Up to Exam 1 Flashcards
(209 cards)
Collateral Damage
A term used to describe unintended casualties. Usually applied to civilians who have been mistakenly killed.
Dirty War
A term given to a campaign of state-sponsored terror waged in Argentina during the 1970’s. Tens of thousands of people were tortured, disappeared, or killed.
Extremism
A radical expression of political values.
Political opinions that are intolerant toward opposing interests and divergent opinions. Extremism forms the ideological foundation for political violence. Radical and reactionary extremists often rationalize and justify acts of violence committed on behalf of their cause.
Extremism can be a definition of terrorism, but doesn’t have to lead to terrorism. See themselves as a protector of a specific truth.
Clear sense of mission and purpose and righteousness
Typically in a group
“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice”
An uncompromising belief in the absolute righteousness of a cause. A moralistic concept that clearly defines good and evil. The statement was made my Senator Barry Goldwater during the 1964 presidential election in the United States
Federal Bureau of Investigation
An investigative bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, it is the largest federal law enforcement agency. Among its duties are domestic counterterrorism and intelligence collection
Freedom Fighter
One who fights on behalf of an oppressed group. A very contextual term
Guerrilla
A term first used during Spanish resistance against French occupation troops during the Napolenic Wars. It refers to irregular hit-and-run tactics.
Hezbollah
A Lebanese Shi’a movement that promotes Islamic revolution. It was prominent in the resistance against the Israeli presence in South Lebanon and frequently engaging in terrorism,
International Terrorism
Terrorism that is directed against targets symbolizing International interests. These attacks can occur against domestic targets that have international symbolism or against targets in the international arena.
“It became necessary to destroy the town to save it”
An extremist goal to destroy an existing order without developing a clear vision for the aftermath. A moralistic concept to justify terrorist behavior. The Statement was allegedly made by an American officer during the war in Vietnam
“Kill One Man, Terrorize a Thousand”
A paraphrasing of a quotation by the Chinese military philosopher Wu Ch’i. Variously ascribed to the Chinese military philosopher Sun Txu and Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
A nationalist group in Sri Lanka that champions the independence of the Tamil people. Responsible for many acts of terrorism
Narco-terrorism
Political violence committed by dissident drug traffickers who are primarily concerned with protecting their criminal enterprise. This is in contradistinction to drug-related violence.
“One man willing to throw away his life is enough to terrorize a thousand”
The symbolic power of a precise application of force by an individual who is willing to sacrifice himself or herself can terrorize many other people. A moralistic concept that illustrates how a weak adversary can influence a strong adversary. The statement was made by the Chinese military philosopher wu ch’i
“one man’s terrorist is another persons freedom fighter”
The importance of perspective in the use of violence to achieve political goals. Championed groups view violent rebels as freedom fighters, whereas their adversaries consider them terrorists
Palestine Liberation Organization PLO
an umbrella Palestinian nationalist organization. it comprises numerous activist factions, many of which engage in political violence
Provisional Irish Republican Army PROVOS
A terrorist organization in Northern Ireland that champions the rights of Northern Irish Catholics. The PIRA was formed with the goal of uniting Northern Ireland with the Irish Republic
Soft Targets
Civilian and other undefended targets that are easily victimized by terrorists
Terrorism
Elements from the American definitional model define terrorism as a premeditated and unlawful act in which groups or agents of some principal engage in a threatened or actual use of force or violence against human or property targets. These groups or agents engage in this behavior intending the purposeful intimidation of governments or people to affect policy or behavior with an underlying political objective. There are more than 100 definitions of terrorism.
Terrorist
One who practices terrorism. Often a highly contextual term
Third world
A postwar term created to describe the developing world
Wars of National Liberation
A series or wars fought in the developing world in the postwar era. These conflicts frequently pitted indigenous guerrilla fighters against European colonial powers or governments perceived as pro western. Insurgents were frequently supported by the Soviet Bloc or China
Al qaeda
An international network of Islamic mujahideen organized by Osama bin Laden in the aftermath of the anti-Soviet Jihad in Afghanistan. Responsible for many acts of international and domestic terrorism,
Anarchism
A political ideology developed during the 19th century that championed the working class and opposed central control by governments