans to eliminate disease and
solve the mysteries of the aging process so they can live as long as Methuselah,
colonize space, commune with extraterrestrials, unravel the secrets of
teleportation, and usher in a golden age of peace and productivity?
(Cliff Linedecker, Prophecies for the New Millennium [Lantana, FL: Micromags, 1999], p. 3-4.)

At first glance, some of the predictions compiled in Prophecies for the New Millennium
that claim to foretell how the millennium will affect the United States seem benign. In fact, those
predictions capture some of the countless ways that domestic terrorists view how the millennium
will affect the world. The threat posed by extremists as a result of perceived events associated
with the Year 2000 (Y2K) is very real.

Numerous religious extremists claim that a race war will soon begin, and have taken
steps to become martyrs in their predicted battle between good and evil. Three recent incidents
committed by suspects who adhere to ideologies that emphasize millennial related violence
illustrate those beliefs: Buford O. Furrow, Jr., the man charged in the August 1999 shootings at a
Los Angeles area Jewish day care center, told authorities "its time for America to wake and kill
the jews"; Ben Smith, who committed suicide after shooting at minorities in Indiana and Illinois,
killing two and injuring ten, over the July 4, 1999 weekend, was found to have literature in his
home that indicated the year 2000 would be the start of the killing of minorities; and John William
King, the man convicted in the dragging death of James Byrd, Jr., a black man in Jasper, Texas,
believed that his actions would help to initiate a race war. Each of these men believed in the
imminence of a racial holy war.

Meanwhile, for members of the militia movement the new millennium has a political
overtone rather than a religious one. It is their belief that the United Nations has created a secret
plan, known as the New World Order (NWO), to conquer the world beginning in 2000. The
NWO will be set in motion by the Y2K computer crisis.

Religious motivation and the NWO conspiracy theory are the two driving forces behind
the potential for millennial violence. As the end of the millennium draws near, biblical prophecy
and political philosophy may merge into acts of violence by the more extreme members of
domestic terrorist groups that are motivated, in part, by religion. The volatile mix of apocalyptic
religions and NWO conspiracy theories may produce violent acts aimed at precipitating the end of
the world as prophesied in the Bible.

When and how Christ?s second coming will occur is a critical point in the ideology of
those motivated by extremist religious beliefs about the millennium. There is no consensus within
Christianity regarding the specific date that the Apocalypse will occur. However, within many
right-wing religious groups there is a uniform belief that the Apocalypse is approaching. Some of
these same groups also point to a variety of non-religious indicators such as gun control, the Y2K
computer problem, the NWO, the banking system, and a host of other "signs" that the Apocalypse
is near. Almost uniformly, the belief among right-wing religious extremists is that the federal
government is an arm of Satan. Therefore, the millennium will bring about a battle between
Christian martyrs and the government. At the core of this volatile mix is the belief of apocalyptic
religions and cults that the battle against Satan, as prophesied in the Book of Revelation, will
begin in 2000.

An example of the confrontational nature and belief system of religiously motivated
suspects illustrates the unique challenges that law enforcement faces when dealing with a
fatalist/martyr philosophy. It also illustrates the domino effect that may occur after such a
confrontation. Gordon Kahl, an adherent to the anti-government/racist Christian Identity religion,
escaped after a 1983 shootout with police that left two Deputy U.S. Marshals dead. He was later
killed during a subsequent shootout with the FBI and others that also left a county sheriff dead.
In response to the killing of Kahl, Bob Mathews, a believer in the racist Odinist ideology, founded
The Order. After The Order committed numerous crimes, its members were eventually tracked
down. Mathews escaped after engaging in a gun battle and later wrote, "Why are so many men
so eager to destroy their own kind for the benefit of the Jews and the mongrels? I see three FBI
agents hiding behind some trees . . . I could have easily killed them . . . They look like good racial
stock yet all their talents are given to a government which is openly trying to mongrelize the very
race these agents are part of . . . I have been a good soldier, a fearless warrior. I will die with
honor and join my brothers in [heaven]." Exemplifying his beliefs as a martyr, Mathews later
burned to death in an armed standoff with the FBI.

In light of the enormous amount of millennial rhetoric, the FBI sought to analyze a
number of variables that have the potential to spark violent acts perpetrated by domestic
terrorists. Religious beliefs, the Y2K computer problem, and gun control laws all have the
potential to become catalysts for such terrorism. The following elements are essential to
understanding the phenomenon of domestic terrorism related to the millennium:

When Does the New Millennium Begin?

As the nation and the world prepare to celebrate the arrival of the new millennium, a
debate has arisen as to the correct date for its beginning. Although the true starting point of the
next millennium is January 1, 2001, as established by the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington,
D.C., our nation's official time keeper, many will celebrate January 1, 2000, as the start of the
millennium. The majority of domestic terrorists, like the general public, place a greater
significance on January 1, 2000.

Blueprint for Action: The Turner Diaries

Many right-wing extremists are inspired by The Turner Diaries, a book written by William
Pierce (under the pseudonym Andrew Macdonald), the leader of the white supremacist group
National Alliance. The book details a violent overthrow of the federal government by white
supremacists and also describes a brutal race war that is to take place simultaneously. To date,
several groups or individuals have been inspired by this book:

At the time of his arrest, Timothy McVeigh, the man responsible for the Oklahoma City
bombing, had a copy of The Turner Diaries in his possession. McVeigh?s action against
the Murrah Federal Building was strikingly similar to an event described in the book where
the fictional terrorist group blows up FBI Headquarters.
The Order, an early 1980s terrorist cell involved in murder, robberies, and counterfeiting,
was motivated by the book?s scenarios for a race war. The group murdered Alan Berg, a
Jewish talk show host, and engaged in other acts of violence in order to hasten the race
war described in the book. The Order?s efforts later inspired another group, The New
Order, which planned to commit similar crimes in an effort to start a race war that would
lead to a violent revolution. (Charles Bosworth Jr., "Illinois Man Sought Start of Race War,"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 15, 1998.)
Most recently, The Turner Diaries provided inspiration to John William King, the man
convicted for dragging a black man to his death in Jasper, Texas. As King shackled James
Byrd?s legs to the back of his truck he was reported to say, "We?re going to start the
Turner Diaries early." (Paul Duggan, "From Beloved Son to Murder Suspect," The
Washington Post, February 16, 1999.)

During the year 2000 and beyond, The Turner Diaries will be an inspiration for right-wing
terrorist groups to act because it outlines both a revolutionary takeover of the government and a
race war. These elements of the book appeal to a majority of right-wing extremists because it is
their belief that one or both events will coincide with Y2K.

Interpretations of the Bible

Religiously based domestic terrorists use the New Testament?s Book of Revelation?the
prophecy of the endtime?for the foundation of their belief in the Apocalypse. Religious
extremists interpret the symbolism portrayed in the Book of Revelation and mold it to predict that
the endtime is now and that the Apocalypse is near. To understand many religious extremists, it is
crucial to know the origin of the Book of Revelation and the meanings of its words, numbers and
characters.

