...Terrorism in the United States Terrorism is like a plague. It has haunted the world as well as the United States for years. It is only currently, in light of what has happened to New York and Washington, been threatened by a nation. This newly found hatred for terrorism is not just from a government, it is from the governed as well. It is not as strait forward as one may think. There are many definitions of terrorism. The definition of terrorism depends mostly on the views and occupations of the people who define it. Scholars, politicians and journalists all define terrorism differently. Words and motivations that define terrorism range from violence and force to racism. Although one well known notion that many people are familiar with is, “one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.” The notion, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, over time has become more than a cliché. Senator Henry Jackson commented on this notion at the Jonathan Institute's 1979 conference. The idea that one person's "terrorist" is another's "freedom fighter" cannot be sanctioned. Freedom fighters or revolutionaries don't blow up buses containing non-combatants; terrorist do. . . It is a disgrace that democracies would allow the treasured word "freedom" to be associated with the acts of terrorist. (Netanyahu 18-9) Although there are many definitions of the terrorism, one of the most widely accepted definitions is that of the FBI. The FBI states that terrorism is,...
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...Running head: STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM 1 PAGE 2 STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM State-Sponsored Terrorism YourFirstName YourLastName University title ? ????????????????????????????????? State Sponsored Terrorism: A Case of ISIS The term terrorism has elicited various definitions across different jurisdictions and continuously evokes different emotional responses. To some terrorism is an inhumane and traumatizing act while to others it is a strategic move to achieve desired goals and others see it as a holy war against those they feel do not conform to their ideals. Perhaps the best example to illustrate this discord in the definition of terrorism is the phrase that one man?s terrorist is another man?s freedom fighter. Terrorism...
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...Some notes below. I understand that this was done under difficult conditions, but the level of research effort is not as high as it should have been and too much of the paper amounts to stringing together quotations. Grade B- THE UNITED STATES NAVAL WAR COLLEGE COLLEGE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION TERRORISM BY NON-STATE ACTORS FINAL PAPER THE QUR’AN AND TERROR [pic] U.S. NAVAL WAR COLLEGE WEB-ENABLED PROGRAM DONALD ROSS APRIL 2013 DR. JIM MISKEL INSTRUCTING The views expressed in this student academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. The Quran and Terror On September 11, 2001, (9/11) the United States was attacked in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks launched by the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda. On that Tuesday morning, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger jets, intending to fly them in suicide attacks into targeted buildings. The September 11 attacks resulted in nearly 3000 deaths that day. The subsequent series of events those attacks set in motion resulted in the deaths of more than 6,000 soldiers, 2,300 contractors and hundreds of thousands of Afghan and Iraqi soldiers, policemen and civilians. The ramifications from 9/11 continue to contribute to our financial difficulties. The total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is estimated at more than $5...
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...Terrorism has been a focal point for the United States (U.S.) in the 21st century because of the threat terrorist organizations pose on homeland security. Since September 11th, 2001 (9/11), the U.S. has been on the offensive against certain foreign terrorist organizations, with a large focus on al-Qaeda. After a decade of fighting al-Qaeda, the U.S. felt as if it’s efforts in Iraq had been successful in terms of reforming the Iraqi government into a democracy, setting the country up to effectively combat al-Qaeda threats without the help of the U.S. However, upon the departure of the U.S. from Iraq, the tumultuous relationship between Shia and Sunni tribes escalated and soon a civil war was underway. This conflict gave rise to a new Islamic...
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...State terrorism is often a neglected phenomenon in terrorism studies. Discuss how terrorism has been used as a weapon by states over the past 50 years. Is state terrorism fundamentally different from non-state terrorism? Introduction Within this essay I will discuss how states have used terrorism as a weapon over the past 50 to achieve strategic goals. I will then go on to discuss whether it is fundamentally different from non-state terrorism. To start with we must understand what is meant by a weapon. Encyclopaedia Britannica defines a weapon as “An instrument used in combat for the purpose of killing, injuring, or defeating an enemy.” (Britannica 2013). The Oxford English dictionary defines weapon as “An instrument of any kind used in warfare or in combat to attack and overcome an enemy.” (OED 2013). It is clear from both definitions that a weapon is used in combat against an enemy to overcome them. The act is deliberate in such that it is intentional, not by accident. Therefore this essay will examine cases that terrorism is used by the state deliberately, there must be “mens rea” present. Some states can also be defined as a failed state “A state that is failing has several attributes. One of the most common is the loss of physical control of its territory or a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Other attributes of state failure include the erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, an inability to provide reasonable public services...
