...The Rise of Isis Thesis Statement: The reckless desire for power in the middle east has lead to persistent complications throughout the Muslim population regardless of the Sunni and Shia peoples’ beliefs. These uprising difficulties have caused disturbances within the civilians of various countries in the middle east, political complications between the middle east and western regions as well as global fear of unknown uprising terror attacks. The rise of ISIS, explained in 6 minutes by “Vox” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzmO6RWy1v8 Despite the short length of this six minute video, it contains extensive content to provide all viewers with general information on the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The video thoroughly...
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...limited to: Bombing, hijacking, cross border terrorist activities and massacres on a massive scale, in addition to many others not listed. Its consequences are very frightening. Though much effort is put into eliminating terrorism, it is impossible to get rid of it until some strict laws are devised. Whenever and wherever society is victim to brutality, injustice, wrongs and intolerance, terrorism cannot be eradicated. There are many terrorist groups out there, of many different origins and sects. The group that will be discussed is Al Qaeda, which is the most well-known out of the groups listed. The questions and statements that will be answered and debated are: 1.) A brief explanation of Al Qaeda and the summarization of its origins, 2.) Al Qaeda's major motivations, (beliefs or causes), and/or the justifications for engaging in terrorism, 3.) Al Qaeda's major source of both financial and non-financial support, 4.) The evaluation of the importance of Al Qaeda's use of the media, the image being portrayed, and the preferred method of communication for the group, 5.) The determination whether or not the group has a legitimate complaint or...
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...number of people in the country (Web Finance, Inc. 1). In 2003 U.S. CIA intelligence had information that Saddam Hussein, an enemy of the United States and dictator of Iraq had legitimate programs to build weapons of mass destruction, and was planning to pass those weapons onto the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization. U.S. intelligence believed that Al-Qaeda would ultimately smuggle those weapons into the United States and violently murderer millions of Americans (Lobe 1). To prevent such an atrocity from occurring in the United States, former President George W. Bush decided that the only course of action against these murderous terrorists was to defeat them abroad before they could attack us at home (Bush 7). On March 18th, 2003 the United States launched operation Iraqi Freedom. The goal of this operation was to remove Saddam Hussein from power, prevent Al-Qaeda from obtaining weapons of mass destruction, and defeat Al-Qaeda (Bush 8). President Bush stated that the goal of Operation Iraqi Freedom was to defeat Al-Qaeda and protect the United States by creating a prosperous and democratic Iraq. If successful, Operation Iraqi Freedom could inspire millions across the Middle East to rise up against Al-Qaeda and other terrorist governments and demand freedom and democracy in their own countries....
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...“This Time is Different: Comparing Al-Qaeda’s Unique Place in the History of Terrorism with the Freedom Fighters of the Irish Republican Army” Al Qaeda and the Irish Republican Army are two of the most complex and famous terrorist organizations in modern history. While both groups share some principles with one another, and undoubtedly have committed and continue to commit horrible acts, the world’s perception of each is undoubtedly different from the other. There is an apparent contradiction in Karl Heinzen’s famous quote: “If to kill is always a crime, then it is forbidden equally to all; if it is not a crime, then it is permitted equally to all.”[1] This difference in public perception is a result of several key tenets of each organization’s strategy and structure. The IRA fights to protect and support the liberties of the Irish people, while Al Qaeda relies upon the religious doctrine of a radical Islamic minority to carry out jihad against Western infidels. Al Qaeda, while claiming to represent the entire Muslim world, has never had a real home or a consistent base to draw upon; inversely, a large proportion of the Irish people are steadfast in their support for the cause. Al Qaeda’s indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians has resulted in a falling out with a large percentage of its former supporters. Finally, the IRA had a distinct, tangible, and realistic goal of expelling the British from Ireland, while Al Qaeda seeks to establish a new caliphate based...
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... Until the rise of the modern nation state subsequently the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, the type of central authority and a united society that terrorism tries to influence scarcely existed. Communications were controlled, and the facts that might cause terrorism, such as religion, insurrection, political disagreements, typically led to an open warfare during earlier times of civilization. By the time kingdoms turned into nations, they had sufficient reasons to enforce their authority and repress activities such as terrorism. According to the webpage Terrorism Research, “The French Revolution provided the first uses of the words "Terrorist" and "Terrorism". The use of the word "terrorism" began in 1795 in reference to the Reign of Terror initiated by the Revolutionary government.” In other words, the agents of the Committee of Public Safety and the National Convention that administered and enforced the policies of "The Terror" were called 'Terrorists". The words terrorist and terrorism can cause an immediate effect in people’s minds. People often just relate terrorism to power and politics, but what is the real meaning of Terrorism? Every time I hear the word terrorism, I unconsciously think of Religion and Arabian countries. However, those are just labels that were built up in my mind by what surrounds me. In this research paper, I will explain what terrorism is and its effect in international relations, the terrorist organizations most heard of such as Al Qaeda and Muslim...
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...In what ways, if any, has globalization transformed the phenomenon of terrorism? Introduction The idea of terrorism has not always been as it is today. The word “terror” originated after the French Revolution and the word “terrorism” was subsequently recorded by the Académie Française in 1798 (Roberts 2002). The regime of “la Terreur” was one of force and bloody repression against opponents to the newly born French Republic, but since the 19th century, terrorism has come to designate a method of opposition used by small groups (Tilly 2004, 8-9) “against the legitimacy of the prevailing sovereign power” (Scruton 2002, 126). As Barkawi (2006, 129) aptly puts across “‘terror’ is often used as a weapon by those who lack sufficient weapons to fight a military war, who believe their voices are not being heard and their desires bear no fruit”. Contrary to the French “terror”, “terrorism” is then no longer a practice of the State; it is that of radical groups opposing the State, and it is mainly the State that gives them this name (Townshend 2002, 3); the names these groups give themselves are in relation to a cause they see as legitimate. Such causes have arisen in numerous places, prompting some to take extreme but in their minds justified action, and Europe has faced terrorist threats long before the 9/11 attacks, incarnated by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the Basque Fatherland and Liberty group (ETA) in Spain or the Red Brigades in Italy, to name only a few (Barkawi...