The Book of Revelation was written by a man named "John" who was exiled by the
Roman government to a penal colony - the island of Patmos - because of his beliefs in Christ.
(While he never claimed to be the book's author, the Apostle John was identified as such by several
of the early church Fathers. Authorship is generally ascribed to him today.) While on the island,
he experienced a series of visions, described in the Book of Revelation. The writing in the
Book of Revelation is addressed to churches who were at the time experiencing or were threatened by
persecution from Rome because they were not following the government. For this reason, some
believe the Book of Revelation was written in code language, much of which
was taken from other parts of the Bible.

One interpretation describing the essence of the message contained in Revelation is that
God will overcome Christianity?s enemies (Roman Government/Satan) and that the persecuted
communities should persevere (This interpretation of the Book of Revelation is according to
the Catholic Bible and a Catholic scholar that was consulted on the matter. However, there are
other varying interpretations of the Book of Revelation within Christianity. ). For right-wing
groups who believe they are being persecuted by the satanic government of the United States,
the Book of Revelation's message fits perfectly into their world view. This world view, in combination
with a literal interpretation of the Book of Revelation, is reflected in extremist ideology, violent acts,
and literature. For this reason, it is imperative to know the meaning of some of the "code words" frequently used:

Four (4) signifies the world.
Six (6) signifies imperfection.
Seven (7) is the totality of perfection or fullness and completeness.
Twelve (12) represents the twelve tribes of Israel or the 12 apostles.
One-thousand (1000) signifies immensity.
The color white symbolizes power and can also represent victory, joy and resurrection.
The color red symbolizes a bloody war.
The color black symbolizes famine.
A rider on a pale green horse is a symbol of Death itself.
"Babylon" is the satanic Roman Government, now used to describe the U.S.
government (All symbolism was taken from The Catholic Bible; New American Bible)

Black Hebrew Israelites, a black supremacist group, typify the use of numerology from the
Book of Revelation. They believe group members will comprise the 144,000 people who are
saved by God in the second coming that is outlined in Revelation (7:1-17). In the Book of
Revelation, John is shown a vision of 144,000 martyrs who have survived and did not submit to
Satan. This number is derived from the assertion that the twelve tribes of Israel consisted of
12,000 people each.

Groups not only use the Bible to interpret the endtimes, but use it to justify their ideology.
Phineas Priests, an amorphous group of Christian Identity adherents, base their entire ideology on
Chapter 25 of the Book of Numbers. The passage depicts a scene where Phineas kills an Israelite
who was having relations with a Midianite woman and God then granted Phineas and all of his
descendants a pledge of everlasting priesthood. Modern day followers of the Phineas Priest
ideology believe themselves to be the linear descendants of Phineas and this passage gives them
biblical justification to punish those who transgress God?s laws. Therefore, the group is ardently
opposed to race mixing and strongly believes in racial separation. The number 25 is often used as
a symbol of the group.

Apocalyptic Religious Beliefs

To understand the mind set of why religious extremists would actively seek to engage in
violent confrontations with law enforcement, the most common extremist ideologies must be
understood. Under these ideologies, many extremists view themselves as religious martyrs who
have a duty to initiate or take part in the coming battles against Satan. Domestic terrorist groups
who place religious significance on the millennium believe the federal government will act as an
arm of Satan in the final battle. By extension, the FBI is viewed as acting on Satan?s behalf.
The philosophy behind targeting the federal government or entities perceived to be
associated with it is succinctly described by Kerry Noble, a former right-wing extremist. He says
the right-wing "envision[s] a dark and gloomy endtime scenario, where some Antichrist makes
war against Christians." (Kerry Noble, Tabernacle of Hate: Why they Bombed Oklahoma City
[Prescott, Ontario, Canada: Voyageur Publishing, 1998].)

The House of Yahweh, a Texas based religious group whose leaders
are former members of the tax protesting Posse Comitatus, is typical: Hawkins (the leader) has
interpreted biblical scripture that the Israeli Peace Accord signed on October 13, 1993, has started
a 7-year period of tribulation which will end on October 14, 2000, with the return of the Yeshua, the Messiah
(Robert Draper, "Happy Doomsday," Texas Monthly, July 1997, p.74; Evan Moore, "A House Divided: Tensions
divide Abilene-area cult," The Houston Chronicle, March 24, 1996. ). He also has interpreted that the FBI
will be the downfall of the House of Yahweh and that the Waco Branch Davidian raids in 1993 were a warning to
The House of Yahweh from the federal government, which he terms "the beast." (Evan Moore, "A House
Divided: Tensions divide Abilene-area cult," The Houston Chronicle, March 24, 1996.) Similarly, Richard
Butler, leader of the white supremacist group Aryan Nations, said the following when asked what might
have motivated the day care shooting by Buford O. Furrow, Jr., one of his group's followers:
"There's a war against the white race. There's a war of extermination against the white male."
(John K. Wiley, "Profile of attack suspect is familiar and frightening," The Miami Herald,
August 12, 1999.)

The New World Order Conspiracy Theory and the Year 2000 Computer Bug

Unlike religiously based terrorists, militia anxiety and paranoia specifically relating to the
year 2000 are based mainly on a political ideology. Some militia members read significance into
2000 as it relates to their conception of the NWO conspiracy. (Use of this term within militia
circles became more common after President Bush starting using it to refer to the
state of world affairs after the collapse of the USSR at the end of the Cold
War and in the context of using international organizations to assist in governing international
relations. The term One World Government is also used as a synonym for the New World Order.)

The NWO conspiracy theory holds that the United Nations (UN) will lead a military coup against
the nations of the world to form a socialist or One World Government. UN troops, consisting mostly of
foreign armies, will commence a military takeover of America. The UN will mainly use foreign troops
on American soil because foreigners will have fewer reservations about killing American citizens. U.S.
armed forces will not attempt to stop this invasion by UN troops and, in fact, the U.S. military may be
"deputized" as a branch of the UN armed forces. The American military contingent overseas will
also play a large part in this elaborate conspiracy theory, as they will be used to help conquer the
rest of the world. The rationale for this part of the theory is that American soldiers will also have
less qualms about killing foreigners, as opposed to killing their own citizens.

Under this hypothetical NWO/One World Government, the following events are to take
place: 1) private property rights and private gun ownership will be abolished; 2) all national, state
and local elections will become meaningless, since they will be controlled by the UN; 3) the U.S.
Constitution will be supplanted by the UN charter; 4) only approved churches and other places of
worship will be permitted to operate and will become appendages of the One World Religion,
which will be the only legitimate doctrine of religious beliefs and ethical values; 5) home schooling
will be outlawed and all school curriculum will need to be approved by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and 6) American military bases and
other federal facilities will be used as concentration camps by the UN to confine those patriots,
including the militias, who defy the NWO. Other groups beside the UN that are often mentioned
as being part of the NWO conspiracy theory are Jews, Communists, the Council on Foreign
Relations, the Bilderbergers and the Trilateral Commission. Law enforcement officials will
probably notice different versions of this theory, depending upon the source.

The NWO conspiracy theory is particularly relevant to the millennium because the year
2000 is considered to be a triggering device for the NWO due to the element of computer
breakdown. Many computers around the world are based on a numerical system in which the
year is only registered by the last two digits. A number of militia members accept the theory that
on January 1, 2000, many computers will misinterpret this date as January 1, 1900, and
malfunction and/or shut down completely. They further believe that these major computer
malfunctions will cause widespread chaos at all levels of society- economic, social and political.
This chaos will theoretically create a situation in which American civilization will collapse, which
will then produce an environment that the UN will exploit to forcibly take over the United States.
Therefore, these militia members (as well as other groups) believe that the year 2000 will be the
catalyst for the NWO.

