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 day

Diagnosed 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