Chapter 10 Flashcards
Historical Background of Terrorism
Terrorism: comes from the term “regime dela terreur”, first coined by Edmund Burke during the French Revolution.
Ancient lineage. Traditionally been used as a tool of groups trying to terrorize a population or overthrow a regime either through military means or in a more clandestine fashion.
3 phases of terrorism since WWII:
- First phase (1948 -1960): centered on anticolonial revolts by groups and even small countries. Rebels no longer wished to be ruled by those with economic and military resources.
Asymmetrical warfare: method used by one side in a conflict or war when it believes it lacks the military power that the other side has. So it must use other strategy or tactics… ”guerrilla warfare”.
- Second phase: after 1960, ideological terrorism came into vogue. Goal: overthrowing or disrupting economic and social symbols of western democracies. Led to third phase - religious terrorism.
- Third phase: religious terrorism - most current phase of terrorism. Transformed from a regional problem located primarily in the Palestine region to a range of methods of destruction and death internationally and globally.
Al-Qaida: mainly responsible for this transformation. Formed to take asymmetrical warfare across borders.
New Terrorism (Post 9/11): terrorist activity committed by individuals or groups who:
1. May or may not be formally connected to a loose, cell-based organizational structure,
2. With religious motivations,
3. Using asymmetrical tactics.
New terrorists are more difficult to detect. New terrorists are more violent. New terrorists are better financed than their predecessors. New terrorists are better trained. New terrorists’ hierarchical structures are less likely to be infiltrated. New terrorists have more access to weapons of mass destruction. New terrorists are less likely to be “defeated”.
Terrorism in the United States
Pre 9/11:
From British perspective, one could view events of mid 1770’s and the violent means used by colonists to overthrow their government as terrorist activities. Native Americans may have felt terrorized by seeing half of their populations removed and slaughtered by miners, settlers, and the U.S military. The term terrorism can be applied to the violent actions of both sides during the labor movement that began with the mythical Molly Maguire’s in Eastern Pennsylvania that later led to the Haymarket Riot. Other examples include the Ku Klux Klan and eco-terrorists.
Post 9/11:
9/11 is clearly the biggest terrorist attack that has occurred in the United States. Led to the global war on terrorism that is currently on going.
Defining Terrorism
Over the years hundreds of definitions have been proposed.
Why is it difficult? Larger ideological argument about whether the acts committed are “criminal” or are in the interest of promoting the “greater good”. Terrorists may not view their behavior as illegal or immoral, and can even be seen as martyrs. Meaning of terrorism, much like “crime,” can change and expand over time. In time, will criminal behavior of hate groups, gangs, or labor unions become terrorism?
Terrorism: the premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.
Domestic Terrorism: involves persons or groups committing a terrorist act or acts in their own country, having some domestic agenda as the goal.
Example: Oklahoma City Bombing of the Federal Building.
International Terrorism: involves citizens or territory of more than one country and has an impact that goes beyond a domestic agenda. Example: 9/11.
Goals of Terrorism
In some cases, there are multiple goals and in others the goal is not clearly defined or understood. However, it is important to try and understand some of the types of goals that terrorism has at its ends. One goal of terrorism is to force a government to respond to their violence in a harsh manner, in the hope that such repression will lead to discontent among the people and ultimately to revolution. In this case, terrorism may be used to destabilize colonial governments and occupation forces. This type of terrorism is often referred to as revolutionary terrorism and may result from the absence of democratic opportunities and ways to petition those in power in a legitimate fashion.
Terrorism is also practiced by governments against their own citizens when they wish to protect their own political agenda or economic interests. Government may use its power to harass, arrest, torture, or kill alleged enemies of the state. Government may implement covert actions against other countries for political, economic, or military reasons. When these types of activities take place on the part of government it is said as state-sponsored terrorism. Another frequently stated foal of terrorist groups is to promote a certain religious system or protect a set of beliefs within a religion. This kind of terrorism is called religious terrorism, and maybe the most common and powerful form of terrorism in our current era. The growth of religious terrorism has been fueled by the reach of Al- Qaida.
Whatever the specific goal may be the ultimate goal is to create mass amounts of publicity. Terrorism does not only include the act but also the effect that is created by their actions.
Prevalence of Terrorism
1982: U.S. government began publishing an annual report called Patterns of Global Terrorism. Provided helpful transnational terrorism information by year, religion, and about individual terrorist groups.