According to James Wickstrom, former leader of the defunct Posse Comitatus and
"Minister" of the True Church of Israel, anyone who holds any powerful political influence knows
that the Y2K crisis may be the final fuse that will lead to the NWO that "David Rockefeller and
the rest of his satanic jew seedline desire to usher in upon the earth." (James P. Wickstrom,
"Intelligence Update," October 1998, accessed at www.posse~comitatus.org. ) He claims that
Jews have conspired to create the Y2K problem and that the prospect of impending computer failure is
very real. Similarly, The New American, an organ of the ultraconservative John Birch Society,
speculates that the Y2K bug could be America?s Reichstag fire, a reference to the 1933 arson
attack on Germany?s Parliament building that was used by Hitler as an excuse to enact police state
laws. Similar to this train of thought, Norm Olson, leader of the Northern Michigan Regional
Militia, believes constitutional rights probably will be suspended before the real crisis hits. He
states: "It will be the worst time for humanity since the Noahic flood."
(See Fall 1998 edition of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report,
"Millennium Y2KAOS.")

However, there are some extremists who do not attach any major significance to the Y2K
problem. In his article, "The Millennium Bug and ?Mainstreaming? the News," William Pierce of
the National Alliance tells his followers not to worry, or at least, not to worry very much about
the Y2K issue. Pierce predicts that the main event that will occur on New Year?s Day 2000 is
that crazed millennialists will go "berserk when the Second Coming fails to occur." Also, "a few
right-wing nuts may launch a premature attack on the government, figuring that without its
computers the government won?t be able to fight back." Pierce claims that the lights will remain
on, and that airplanes will not fall from the sky. He says that he is able to make such a prediction
with some degree of confidence because, "contrary to what some cranks would have you believe,
the computer professionals and the government have been working on the Y2K problem for some
time." (William Pierce, "The Millennium Bug and 'Mainstreaming' the News," accessed at
www.natvan.com. )

Gun Control Laws

The passage of the Brady Bill and assault weapons ban in 1994 were interpreted by those
in the militia movement and among the right-wing as the first steps towards disarming citizens in
preparation for the UN-led NWO takeover. Some are convinced that the registration of gun
owners is in preparation for a confiscation of firearms and eventually the arrest of the gun owners
themselves. An article by Larry Pratt, Executive Director for Gun Owners of America, interprets
a 1995 UN study of small arms, done reportedly in cooperation with U.S. police, customs and
military services, as part of the UN?s plan to take over the U.S. Pratt goes on to say that the "UN
is increasingly assuming the jurisdictional authority of a federal world government with the U.S.
as just one of scores of member states. And gun control?meaning civilian disarmament?is
high up on the agenda of the UN."(Larry Pratt, "The United Nations: Pressing for U.S. Gun
Control," accessed at www.gunowners.org ) Speculation like this only serves to fuel the already
existing paranoia of militia and patriot groups.

The right-wing believes that many of the restrictions being placed on the ownership of
firearms today mirror events in The Turner Diaries. In his book, Pierce writes about the United
States government banning the private possession of firearms and staging gun raids in an effort to
arrest gun owners. The book discusses the government/police use of black men, assigned as
"special deputies" to carry out the gun raids. Many members of the right-wing movement view
the book as prophetic, believing that it is only a matter of time before these events occur in real
life.

In the aftermath of the school shootings in Littleton, Colorado, President Clinton,
Congress, and Attorney General Reno acted swiftly to propose new laws aimed at restricting the
sales of guns to juveniles and to close loopholes in existing laws. In May 1999, the Senate passed
a bill to ban the importation of high capacity ammunition magazines and require background
checks for guns sold at gun shows. In light of the enormous importance and prominent role that
extremist groups place on the Second Amendment, it is probable that recent government actions
aimed at controlling guns are perceived to be compelling signs of the UN-led NWO takeover.

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III. CHRISTIAN IDENTITY

Christian Identity is an ideology which asserts that the white Aryan race is God?s chosen
race and that whites comprise the ten lost tribes of Israel. (There were 12 tribes of Israel but
they were divided into two different kingdoms after the death of King Solomon.
The northern kingdom was called "Israel" and consisted of ten tribes and the southern
kingdom was called "Judah" and was comprised of two tribes. There is a record of the
two tribes making up the southern kingdom, but the ten northern tribes were "lost" after they
were conquered around 722 BC by the Assyrians.) There is no single document that
expresses this belief system. Adherents refer to the Bible to justify their racist ideals. Interpreting
the Book of Genesis, Christian Identity followers assert that Adam was preceded by other, lesser
races, identified as "the beasts of the field" (Gen. 1:25). Eve was seduced by the snake (Satan)
and gave birth to two seed lines: Cain, the direct descendent of Satan and Eve, and Able, who
was of good Aryan stock through Adam. Cain then became the progenitor of the Jews in his
subsequent matings with the non-Adamic races. Christian Identity adherents believe the Jews are
predisposed to carry on a conspiracy against the Adamic seed line and today have achieved almost
complete control of the earth (Jeffrey Kaplan, Radical Religion in America (Syracuse, N.Y.:
Syracuse University Press, 1997), p. 47-48.). This is referred to as the two-seedline doctrine,
which provides Christian Identity followers with a biblical justification for hatred.

The roots of the Christian Identity movement can be traced back to British-Israelism, the
conviction that the British are the lineal descendants of the "ten lost tribes" of Israel. It is a belief
that existed for some time before it became a movement in the second half of the 19^th century.
The writings of John Wilson helped to extend the idea of British-Israelism to Anglo-Israelism,
which included other Teutonic peoples?mostly northern European peoples from Germany, Italy,
France and Switzerland. British-Israelism was brought to America in the early part of the 1920s,
where it remained decentralized until the 1930s. At that time, the movement underwent the final
transformation to become what we know as Christian Identity, at which time its ties to the
original English movement were cut and it became distinctly American.

Wesley Swift is considered the single most significant figure in the early years of the
Christian Identity movement in the United States. He popularized it in the right-wing by
"combining British-Israelism, a demonic anti-Semitism, and political extremism." (Michael Barkun,
Religion and the Racist Right [Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1997],
p. 60.) He founded his own church in California in the mid 1940s where he could preach this ideology.
In addition, he had a daily radio broadcast in California during the 1950s and 60s, through which he was
able to proclaim his ideology to a large audience. With Swift?s efforts, the message of his church
spread, leading to the creation of similar churches throughout the country. In 1957, the name of
his church was changed to The Church of Jesus Christ Christian, which is used today by Aryan
Nations (AN) churches.

One of Swift?s associates, William Potter Gale, was far more militant than Swift and
brought a new element to Christian Identity churches. He became a leading figure in the anti-tax
and paramilitary movements of the 1970s and 80s. There are numerous Christian Identity
churches that preach similar messages and some espouse more violent rhetoric than others, but all
hold fast to the belief that Aryans are God?s chosen race.

Christian Identity also believes in the inevitability of the end of the world and the Second
Coming of Christ. It is believed that these events are part of a cleansing process that is needed
before Christ?s kingdom can be established on earth. During this time, Jews and their allies will
attempt to destroy the white race using any means available. The result will be a violent and
bloody struggle?a war, in effect?between God?s forces, the white race, and the forces of evil,
the Jews and nonwhites. Significantly, many adherents believe that this will be tied into the
coming of the new millennium.

