28-01-2012, 10:39 AM
TERRORISM
What is terrorism?
HISTORY
Terrorism has struck all through history and around the world. Even in ancient Roman times, emperors such as Tiberius and Caligula dealt with terrorism by using banishment, and execution towards those who opposed their rule. Later in the 1860's a terrorist group called the Ku Klux Klan was formed by Southerners to terrify former slaves and prevent them from voting or run for office. In the 19th century, Western Europeans, Russians, and Americans adopted terrorism, and believed that the best way to get what they wanted was to assassinate people holding high positions of power.
PRESENT SCENARIO->
In the 20th century, terrorism went through some great changes. The use of new technology such as automatic weapons and electrically bursting explosives encouraged terrorists to act violently and provided them with an easier way of attacking. At the time, attacks were mainly from groups trying to undermine or overthrow existing political institutions. However, today terrorism exists with different causes and purposes in mind. It has been used in anti-colonial conflicts such as in Ireland, Britain, Algeria and France. It is used when settling conflicts between different groups in possession of homeland such as Palestine & Israel. It is also used in religious disagreements in the case of the Catholics & Protestants in Northern Ireland and in internal conflicts between revolutionary forces and established governments, for example: Malaysia, Argentina, Iran, and Nicaragua.
Terrorism went from numerous attacks in the 20th century, to less
frequent but more destructive assaults in the 21st century. The
threat of terrorism has now become more deadly. But the Americans
soldiers, the freedom fighters as some people call them are fighting
back with no mercy. As Herr expresses in his book, "the battle grew
into the bloodiest of the spring", "4,000 had been killed... it was
another American victory." Over the past couple years; terrorists
have developed new tactics such as portable bombs, suicide
operatives, and weapons of mass destruction. These have been
known to result in hundreds, not to say thousands of people being
injured or killed. Some people even become terrorist, or are forced
into terrorizing for reasons that they do not even know. As Michael
Herr mentions, "Every day people were dying because of some small
detail that they couldn't be bothered to observe." Take September
11 2001 into consideration, when two airplanes were hijacked and
crashed into the World Trade Center and another into the pentagon.
In just two hours, families were torn apart, courage was tested, and
the world was shaken forever. The hijackers had probably believed
hat they were dying on that plane for their country, but sadly did not
know the true and exact reason for their presence, or their life for
thatmatter.At the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton
said, "I visited Ground Zero right after we were attacked. I felt like I
was standing at the Gates of Hell. I hope no American
ever has to witness a sight like that again."
TYPES OF TERRORISM ->
CIVIL DISORDER->
Civil disorder, also known as civil unrest or civil strife, is one or more forms of disturbance caused by a group of people. Civil disturbance is typically a symptom of, and a form of protest against, major socio-political problems; the severity of the action coincides with public expression(s) of displeasure. Examples of civil disorder include, but are not necessarily limited to: illegal parades, sit-ins and other forms of obstructions; riots; sabotage; and other forms of crime. It is intended to be a demonstration to the public and the government, but can escalate into general chaos.
POLITICAL TERRORISM->
NON-POLITICAL TERRORISM->
Non political terrorism is a terrorist act perpetrated by a group for any other
purpose, most often of a religious nature. The desired goal is something other
than a political objective, but the tactics involved are the same.
QUASI-TERRORISM->
Quasi terrorism is a violent act that utilizes the same methods terrorists employ, but does not have the same motivating factors. Cases like this usually involve an armed criminal who is trying to escape from law enforcement utilizing civilians as hostages to help them escape. The law breaker is acting in a similar manner to a terrorist, but terrorism is not the goal.
LIMITED POLITICAL TERRORISM->
Limited political terrorism acts are generally one time only plots to make a political or ideological statement. The goal is not to overthrow the government, but to protest a governmental policy or action.
OFFICIAL OR STATE TERRORISM-> State terrorism defines any violent action initiated by an existing government to achieve a particular goal. Most often this goal involves a conflict with another country.
Every type of terrorism utilizes distinct methods of violence to get their message across. They can be anything from assault weapons or explosive devices to toxic chemicals that are released into the air. These attacks may occur at any time or place, which makes them an extremely effective method of instilling terror and uncertainty into the general public.
MOTIVATION OF TERRORISTS
Attacks on 'collaborators' are used to intimidate people from cooperating with the state in order to undermine state control. This strategy was used in the USA in its War of Independence and in Ireland, in Kenya, in Algeria and in Cyprus in their independence struggles.
Attacks on high profile symbolic targets are used to incite counter-terrorism by the state to polarise the population. This strategy is used by Al Qaeda in its attacks on the USA in September 2001. These attacks are also used to draw international attention to struggles which are otherwise unreported such as the Palestinian airplane hijackings in 1970 and the South Moluccan hostage crises in the Netherlands in 1975.
Abrahm suggests that terrorist organizations do not select terrorism for its political effectiveness. Individual terrorists tend to be motivated more by a desire for social solidarity with other members of their organization than by political platforms or strategic objectives, which are often murky and undefined.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO TERRORISM
A large country with long, desolate borders and many lucrative, high-value, symbolic targets. vulnerabilities are more than a list of infrastructure; they include the economy, national history, and the way of life. This study reviews some of the most important current vulnerabilities and what has or has not been done to reduce them.
AIR-TRAFFIC SAFETY
Our air-transport system has undergone considerable “hardening” since 9/11, but it is not absolutely inviolate from future terrorist attacks. A significant threat to air travel is the use of shoulder-fired surface to air missiles: man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS).
FOOD SAFETY
POWER AND CHEMICAL PLANTS
Perhaps the targets offering the greatest potential carnage and damage to infrastructure and the economy are energy facilities, such as power stations and nuclear facilities. The consequences of hurricanes in Florida in August and September 2004 and the even worse consequences of the August 2005 Hurricane Katrina, which effectively erased the southern Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, have been devastating across the board, including the economic costs of the absence of electrical power. Like these natural disasters, a coordinated terrorist attack on several power facilities would also have a devastating impact on the economy of a region and, depending upon the region, perhaps on the United States as a whole. But the main issue of concern is not the effects on the economy, but the destruction and death associated with any such attacks.