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...Terrorism as a true threat to national security in the United States Terrorism as a true threat to national security in the United States Terrorism is a true threat to national security. It brings human distress and goes beyond the direct suffering by causing fear in the population as a result of its cruel and unsystematic nature. It can be defined as the use of violence by a group or an individual to create tremendous worry and panic within a target population. The group undertakes the violent actions with the aim of compelling the target population into agreeing with their demands. It does this by targeting symbolic buildings and/or places (Ervine, 2010). It is extremely difficult to argue that terrorism is not a threat to the state and that the US has overly focused on it. The threat is true and has become more evident due to the increasing attacks that have claimed a lot of lives. It is covered extensively in the media and every US citizen lives with fear. It is a threat to innocent residents conducting their daily routines as the terrorist activities are aimed at them and not necessarily at the government (Wilson, 2010). Terrorism influences and is influenced by the political arena. It is linked to the government and has a wider scope of effects that reach beyond the targeted individuals. It mainly depends on the fear of the state’s general public and tries to achieve precise goals such as the freedom of political prisoners. A small group of individuals can...
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...Clyde Savannah State University Professor Owens September 3, 2014 Global Issues Midterm Essay Terrorism is commonly known in the world today and has been an issue for many years. It is indeed the greatest problem in the world. Terrorism consists of five categories. Those five categories are: Domestic, Nationalist, State, Global and Religious terrorism. I strongly believe that this world cannot survive with terrorism on the rise. It is actually one of the huge dangers to world peace. There’s only a matter of time before suitable measures are taken to preclude this issue at hand. Before we talk about Domestic Terrorism, let’s find out what’s the meaning of Terrorism. Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. That definition simply means that individuals are involved in violent acts and is extremely dangerous to human life. In society today when the word terrorism is mentioned people automatically think of September 11, 2001 event. Domestic Terrorism is when a situation arises within the borders of a state and is then associated with a terrorist group. There are three categories that deals with domestic terrorism and that is: right and left wing and special interest terrorism. Right-wing terrorist is driven by ideas of white national independence, conflicting governments and administrative beliefs. The anti-government is those who may or may not embrace racism. Left-wing and special-interest terrorism are those who...
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...Abstract Global terrorism would appear to be the curse of our modern society. Turn on any television and world news will be reporting on an act of terror or its consequences. Prime examples of this include the destruction of the World Trade Centre, the bombing of the Underground system in London, the Mumbai nightclub bombings to name but a few of the more prominent events over the last decade. These acts have crystallized the focus of public attention to ensure that the topic of terrorism will remain high on the global political agenda for many years to come. However, terrorism is not a new phenomenon. On a global scale, terrorism has been alive and well for many decades. What has changed is the emergence of the global financial market and the modus operendi of the modern day terrorist groups. A terrorist act of sinking a crude oil carrier in the Straits of Hormuz for example, could have a direct impact on the price of crude oil and petroleum on the world market, to say nothing of shipping carrier prices and maritime insurance. Like ripples in a pond, the act would have far reaching consequences. Quantifying terrorism has now become an important tool both for the financial sectors 9who use it predominantly for insurance based risk analysis and also for government bodies who could use it for spotting emerging trends in terrorism and therefore investing in anti and counter terror procedures. So why might it be difficult to quantify terrorism? This paper attempts to answer...
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...Terrorism History The history of terrorism goes back to Sicarii Zealots — Jewish extremist group active in Iudaea Province at the beginning of the 1st century AD. After Zealotry rebellion in the 1st century AD, when some prominent collaborators with Roman rule were killed,[126][127] according to contemporary historian Josephus, in 6 AD Judas of Galilee formed a small and more extreme offshoot of the Zealots, the Sicarii.[128] Their terror also was directed against Jewish "collaborators", including temple priests, Sadducees, Herodians, and other wealthy elites. Origin of Term "Terrorism" comes from the French word terrorisme,[12] and originally referred specifically to state terrorism as practiced by the French government during the Reign of terror. The French word terrorisme in turn derives from the Latin verb terreō meaning “I frighten”.[13] The terror cimbricus was a panic and state of emergency in Rome in response to the approach of warriors of the Cimbri tribe in 105 BC. Definition * Studies have found over 100 definitions of “terrorism”. * Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, often violent, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community * violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or, ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians) * "terror" by opponents of the state Where is it practiced? * Terrorism has been practiced...
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...Defining terrorism is a very difficult task to do. It is so difficult to define that even the U.S. government cannot agree on one single definition “No one definition of terrorism has gained universal acceptance “(State Department, 2000). According to the National Institute of Justice “The search of a universal, precise definition of terrorism has been challenging for researches and practitioners alike” (GOV, 2013). Richard Betts, Director of the Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University states “There has never been any consensus definition of terrorism” (Libaw, 2012). Brian Jenkins states that “the problem with defining terrorism is compounded by the fact that terrorism has recently become a fad word used promiscuously and often applied to a variety of acts of violence which are not strictly terrorism by definition” (Jenkins, 1980, p. 1). Bruce Hoffman, in his Inside Terrorism, states: “We may define terrorism as the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change. It is meant to instill fear within, and thereby intimidate, a wider ‘target audience.” (Hoffman, 2006). Several U.S. governmental agencies use different definitions of terrorism for example the U.S. Department of Defense (1990) defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of, or threatened use, of force or violence against individuals or property to coerce and intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political,...