The view of what Armageddon will be varies among Christian Identity believers. Some
contend there will be a race war in which millions will die; others believe that the United Nations,
backed by Jewish representatives of the anti-Christ, will take over the country and promote a New
World Order. One Christian Identity interpretation is that white Christians have been chosen to
watch for signs of the impending war in order to warn others. They are to then physically
struggle with the forces of evil against sin and other violations of God?s law (i.e., race-mixing and
internationalism); many will perish, and some of God?s chosen will be forced to wear the Mark of
the Beast to participate in business and commerce. After the final battle is ended and God?s
kingdom is established on earth, only then will the Aryan people be recognized as the one and true
Israel.

Christian Identity adherents believe that God will use his chosen race as his weapons to
battle the forces of evil. Christian Identity followers believe they are among those chosen by God
to wage this battle during Armageddon and they will be the last line of defense for the white race
and Christian America. To prepare for these events, they engage in survivalist and paramilitary
training, storing foodstuffs and supplies, and caching weapons and ammunition. They often reside
on compounds located in remote areas.

As the millennium approaches, various right-wing groups pose a threat to American
society. The radical right encompasses a vast number and variety of groups, such as survivalists,
militias, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, Christian Identity churches, the AN and skinheads. These
groups are not mutually exclusive and within the subculture individuals easily migrate from one
group to another. This intermixing of organizations makes it difficult to discern a singular
religious ideology or belief system that encompasses the right-wing.

Nevertheless, Christian Identity is the most unifying theology for a number of these
diverse groups and one widely adhered to by white supremacists. It is a belief system that
provides its members with a religious basis for racism and an ideology that condones violence
against non-Aryans. This doctrine allows believers to fuse religion with hate, conspiracy theories,
and apocalyptic fear of the future. Christian Identity-inspired millennialism has a distinctly racist
tinge in the belief that Armageddon will be a race war of Aryans against Jews and nonwhites. The
potential difficulty society may face due to the Y2K computer glitch is considered by a number of
Christian Identity adherents to be the perfect event upon which to instigate a race war.

There are a number of issues concerning the Christian Identity belief system that create
problems when determining the threat level of groups. First, Christian Identity does not have a
national organizational structure. Rather, it is a grouping of churches throughout the country
which follows its basic ideology. Some of these churches can be as small as a dozen people, and
some as large as the AN church, which claims membership in the thousands. In addition, some
groups take the belief to a higher extreme and believe violence is the means to achieve their goal.
This lack of structure creates a greater potential for violent actions by lone offenders and/or
leaderless cells. It is important to note that only a small percentage of Christian Identity adherents
believe that the new millennium will bring about a race war. However, those that do have a high
propensity for violence.

Secondly, there are many factions of the right-wing, from Christian Identity to militias, all
of which are intermingled in ideology and members. In some cases it is easy for a person to be a
member of more than one group or to move from one to another. Often, if a member of one
group believes the group is lax in its convictions, he or she will gravitate to a group that is more
radical.

The third concern is the increased level of cooperation between the different groups. This
trend can be seen throughout the right-wing. Christian Identity followers are pairing up with
militias to receive paramilitary training and have also joined with members of the Ku Klux Klan
and other right-wing groups. This cohesiveness creates an environment in which ideology can
easily spread and branch out. However, it makes the job of law enforcement much more difficult
as there are no distinctive borders between groups or ideology.

Lastly, the formation of splinter groups or state chapters from larger organizations
presents an increased level of threat due to the likelihood that the leader has diminished control
over the members and actions of the smaller groups. The AN is a large group that adheres to the
Christian Identity belief system. The group espouses hatred toward Jews, the federal government,
blacks and other minorities. The ultimate goal of the AN is to forcibly take five northwestern
states?Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington and Montana?from the United States
government in order to establish an Aryan homeland. It consists of a headquarters in Hayden
Lake, Idaho, and a number of state chapters, which often act as their own entities. While the
leader may not support or encourage acts of violence, it is easy for small cells of members or
splinter groups to take part in violent acts without the knowledge of the leader. The individuals
are associated with the group as a whole and carry the name of the group, but may perpetrate acts
on their own.

These factors make a threat assessment concerning millennial violence difficult to
determine. There is a moderate possibility of small factions of right-wing groups, whether they be
members of the same group, or members of different groups, acting in an overtly violent manner
in order to initiate the Apocalypse.

Several problems associated with the assessment for violence can be seen when looking at
the structure and actions of the AN. The AN has been headquartered at Hayden Lake since the
late 1970s and remains a focal point for the group?s activities. Its annual World Congress attracts
a number of different factions from the right-wing, including members and leaders of various
right-wing groups. The World Congress is often viewed as a sort of round table to discuss right-wing
issues. These meetings have led to an increased level of contact between AN members and
members and leaders of other groups. This degree of networking within the right-wing may
further the AN?s base of support and help advance its cause.

One of the greatest threats posed by the right-wing in terms of millennial violence is the
formation of a conglomeration of individuals that will work together to commit criminal acts.
This has happened with some frequency in the past. Bob Mathews formed a subgroup of the AN,
called The Order, which committed a number of violent crimes, including murder. Their mission
was to bring about a race war and there are several groups that currently exist which hold these
same beliefs. Dennis McGiffen, who also had ties to the AN, formed a cell called The New
Order, based on Mathews' group. The members were arrested before they could follow through
on their plans to try to start a race war. Chevie Kehoe, who was convicted of three homicides,
conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property also spent some time at the AN
compound. Most recently, Buford O. Furrow, Jr., the man accused of the August 10, 1999,
shooting at the Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, California, also spent some time at the
AN compound working as a security guard.

A relatively new tenet gaining popularity among Christian Identity believers justifies the
use of violence if it is perpetrated in order to punish violators of God?s law, as found in the Bible
and interpreted by Christian Identity ministers and adherents. This includes killing interracial
couples, abortionists, prostitutes and homosexuals, burning pornography stores, and robbing
banks and perpetrating frauds to undermine the "usury system." Christian Identity adherents
engaging in such behavior are referred to as Phineas Priests or members of the Phineas
Priesthood. This is a very appealing concept to Christian Identity?s extremist members who
believe they are being persecuted by the Jewish-controlled U.S. government and society and/or
are eagerly preparing for Armageddon. Among adherents today, the Phineas Priesthood is viewed
as a call to action or a badge of honor.

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IV. WHITE SUPREMACY

There are a number of white supremacy groups that do not necessarily adhere to Christian
Identity or other religious doctrines. White supremacy groups such as the National Alliance, the
American Nazi Party and the National Socialist White People?s Party are largely politically, rather
than religiously, motivated.

The National Alliance is probably best known for its leader, William Pierce, who is one of
the most recognized names in the radical right. Pierce wrote The Turner Diaries and Hunter and
hosts a weekly radio program, American Dissident Voices. Via these outlets, Pierce is able to
provide his followers with an ideological and practical framework for committing violent acts.
The rhetoric of these groups largely shadows that of Adolf Hitler?s in content and political
ideology. In 1997, Pierce stated that:

Ultimately we must separate ourselves from the Blacks and other non-whites
and keep ourselves separate, no matter what it takes to accomplish
this. We must do this not because we hate Blacks, but because we cannot
survive if we remain mixed with them. And we cannot survive if we permit
the Jews and the traitors among us to remain among us and to repeat their
treachery. Eventually we must hunt them down and get rid of them.
(Anti-Defamation League, Explosion of Hate, p 15.)

