Persistent Threats: Assessing ISIS’s Strategic Relevance and Risk to the U.S.
- Darius Anderson
- Jan 8
- 2 min read
In‑Depth Analysis: Full PDF Available Below
This policy brief examines the enduring strategic relevance of ISIS and challenges the assumption that the organization no longer poses a meaningful threat to the U.S. homeland. Using New Mexico as a focused case study, the analysis highlights overlooked vulnerabilities in state‑level counterterrorism posture, including outdated public resources, training gaps, and underreported indicators of radicalization. Drawing on open‑source intelligence, real‑world incidents, and FEMA’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) framework, the report identifies key risk vectors and offers targeted, actionable mitigation strategies for government, defense, and private‑sector stakeholders.
The full article is available for download below. The PDF is securely hosted on our Wix platform, ensuring safe and reliable access for readers who wish to review the complete analysis.
PREFACE
Author’s Note: This report was originally developed in 2022 as a capstone assignment for ESA 4010: Terrorism Threat & Risk Analysis at Pikes Peak State College. The assignment simulated a policy briefing to the Governor of New Mexico, requiring students to assess a contemporary terrorism threat using structured risk analysis tools. I chose to focus on ISIS’s enduring influence and its implications for interior U.S. states like New Mexico, regions often overlooked in national security discourse.
Since completing the original paper, I’ve continued to refine and update the content to reflect evolving threat dynamics, policy developments, and my own professional growth in the fields of emergency management, physical security, and federal contracting. This updated version is intended not only as a demonstration of analytical rigor and policy fluency but also as a contribution to the broader conversation on national resilience and asymmetric threat preparedness.
I welcome dialogue with professionals in homeland security, defense strategy, and public safety who share a commitment to proactive risk mitigation and strategic foresight.
— Darius “Dack” Anderson
Founder, The Amasiah Group LLC
Veteran, US Navy
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