2004: numbers in report cited a tripling of terrorist incidents and as a result. The name of the report was changed to Country Reports on Terrorism. Statistical data and chronology of terrorist attacks were dropped. A new agency called the National Counter-terrorism Center was formed.
Global Terrorism Database (GTD) - another valuable resource for terrorism incidents around the world. Includes domestic and international terrorist incidents from 1970 through 2010 and now includes more than 98,000 cases. Relatively few terrorist incidents occur in the United States. In 1982, terrorist attacks reached a high of 51; in 1994 they were at 0. Recent figures show that since 1995 no more than 5 attacks have occurred per year, and many years 0 attacks have occurred. The number of people killed in the United States because of terrorism, minus the 9/11 attacks, is miniscule compared to homicides in general. A larger concern is the number of attempted attacks, especially by homegrown terrorists, that have occurred in recent years. Since 9/11 at least 50 terrorist attacks have been prevented.
The number of domestic terrorist incidents in the United States greatly outnumbers international incidents. Studies indicate that domestic attacks outnumber international attacks in the United States 7 to 1. We know that of the recorded terrorist acts that were attempted between 2001 and 2011, almost all of them were by U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or radicalized, longer-term visitors who gained citizenship.
The number of international terrorism incidents that have occurred outside the United States has risen astronomically over the last decade. Between 2003 and 2004, the U.S. State Department recorded an increase of worldwide terrorism from 208 to 655. In 2005, the number skyrocketed to 7,193 and that did not count any incidents that can be counted as terroristic activity in Iraq or Afghanistan. However, these numbers should not be taken as exact and should be looked at with precaution just as any other crime data.
Legal requirements to receive the designation of being a terrorist group:
The group must be a foreign organization. The group must engage in terrorist activities as defined by Title 22 of the U.S. Federal Code, or must retain the capability or intent to engage in terrorism. The organization’s terrorist activity or terrorism must threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security (national defense, foreign relations, or economic interests) of the United States.
Responding to Terrorism
Foreign Policy:
Sometimes the best way to deal with protracted struggles between two parties that are both engaging in terrorism is to utilize foreign policy.
Troubles between England and Ireland are centuries old, with the central issue in the twentieth century being the partition of Ireland into a northern area, which was largely Protestant, and the remainder, which remained Catholic. In April 1998 feuding Catholic and Protestant parties signed the Belfast Agreement or the Good Friday Accord, which was a historic agreement outlining a power-sharing agreement to share multiparty administration of Northern Ireland.
The United States uses a foreign policy that designates countries as state sponsors of terrorism. The purpose of this designation is to promote international cooperation in condemning state-sponsored terrorism and to bring maximum pressure against those involved. A range of bilateral and multilateral sanctions is needed to discourage states from supporting terrorism. More specifically, countries are placed on this list if they assist terrorists by providing sanctuary, arms, training, logistical or financial support, or diplomatic immunity to groups or individuals.
International Cooperation & Apprehension:
International Cooperation Strategies - Over the years extensive information sharing and cooperation have greatly aided criminal justice officials in the global fight against terrorism.
Detection and apprehension strategies are at the heart of antiterrorist activity. The kinds of laws and measures used are a function of the level of terrorist threat and the history of terrorism in the particular country.
Legislation:
Countries around the world have enacted new laws to combat terrorism, punish terrorist, and respond to terrorist attacks (like New York).
On the federal level, one significant law was passed following September 11, 2001: The National Strategy for Homeland Security Act was passed in late 2002. The federal government also created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It combines and reorganizes information from dozens of federal agencies to sift out potential terrorist activity before it happens. The mission of the DHS is to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards.
Adjudication Comparative:
Governments must also deal with terrorism through adjudication (the courts). Even governments that are dedicated to the law have a hard time dealing objectively and lawfully with suspected terrorists. The United States has developed special courts to deal with terrorism suspects such as those captured by forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Unfortunately, terrorist excesses can become an excuse for suspension of rights or even the development of repressive paramilitary regime.
The Future of Terrorism
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) - nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons that by their nature can cause mass casualties and extensive property damages.
Agents of Biological Origin (ABOs) - generally fall into one of four categories: bacteria, viruses, plagues, or toxins.
Cyber terrorism - range from individual computer viruses to complex attacks infiltrating defense systems, cutting water and power supplies, and disrupting transportation systems.