The end goal of National Socialist and Christian Identity devotees is the same: an all
white nation. However, Christian Identity followers appear to be more of a threat concerning the
millennium because of their religious beliefs.

There are also white supremacist groups which adhere to the general supremacist
ideology, but are not political or religious in nature. For example, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
proposes racial segregation that is not generally based on religious ideals. The KKK is one of the
most recognized white supremacist groups in the United States. Its history is expansive and its
actions of cross burnings and rhetoric of hate are well known. There is currently not a singular
KKK group with a hierarchical structure, but many different KKK groups with a common
ideology.

The KKK, as a whole, does not pose a significant threat with regard to the millennium.
That is not to say that a member of the KKK will not act on his own or in concert with members
of another group. Law enforcement has been very successful in infiltrating a number of these
groups, thereby keeping abreast of their plans for action. The KKK also draws the attention of
many watchdog groups, and the Southern Poverty Law Center produces a quarterly publication
entitled "Klanwatch." It would be difficult for any of the known KKK groups to participate in
millennial violence without law enforcement knowing.

Again, there is a great deal of movement that is possible throughout the right-wing,
regardless of prior beliefs. If a member of a Christian Identity faction does not feel that his
current group is taking enough violent action, it is possible for that member to move on to other
ideologies or organizations such as Odinism, the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC) or the
National Socialist movement. Because of this movement, it is also likely that communication
exists between various factions of the right-wing, from religious groups to skinheads. Their end
goals are similar.

The WCOTC presents a recent example of violence perpetrated by a white supremacist in
order to bring about a race war. The major creed upon which Ben Klassen founded the religion is
that one's race is his religion. Aside from this central belief, its ideology is similar to many
Christian Identity groups in the conviction that there is a Jewish conspiracy in control of the
federal government, international banking, and the media. They also dictate that RAHOWA, a
racial holy war, is destined to ensue to rid the world of Jews and "mud races." In the early 1990s,
there was a dramatic increase in membership due to the growing belief in the Apocalypse and that
RAHOWA was imminent.

In 1996, Matt Hale, who has come upon recent fame by being denied a license to practice
law in Illinois, was appointed the new leader of the Church of the Creator. Hale made a number
of changes to the group, including changing the name of the organization to the World Church of
the Creator, giving it the feel of a widespread movement.

As publicly reported, there is information to indicate that the WCOTC has violent plans
for the millennium. Officials who searched Benjamin Smith's apartment, the man who went on a
racially motivated killing spree over the 4^th of July weekend, found a loose-leaf binder of
handwritings. These writings described a holy war among the races and included a reference to
the new millennium. Passages included plans of how white supremacists would shoot at non-whites
from motor vehicles after the dawning of the new millennium ("U.S. Mulls Church Probe; Ties
To Killings Investigated," Chicago Tribune, July 9, 1999.). While the group?s rhetoric
does include the belief in a race war and the creation of an all white bastion within the United
States, other than Smith's writings, there is no indication that it is linked to the millennium.
In addition, there have been recent incidents that have demonstrated the willingness of
members to take part in violent action. WCOTC members in Southern Florida are thought to be
tied to several racially motivated beatings. Within the last year, four Florida members were
convicted for the pistol-whipping and robbery of a Jewish video store owner. They were
supposedly trying to raise money for "the revolution." ("Behind the Hate," The Washington Post,
July 6, 1999.)

Finally, Odinism is another white supremacist ideology that lends itself to violence and has
the potential to inspire its followers to violence in connection to the millennium. What makes
Odinists dangerous is the fact that many believe in the necessity of becoming martyrs for their
cause. For example, Bob Mathews, the leader of The Order, died in a fiery confrontation with
law enforcement. Also, William King relished the fact that he would receive the death penalty for
his act of dragging James Byrd, Jr. to his death. Odinism has little to do with Christian Identity
but there is one key similarity: Odinism provides dualism?as does Christian Identity?with
regard to the universe being made up of worlds of light (white people) and worlds of dark (non-white
people). The most fundamental difference between the two ideologies is that Odinists do
not believe in Jesus Christ. However, there are enough similarities between the myths and legends
of Odinism and the beliefs of Christian Identity to make a smooth transition from Christian
Identity to Odinism for those racist individuals whose penchant for violence is not being satisfied.

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V. MILITIAS

The majority of growth within the militia movement occurred during the 1990s. There is
not a simple definition of how a group qualifies as a militia. However, the following general
criteria can be used as a guideline: (1) a militia is a domestic organization with two or more
members; (2) the organization must possess and use firearms; and (3) the organization must
conduct or encourage paramilitary training. Other terms used to describe militias are Patriots and
Minutemen.

Most militias engage in a variety of anti-government rhetoric. This discourse can range
from the protesting of government policies to the advocating of violence and/or the overthrow of
the federal government. However, the majority of militia groups are non-violent and only a small
segment of the militias actually commit acts of violence to advance their political goals and
beliefs. A number of militia leaders, such as Lynn Van Huizen of the Michigan Militia Corps -Wolverines,
have gone to some effort to actively rid their ranks of radical members who are
inclined to carry out acts of violence and/or terrorism (Van Huizen lost re-election as
commander of the MMCW in late 1997 to the more radical Joe Pilchak. ). Officials at the
FBI Academy classify militia groups within four categories, ranging from moderate groups who do
not engage in criminal activity to radical cells which commit violent acts of terrorism
(See "Militias- Initiating Contact," FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, July 1997, pp. 22-26.).
It should be clearly stated that the FBI only focuses on radical elements of the militia movement capable
and willing to commit violence against government, law enforcement, civilian, military and international
targets. In addition, any such investigation of these radical militia units must be conducted within
strict legal parameters.

Militia anxiety and paranoia specifically relating to the year 2000 are based mainly on a
political ideology, as opposed to religious beliefs. Many militia members believe that the year
2000 will lead to political and personal repression enforced by the United Nations and
countenanced by a compliant U.S. government. This belief is commonly known as the New
World Order (NWO) conspiracy theory (see Chapter I, Introduction). Other issues which have
served as motivating factors for the militia movement include gun control, the incidents at Ruby
Ridge (1992) and Waco (1993), the Montana Freemen Standoff (1996) and the restriction of land
use by federal agencies.

One component of the NWO conspiracy theory?that of the use of American military
bases by the UN?is worth exploring in further detail. Law enforcement officers, as well as
military personnel, should be aware that the nation's armed forces have been the subject of a great
deal of rumor and paranoia circulating among many militia groups. One can find numerous
references in militia literature to military bases to be used as concentration camps in the NWO and
visiting foreign military personnel conspiring to attack Americans. One example of this can be
found on the website for the militia group United States Theatre Command, USTC (Accessed at
www.eagleflt.com.) . The USTC website prominently features the NWO theory as it portrays both
Camp Grayling in Michigan and Fort Dix in New Jersey as detention centers to be used to house prisoners
in an upcoming war. Specifically in reference to a photograph of Camp Grayling, the USTC website
states: "Note that the barbed wire is configured to keep people in, not out, and also note in the
middle of the guard towers, a platform for the mounting of a machine gun." Specifically in
reference to a photograph of Fort Dix, the USTC website states: "Actual photos of an 'Enemy
Prisoner of War' camp in the United States of America! (Fort Dix, New Jersey to be exact!) Is
there going to be a war here? Many more are suspected to be scattered throughout the United
States."