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...What is Terrorism? By: James Morris Terrorism Terrorism is political phenomenon by which offenders threaten or use violence on civilians with the intent of exploiting fear. It can be defined as substitute classification of political violence. A quote by Sloan (2006) states “Terrorism is intentional violent acts carried out by nonstate actors against noncombatants with the purpose of effecting a political response.” In our society, the term terrorism is a method or strategy to effect political change in an area. Terrorism can be seen as crime, exploitation of fear, and a form of warfare (Lutz, 2005). Since the 1700’s, history has always kept record of the different types of violence our world has faced. And with terrorism it comes with consequences. (Sloan, 2006). A quote by Moghaddam & Marsella (2004) says “It is usually perpetrated by groups utilizing warfare, due to the fact that they are unable to gain advantage while using conventional methods.” Terrorism as Crime The relationship between the terrorism and crime are both equally considered as wrong doing. Traditionally, within the legal system of the United States, domestic terrorism is treated as a criminal act (Bender & Leone, 1986). It is directed toward civilians for the purpose of inducing fear, dread, and terror. Lutz states (2005) “The focus would be on collection of evidence that would be used in court to prosecute those accused of threats or acts of terrorism.” In a sense, all terrorism can be...
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...Terrorism and Counter-terrorism: Similarities and differences in security and risk. Joshua Williams POL192 Perspectives on Security and Terrorism Murdoch University Semester 1, 2014 Utilizing the concepts of risk and security, critically explain the similarities and differences between terrorist strategies and tactics on one hand, and counter-terrorism measures, on the other, since 2001. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States marked a turning point in the understanding of terrorism within the international society (Beck 2002, 39). Although the motives behind terrorism and counter-terrorism are opposite, their effects in terms of security and risk are similar. The similarities and differences between these two activities will be discussed in terms of risk and security within the international society. Central to the issues of security and risk, is the concept of an international society. An international society ‘exists when a group of states, conscious of certain common interests and common values, form a society in the sense that they conceive themselves to be bound by a common set of rules in their relations with one anther, and share in the working of common institutions’ (Bull and Watson 1984, 1). These rules, norms and institutions which make up international society is the central focus...
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...Terrorism Terrorism: A general definition Terrorism is the deliberate and organized use of violence against the state. The single important objective behind the act of terrorism is to create fear and spread insecurity among citizens of the state. By striking the unarmed and hapless citizens, terrorists aim to disrupt governance. Such attacks show the government in poor light. i.e. as one that cannot guarantee security of life and property, one of the most basic function of the state. In Angels & Demons, Dan Brown writes: “terrorism is not an expression of rage. Terrorism is the political weapon. Remove a government’s façade of infallibility, and you remove its people’s faith”. Types of Terrorism There are three types of terrorism. They are (a) State Sponsored Terrorism. (b) State Terrorism. (c) Organizational Terrorism. (a) State Sponsored Terrorism is always directed against another state, often by proxy, with the aim to destabilize it. A good example to drive home this idea is Pakistan sponsored terrorism against India. (b) State Terrorism is directed against a State’s own citizen. The reason could be numerous, chief among is the tussle between majority and minority group (both demographic and religious). A case in point is the 1994 Rawanda Genocide where majority ethnic Hutu tribe militia butchered nearly 8 lakhs Tutsis in 100 days of carnage. (c) Organizational Terrorism is used by groups to realize divergent aims including political, social, and economic...
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...TERRORISM AND GLOBALIZATION “Terrorism has rarely been absent from history, and over centuries has appeared in many guises”1. Referring to Walter Laqueur, no state or international system has been exempted from this form of non-state violence. However, the major shifts carried by globalization, that is to say the transformation from a state-centric world to a global system, seem to have perturbed the way violent non-state actors act, claim, interfere, and wage war in the new international system. If we follow the vision of Carpenter, we can talk about a “new world disorder”2 because of the multiplicity of new actors supported by international markets and transnational links. But, should we use the adjective “new” to describe nowadays’ terrorist organizations and attacks? Since 9/11 attacks, world seem to have toggled in major insecurity and fear of those modern organization that can act wherever and whenever they want at any place in the world. Undeniably, terrorists’ forms of violence have evolved by taking advantage of criminal organizations’ and illegal trades’ favourable trends. But this method, more than a political doctrine, represents a non-state use of violence or threat of violence to spread fear and bring political reform or revolution. Therefore, it should be reconsidered with the former violent actors and the disintegration of states. Moreover, the subject comprehension have to be reinforced in order - for great power or American superpower - to prevent those...
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...women’s involvement in terrorism is more likely to be driven by emotional factors; women’s roles are more likely to be insignificant inside terrorist organizations and women are more likely to be successful. The thesis seeks to provide a comprehensive framework of terrorism and women’s involvement in terrorism. While terrorism is intrinsically grounded in historical context of societies, the phenomenon is not monolithic and it has emerged has a new modus operandi for numerous and diverse actors. The ambivalence about women and political violence have undermined their credibility and capacity as terrorists’ supporters and perpetrators....
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