Protest at U.S. Embassy in Yemen. (Courtesy: CNN)
ALLENDALE, Mich. (WZZM) -- A terrorism expert at Grand Valley State University says he doesn't think the murder of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya and spreading anti-American protests are the beginning of something bigger.
Professor Jonathan White blames the current crisis on economic inequality -- and he does not think a major terror attack is coming next.
"We have nations where you wonder if your child is going to live through the night and it is that area that is causing tension in the world," White explains. "What we have to do is find a system that invites everyone to participate, invite more and more people into an economic system that works for everyone. If that happens the number of aggrieved people will drop. The appeal of the Bin Ladens in the world drops because people have a vested interest in maintaining a system."
Professor White also does not believe the attack on the consulate that killed the ambassador and three other Americans was provoked by a YouTube video that mocks Islam. He believes the violence was carefully planned by a small group of angry militants.
"I call them swarm attacks," he says. "You emerge from a crowd and merge back into it. Security forces can't tell who you are. Unfortunately for the terrorists and fortunately for us we are very good at filling in the blanks. They shouldn't be sleeping well at night."