Law enforcement personnel should be aware of the fact that the majority of militias are
reactive, as opposed to proactive. Reactive militia groups are generally not a threat to law
enforcement or the public. These militias may indeed believe that some type of NWO scenario
may be imminent in the year 2000, but they are more inclined to sit back and wait for it to happen.
They will stockpile their guns and ammunition and food, and wait for the government to curtail
their liberties and take away their guns. When the expected NWO tragedy does not take place,
these reactive militias will simply continue their current activities, most of which are relatively
harmless. They will not overreact to minor disruptions of electricity, water and other public
services.
However, there is a small percentage of the militia movement which may be more
proactive and commit acts of domestic terrorism. As stated earlier, the main focus of the militias
connected to the Y2K/millennium revolves around the NWO conspiracy theory. While the NWO
is a paranoid theory, there may be some real technological problems arising from the year 2000.
Among these are malfunctioning computers, which control so many facets of our everyday lives.
Any such computer malfunctions may adversely affect power stations and other critical
infrastructure. If such breakdowns do occur, these may be interpreted as a sign by some of the
militias that electricity is being shut off on purpose in order to create an environment of confusion.
In the paranoid rationalizations of these militia groups, this atmosphere of confusion can only be a
prelude to the dreaded NWO/One World Government. These groups may then follow through on
their premeditated plans of action.

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VI. BLACK HEBREW ISRAELITES

As the millennium approaches, radical fringe members of the Black Hebrew Israelite
(BHI) movement may pose a challenge for law enforcement. As with the adherents of most
apocalyptic philosophies, certain segments of the BHI movement have the potential to engage in
violence at the turn of the century. This movement has been associated with extreme acts of
violence in the recent past, and current intelligence from a variety of sources indicates that
extreme factions of BHI groups are preparing for a race war to close the millennium.

Violent BHI followers can generally be described as proponents of an extreme form of
black supremacy. Drawing upon the teachings of earlier BHI adherents, such groups hold that
blacks represent God?s true "chosen people," while condemning whites as incarnate
manifestations of evil. As God?s "authentic" Jews, BHI adherents believe that mainstream Jews
are actually imposters. Such beliefs bear a striking resemblance to the Christian Identity theology
practiced by many white supremacists. In fact, Tom Metzger, renowned white supremacist, once
remarked, "They?re the black counterpart of us." (See Fall 1997 edition of the Southern Poverty
Law Center?s Intelligence Report, "Rough Waters: Stream of Knowledge Probed by Officials.")
Like their Christian Identity counterparts, militant BHI followers tend to see themselves as divinely
endowed by God with superior status. As a result, some followers of this belief system hold that violence,
including murder, is justifiable in the eyes of God, provided that it helps to rid the world of evil. Violent
BHI groups are of particular concern as the millennium approaches because they believe in the
inevitability of a racewar between blacks and whites.

The extreme elements of the BHI movement are prone to engage in violent activity. As
seen in previous convictions of BHI followers, adherents of this philosophy have a proven history
of violence, and several indications point toward a continuation of this trend. Some BHI
followers have been observed in public donning primarily black clothing, with emblems and/or
patches bearing the "Star of David" symbol. Some BHI members practice paramilitary operations
and wear web belts and shoulder holsters. Some adherents have extensive criminal records for a
variety of violations, including weapons charges, assault, drug trafficking, and fraud.

In law enforcement circles, BHI groups are typically associated with violence and criminal
activity, largely as a result of the movement?s popularization by Yahweh Ben Yahweh, formerly
known as Hulon Mitchell, Jr., and the Miami-based Nation of Yahweh (NOY). In reality, the
origins of the BHI movement are non-violent. While the BHI belief system may have roots in the
United States as far back as the Civil War era, the movement became more recognized as a result
of the teachings of an individual known as Ben Ami Ben Israel, a.k.a Ben Carter, from the south
side of Chicago. Ben Israel claims to have had a vision at the age of 27, hearing "a voice tell me
that the time had come for Africans in America, the descendants of the Biblical Israelites, to
return to the land of our forefathers." (Linda Jones. "Claiming a Promised Land: African-American
settlers in Israel are guided by idea of independent Black Hebrew Society," The Dallas Morning
News, July 27, 1997.) Ben Israel persuaded a group of African-Americans to
accompany him to Israel in 1967, teaching that African-Americans descended from the biblical
tribe of Judah and, therefore, that Israel is the land of their birthright. Ben Israel and his followers
initially settled in Liberia for the purposes of cleansing themselves of bad habits. In 1969, a small
group of BHI followers left Liberia for Israel, with Ben Israel and the remaining original migrants
arriving in Israel the following year. Public source estimates of the BHI community in Israel
number between 1500 and 3000 (Ibid.). Despite promoting non-violence, members of Ben Israel's
movement have shown a willingness to engage in criminal activity. For example, in 1986, Ben
Israel and his top aide, Prince Asiel Ben Israel, were convicted of trafficking stolen passports and
securities and forging checks and savings bonds (See Fall 1997 Southern Poverty Law Center's
Intelligence Report, "Rough Waters: Stream of Knowledge Probed by Officials.").

BHI in Israel are generally peaceful, if somewhat controversial. The FBI has no
information to indicate that Ben Israel?s BHI community in Israel is planning any activity -
terrorist, criminal, or otherwise - inspired by the coming millennium. Ben Israel?s claims to
legitimate Judaism have at times caused consternation to the Israeli government. BHI adherents
in Israel have apparently espoused anti-Semitic remarks, labeling Israeli Jews as "imposters." (Jones, Dallas
Morning News, July 27, 1997.) Neither the Israeli government nor the Orthodox rabbinate
recognize the legitimacy of BHI claims to Judaism. According to Jewish law, an individual
can be recognized as Jewish if he/she was born to a Jewish mother or if the individual
agrees to convert to Judaism (Ibid.). At present, BHI in Israel have legal status as temporary
residents, which gives them the right to work and live in Israel, but not to vote. They are not
considered to be Israeli citizens. While BHI claims to Judaism are disregarded by Israeli officials
and religious leaders, the BHI community is tolerated and appears to be peaceful (Ibid. In fact, in
the community of Dimona where the BHI community resides, the Dimona Police Chief spoke in
complimentary terms as to the group?s discipline, leadership, and integrity. ).

While the BHI community in Israel is peaceful, BHI adherents in the United States became
associated with violence thanks to the rise of the NOY, which reached the height of its popularity
in the 1980s. The NOY was founded in 1979 and led by Yahweh Ben Yahweh. Ben Yahweh?s
followers viewed him as the Messiah, and therefore demonstrated unrequited and unquestioned
obedience. Members of the organization engaged in numerous acts of violence in the 1980s,
including several homicides, following direct orders from Ben Yahweh. Seventeen NOY
members were indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami in 1990-91 on charges of RICO, RICO
conspiracy, and various racketeering acts. Various members were convicted on RICO conspiracy
charges and remain imprisoned.

