Terrorism

Terrorism

What is Terrorism? No accepted definition. Dictionary: the use of force or threats

to demoralize, intimidate and subjugate, especially as a political weapon

Civilians as victims only › innocent civilians in Israel and US do not exist-

Bin Laden Tactic Goals vary by group

Methods of Terrorism Firearms Explosive and Incendiary Devices Chemical Agents Biological Agents Nuclear Weapon

Chemical Agents Chemical agents kill or incapacitate

people, destroy livestock or ravage crops

Some agents are odorless and tasteless

They can have an immediate or a delayed effect

Biological terrorism Dispersal of microbes or their toxins to

produce illness, death and terror The paths of infection can be

contaminated water, food, air and packages.

Microbes› Bacteria› Viruses› Toxins

Is this something new?

14th Century – Kaffa› City on Crimean Peninsula

Hurled plague infested corpses over walls of city to infest it

Is this something new? 18th Century French and Indian War

› British Officers gave blankets from smallpox victims to Indians aligned with French

› Caused an epidemic in tribes› Effective means of incapacitating group

Anatomy of a Bioterrorist Attack

Preparation5 years

Execution 1 dayDiagnosed case 3 days

First Death

Multiple deaths

Terrorism takes much time and planning

Nuclear Terrorism Spreading of radioactive materials

through ventilation system or explosion Disable nuclear reactor cooling system

and cause leakage of radioactive materials

Detonate a nuclear weapon No use of nuclear material for non-

military terrorism has ever occurred

Types of Terrorism Domestic International Religious/Apocalyptic, Political, Social,

Environmental, leftist/fundamentalist

Types of Political Terrorism National Separatist: cultural, ethnic,

tribal, religious, racial separation from the larger group, often with demands for independence or autonomy

Religious/ Apocalyptic Terrorism

Killing in the Name of God; Often political undertones.

Al-Qaeda? Abortion Clinic Bombers Suicide Bombers? Aum Shinrikyo

Environmental Terrorism Earth Liberation Front: acts of terrorism,

violence or sabotage committed in support of ecological, environmental, or animal rights.

Common Tactic: Arson, Robbery, Tree Spiking, bombing Recent example: Discovery Channel Hostage taking More common in developed world

Leftist Terrorism Maoists in Nepal, East India. Marxists (Shining Path) Techniques generally include:

kidnapping, bombing, guerilla warfare

Perpetrators of Terror Lone Wolf vs. Sophisticated Group

Why? Varies substantially depending on group and

region Suggested Theories:

Poverty Regime Type

Inequality Revenge

Lack of Education Religiously Motivated

Anger

Poverty and lack of education?

In international terrorism perpetrators and leaders generally very educated and from a privileged background: 9/11 Hijackers, London Bombers, ‘Underwear bomber’.

Domestic Terrorism: Often poor and uneducated; no other path

Sex and Money? Lures young men with raging hormones Promise of Houri’s Palestinian/Pakistani groups recruit poor children,

offer money and heaven.

Revenge In interviews with Palestinian ‘failed

suicide bombers’, almost all reported being upset that family members had been killed or incarcerated by Israelis.

Regime Type Positive correlation between

democracy and terrorism Why?

Open media Opportunity

Civil Liberties Persecution/Rule by Iron Fist in

Authoritarian Regimes

Goals Fear (most Groups i.e Greek Anarchists,

ELF/ALF, ) Media Coverage (Almost all groups) Martyrdom (National Hero) As many deaths as possible (new

phenomena; Al Qaeda, Shining Path, Tamil Tigers)

Total number of Terrorist Attacks

87,710 Total Attacks› 44,715(0 victims)› 32,140 (1-10 victims)› 3,613 (11-50 victims)› 288 (51-100 victims)› 112 (101+ victims)

Regions with Most Attacks South America (17266) Middle East/North Africa (15346) Western Europe (14474) South Asia (13072) Central America (10539) Sub-Saharan Africa (5825) Southeast Asia (4938)

States with most attacks (1970-2007)

Colombia (7004) Peru (6082) El Salvador (5347) India (5178) Ireland (3975) Spain (3224) Pakistan (3209) Turkey (2776) Sri Lanka (2498)

States with Deadliest Attacks (Over 100 killed in a single attack)

Nicaragua (12) El Salvador (10) Burundi (7) Sri Lanka (6) Rwanda (6) Russia (4) Nepal (4) Angola (4) Ethiopia (3)

Strategic Logic of Terrorism Main points:

› World leader in suicide terrorism is LTTE (Tamil Tigers)

› 180 suicide terrorist attacks from 1980-2001

› Why? Because it works; no internment› Most common goal: withdrawal of military

forces in land; independence