While the overwhelming majority of BHI followers are unlikely to engage in violence,
there are elements of this movement with both the motivation and the capability to engage in
millennial violence. Some radical BHI adherents are clearly motivated by the conviction that the
approach of the year 2000 brings society ever closer to a violent confrontation between blacks
and whites. While the rhetoric professed by various BHI groups is fiery and threatening, there are
no indications of explicitly identified targets for violence, beyond a general condemnation and
demonization of whites and "imposter" Jews. Militant BHI groups tend to distrust the United
States government; however, there are no specific indications of imminent violence toward the
government.

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VII. APOCALYPTIC CULTS

For apocalyptic cults, especially biblically based ones, the millennium is viewed as the time
that will signal a major transformation for the world. Many apocalyptic cults share the belief that
the battle against Satan, as prophesied in the Book of Revelation, will begin in the years
surrounding the millennium and that the federal government is an arm of Satan. Therefore, the
millennium will bring about a battle between cult members --- religious martyrs --- and the
government.

In the broadest meaning, cults are composed of individuals who demonstrate "great
devotion to a person, idea, object or movement." (Frederick C. Mish, ed., Merriam
Webster?s Collegiate Dictionary 10 th Edition [Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster,
Incorporated, 1997], p. 282.) However, using that definition, many domestic
terrorist groups could be characterized as cults, including Christian Identity churches,
Black Hebrew Israelites, and some militias. For law enforcement purposes, a narrower
interpretation of groups that qualify as cults is needed. A more useful definition of cults
incorporates the term "cultic relationships" to describe the interactions within a cult
(Margaret Thaler Singer and Janja Lalich, Cults in Our Midst: The Hidden Menace in
Our Everyday Lives [San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1995], p. 7.).
Specifically, a cultic relationship refers to "one in which a person intentionally induces others to
become totally or nearly totally dependent on him or her for almost all major life decisions, and
inculcates in these followers a belief that he or she has some special talent, gift, or knowledge." (Singer
and Lalich, p. 7.) This definition of cults provides important distinctions that are vital for analyzing a cult?s
predilection towards violence.

The origin of the cult, the role of its leader, and its uniqueness provide a framework for
understanding what distinguishes cults from other domestic terrorist groups that otherwise share
many similar characteristics. These distinctions are: (1) cult leaders are self-appointed, persuasive
persons who claim to have a special mission in life or have special knowledge; (2) a cult?s ideas
and dogma claim to be innovative and exclusive; and (3) cult leaders focus their members? love,
devotion and allegiance on themselves (Singer and Lalich, pp.8-9. ). These characteristics culminate
in a group structure that is frequently highly authoritarian in structure. Such a structure is a sharp contrast to
the rapidly emerging trend among domestic terrorist groups towards a leaderless, non-authoritarian structure.

While predicting violence is extremely difficult and imprecise, there are certain
characteristics that make some cults more prone to violence. Law enforcement officials should be
aware of the following factors:

Sequestered Groups: Members of sequestered groups lose access to the outside world
and information preventing critical evaluation of the ideas being espoused by the leader.
Leader?s History: The fantasies, dreams, plans, and ideas of the leader are most likely to
become the beliefs of the followers because of the totalitarian and authoritarian nature of
cults.
Psychopaths: Control of a group by charismatic psychopaths or those with narcissistic
character disorders.
Changes in the Leader: Changes in a leader?s personality caused by traumatic events
such as death of a spouse or sickness.
Language of the Ideology: Groups that are violent use language in their ideology that
contains the seeds of violence.
Implied Directive for Violence: Most frequently, a leader's speeches, rhetoric, and language
does not explicitly call for violence, rather it is most often only implied.
Length of Time: The longer the leader?s behavior has gone unchecked against outside authority,
the less vulnerable the leader feels.
Who Is in the Inner Circle: Cults with violent tendencies often recruit people who are
either familiar with weapons or who have military backgrounds to serve as enforcers.

Apocalyptic cults see their mission in two general ways: They either want to accelerate
the end of time or take action to ensure that they survive the millennium. For example, Aum
Shinrikyo wanted to take action to hasten the end of the world, while compounds in general are
built to survive the endtime safely. An analysis of millennial cults by the FBI?s Behavioral Science
Unit describes how rhetoric changes depending on whether the leader?s ideology envisions the
group as playing an active role in the coming Apocalypse or a passive survivalist role:

A cult that predicts that "God will punish" or "evil will be punished" indicates
a more passive and less threatening posture than the cult that predicts that
"God?s chosen people will punish . . ." As another example, the members of a
passive group might predict that God or another being will one day liberate
their souls from their bodies or come to carry them away. The followers of a
more action-oriented group would, in contrast, predict that they themselves
will one day shed their mortal bodies or transport themselves to another
place (Carl J. Jensen, III, Rod Gregg and Adam Szubin, "When a Cult
Comes to Town," accessed from Law Enforcement Online.).

A cult that displays these characteristics may then produce three social-psychological
components, referred to as the "Lethal Triad," that predispose a cult towards violence aimed at its
members and/or outsiders (Kevin M. Gilmartin, "The Lethal Triad: Understanding the Nature
of Isolated Extremist Groups," accessed at www.leo.gov/tlib/leb/1996/sept961/txt.) . Cults in
which members are heavily dependent on the leader for all decision making almost always physically
and psychologically isolate their members from outsiders, the first component of the triad (Carl J. Jensen,
III and Yvonne Hsieh, "Law Enforcement and the Millennialist Vision: A Behavioral Approach,"
accessed from Law Enforcement Online.). The other two components interact in the following
way:

"... isolation causes a reduction of critical thinking on the part of group
members who become entrenched in the belief proposed by the group
leadership. As a result, group members relinquish all responsibility for group
decision making to their leader and blame the cause of all group grievances on
some outside entity or force, a process known as projection. Finally, isolation
and projection combine to produce pathological anger, the final component of
the triad." (Ibid.)

Of the nearly 1000 cults operating in the United States, very few present credible threats
for millennial violence. Law enforcement officials should concentrate on those cults that advocate
force or violence to achieve their goals concerning the endtime, as well as those cults which
possess a substantial number of the distinguishing traits listed above.

(B.A. Robinson in "Factors Commonly Found in Doomsday Cults," ( www.religioustolerance.org/cultsign.htm. )
identifies traits that provide a framework for analyzing cults. They include the following: (1) The leader preaches end of the world/Armageddon in 2000 or within a reasonable time frame before and after 2000; (2) the cult expects to play a major, elite role at the end time; (3) the cult has large numbers of firearms, explosives or weapons of mass destruction; (4) the cult has prepared defensive structures; (5) the cult speaks of offensive action; (4) the cult is led by a single male charismatic leader; (5) the leader dominates the membership through physical, sexual and emotional control; (6) the cult is not an established denomination; (7) cult members live together in a community isolated from society; (8) extreme paranoia exists within the cult concerning monitoring by outsiders and government persecution; (9) and outsiders are distrusted, and disliked. These factors are designed to leave out cults that have unique end-time beliefs, but whose ideology does not include the advocacy of force or violence.)

In particular, cults of greatest concern to law enforcement are those that: (1) believe they play a special,
elite role in the endtime; (2) believe violent offensive action is needed to fulfill their endtime prophecy; (3) take
steps to attain their beliefs. Those factors may culminate in plans to initiate conflict with outsiders
or law enforcement.

The violent tendencies of dangerous cults can be classified into two general categories--
defensive violence and offensive violence. Defensive violence is utilized by cults to defend a
compound or enclave that was created specifically to eliminate most contact with the dominant
culture (Jeffrey Kaplan, Radical Religion in America, p.57.). The 1993 clash in Waco, Texas
at the Branch Davidian complex is an illustration of such defensive violence. History has
shown that groups that seek to withdraw from the dominant culture seldom act on their beliefs
that the endtime has come unless provoked (Ibid., p.165.).

Cults with an apocalyptic agenda, particularly those that appear ready to initiate rather
than anticipate violent confrontations to bring about Armageddon or fulfill "prophesy" present
unique challenges to law enforcement officials. One example of this type of group is the
Concerned Christians (CC). Monte Kim Miller, the CC leader, claims to be one of the two
witnesses or prophets described in the Book of Revelation who will die on the streets of
Jerusalem prior to the second coming of Christ. To attain that result, members of the CC traveled
to Israel in 1998 in the belief that Miller will be killed in a violent confrontation in the streets of
Jerusalem in December 1999. CC members believe that Miller's death will set off an apocalyptic
end to the millennium, at which time all of Miller's followers will be sent to Heaven. Miller has
convinced his followers that America is "Babylon the Great" referred to in the Book of
Revelation. In early October 1998, CC members suddenly vanished from the United States, an
apparent response to one of Miller?s "prophesies" that Denver would be destroyed on October 10,
1998. In January 1999, fourteen members of the group who had moved to Jerusalem were
deported by the Israeli government on the grounds that they were preparing to hasten the
fulfillment of Miller?s prophecies by instigating violence (Lisa Beyer, "Target: Jerusalem,"
Time Magazine, January 18, 1999.).

Ascertaining the intentions of such cults is a daunting endeavor, particularly since the
agenda or plan of a cult is often at the whim of its leader. Law enforcement personnel should
become well acquainted with the previously mentioned indicators of potential cult violence in
order to separate the violent from the non-violent.

TOP

VIII. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JERUSALEM

The city of Jerusalem, cherished by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, faces many
serious challenges as the year 2000 approaches. As already evidenced by the deportation of
various members of the religious cult known as the Concerned Christians, zealotry from all three
major monotheistic religions is particularly acute in Israel, where holy shrines, temples, churches,
and mosques are located. While events surrounding the millennium in Jerusalem are much more
problematic for the Israeli government than for the United States, the potential for violent acts in
Jerusalem will cause reverberations around the world, including the United States. The extreme
terrorist fringes of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all present in the United States. Thus,
millennial violence in Jerusalem could conceivably lead to violence in the United States as well.

Within Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, or Haram al-Sharif, holds a special significance for
both Muslims and Jews (Arabs refer to this site as Haram al-Sharif, which is Arabic for
"Noble Sanctuary." Israelis refer to it as Har HaBayit, which is Hebrew for "Temple Mount."
American news organizations almost always refer to it as the Temple Mount. Therefore,
for the sake of simplicity and continuity, the term Temple Mount will be used in this report when
referring to this section of Jerusalem.). The Temple Mount houses the third holiest of all Islamic sites, the
Dome of the Rock. Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven from a slab
of stone?the "Rock of Foundation"?located in the center of what is now the Dome of the
Rock. In addition, when Arab armies conquered Jerusalem in 638 A.D., the Caliph Omar built the
al-Aqsa Mosque facing the Dome of the Rock on the opposite end of the Temple Mount. The
Western (or Wailing) Wall, the last remnant of the second Jewish temple that the Romans
destroyed in 70 A.D., stands at the western base of the Temple Mount. The Western Wall has
long been a favorite pilgrimage site for Jews, and religious men and women pray there on a daily
basis. Thus, the Temple Mount is equally revered by Jews as the site upon which the first and
second Jewish Temples stood.

Israeli officials are extremely concerned that the Temple Mount, an area already seething
with tension and distrust among Jews and Muslims, will be the stage for violent encounters
between religious zealots. Most troubling is the fact that an act of terrorism need not be the
catalyst that sparks widespread violence. Indeed, a simple symbolic act of desecration, or even
perceived desecration, of any of the holy sites on the Temple Mount is likely to trigger a violent
reaction. For example, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is expected to coincide with the
arrival of the year 2000. Thus, even minor provocations on or near the Temple Mount may
provide the impetus for a violent confrontation.

The implications of pilgrimages to Jerusalem by vast numbers of tourists are ominous,
particularly since such pilgrimages are likely to include millennial or apocalyptic cults on a mission
to hasten the arrival of the Messiah. There is general concern among Israeli officials that Jewish
and Islamic extremists may react violently to the influx of Christians, particularly near the Temple
Mount. The primary concern is that extreme millennial cults will engage in proactive violence
designed to hasten the second coming of Christ. Perhaps the most likely scenario involves an
attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock. Some millennial cults hold that these
structures must be destroyed so that the Jewish Temple can be rebuilt, which they see as a
prerequisite for the return of the Messiah. Additionally, several religious cults have already made
inroads into Israel, apparently in preparation for what they believe to be the endtimes.

It is beyond the scope of this document to assess the potential repercussions from an
attack on Jewish or Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem. It goes without saying, however, that an
attack on the Dome of the Rock or the Al-Aqsa Mosque would have serious implications. In
segments of the Islamic world, close political and cultural ties between Israel and the United
States are often perceived as symbolic of anti-Islamic policies by the Western world. Attacks on
Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, particularly by Christian or Jewish extremists, are likely to be
perceived by Islamic extremists as attacks on Islam itself. Finally, the possibility exists that
Islamic extremist groups will capitalize upon the huge influx of foreigners into Jerusalem and
engage in a symbolic attack.

TOP

IX. CONCLUSION

Extremists from various ideological perspectives attach significance to the arrival of the
year 2000, and there are some signs of preparations for violence. The significance of the new
millennium is based primarily upon either religious beliefs relating to the
Apocalypse/Armageddon, or political beliefs relating to the New World Order conspiracy theory.
The challenge to law enforcement is to understand these extremist theories and, if any incidents
do occur, be prepared to respond to the unique crises they will represent.

Law enforcement officials should be particularly aware that the new millennium may
increase the odds that extremists may engage in proactive violence specifically targeting law
enforcement officers. Religiously motivated extremists may initiate violent conflicts with law
enforcement officials in an attempt to facilitate the onset of Armageddon, or to help fulfill a
"prophesy." For many on the extreme right-wing, the battle of Armageddon is interpreted as a
race war to be fought between Aryans and the "satanic" Jews and their allies. Likewise,
extremists who are convinced that the millennium will lead to a One World Government may
choose to engage in violence to prevent such a situation from occurring. In either case,
extremists motivated by the millennium could choose martyrdom when approached or confronted
by law enforcement officers. Thus, law enforcement officials should be alert for the following: 1)
plans to initiate conflict with law enforcement; 2) the potential increase in the number of
extremists willing to become martyrs; and 3) the potential for a quicker escalation of conflict
during routine law enforcement activities (e.g. traffic stops, issuance of warrants, etc.).

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