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...receive is Al-Qaeda, which is an Islamic terrorist group, located primarily in the Middle East. Many join these extremists due to political, economical, cultural, or military Issues coupled with the groups’ ideology of the “global Salafi jihad”(freeman 41). There is no clear solution to Al-Qaeda, but many of the responses to the terrorist group are primarily military actions including the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with a plan made for the modern age; cyber planning. Up until 2002 not much was know about the origins of Al-Qaeda when in March of that year the Bosnian authorities seized many documents of Osama Bin Laden’s first initial meeting taking place in his own home located in Peshawar (Bergen and Cruickshank 3). These documents studied by Peter Bergen of the National Security Studies Program and Paul Cruickshank from the Center on Law and...
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...Strategy Research Project CLAUSEWITZ AND 21ST CENTURY WARFARE BY COLONEL CHRISTOPHER J. PAPAJ United States Marine Corps DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for Public Release. Distribution is Unlimited. USAWC CLASS OF 2008 This SRP is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Strategic Studies Degree. 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 Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013-5050 Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control...
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...“Egyptian Islamic Al-Jihad” Name Course Instructor Paper due date Abstract The Egyptian Islamic Jihad, commonly abbreviated as EIJ is an Islamic terror group seeking to overthrow the Egyptian government and install an Islamic state. More recently, the EIJ has broadened its goals to debilitating and attacking the capabilities and interests of U.S and Israel, in Egypt and in other countries. EIJ is led by Ayman al-Zawahiri since 1991, and the group has carried out numerous terror attacks through its militant cells. EIJ’s most prominent attack is the assassination of former Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat in 1981. EIJ is considered a foreign terrorist group by the U.N. In the late nineties, EIJ had largely been eradicated from Egypt, but in 2001, the group merged with al-Qaeda, and it is now known as Qaeda al-Jihad. The command structure of al-Qaeda Jihad is centered on nine leadership seats. EIJ’s former leader al-Zawahiri is an acting commander of al-Qaeda. The group has been behind some of the most horrific terror attacks of the last two decades; the group has engineered many bombings and assassinations, which have killed many, most of them innocent people. The EIJ, in its turbulent wake leaves behind a legacy of wrath, pain and bloodshed. Main Body The Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) is also known as al-Gihad al-Islamic and Tanzim al-Jihad. Mhuammad Abd al-Salam Farraj founded EIJ in 1979 in Cairo, Egypt. Other notable leaders are al-Zawahiri, Col...
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...In Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS, Joby Warrick has written an informative and intriguing book that gives insight into the creation and evolution of the world’s most destructive terrorist group, ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh. This is an eye-opening book for those who may have had trouble seeing the difference between al Qaeda and ISIS, tracking the changing power struggle that now characterizes the extremist Middle East, and understanding the changing relationships among the terrorist leaders grappling for control of the region. Warrick explains it clearly, showing how ISIS drifted away from the less extremely violent al Qaeda, documenting the relationship between Osama bin Laden and al-Zarqawi and describing how American inaction helped pave the way...
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...James Janosz Political Science 495 Terrorism December 14th, 2009 The Changing Look of Terrorism The purpose of this paper is to study and look at how terrorism has changed from pre 9/11, to post 9/11, to the current and future times. The United States is currently fighting the war on terror. But who is the enemy to the war? Can terrorism actually be considered an enemy? The answers to these questions are difficult to answer and defend, depending on the circumstances. But the key constant to the question is, there is no internationally agreed definition of terrorism. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear/terror, are perpetrated for an ideological/political goal, and deliberately target or disregard the safety of civilian targets. The first section of this paper will deal with both views of the changing face of terrorism from pre 9/11, to post 9/11, and to the present day. The next section of this paper will discuss the variables of why terrorism has changed. In conclusion this paper will summarize the study of the changing face in terrorism. Throughout this paper there will be historical facts, evidence, theories, and analysis to support my argument how terrorism has changed over time. The language of terrorism that we, as Americans read it as, on September 11, 2001, two American airplanes flew into the World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon, while yet another suspiciously crashed in a deserted Pennsylvania...
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...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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...become intertwined with terrorism, misogyny and intolerance towards the followers of other religions. Muslims or even those who are perceived to be Muslims are on the rise. Religious minorities like Sikhs are today being attacked for their proximity in appearance with Muslims. Moreover, whenever any instance of terrorism occurs the first perception is always that a Muslim is involved. The deterioration of Muslim society is the result of deviation from Islam, while the deterioration of Western society is the result of putting into practice the very principles in which it believes. The evils of Muslim societies stem from the gap between principle and practice, whereas the evils of Western society are the result of a clash between principles and realities. The Western civilization of modern times has formed principles independent of religious principles, to govern social life, and has maintained that modern principles were superior to older principles. Islam and Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) The group began in 2004 as al Qaeda in Iraq, before rebranding as ISIS two years later. It was an ally of – and had similarities with -- Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda: both were radical anti-Western militant groups devoted to establishing an independent Islamic state in the region. But ISIS – unlike al Qaeda, which disowned the group in early 2014 – has proven to be more brutal and more effective at controlling territory it has seized. Today ISIS militants are recruiting people...
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...In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Shia Muslims became the majority in the country, which resulted in mass conversion of Sunni Muslims , however after the rise of Saddam Hussein and the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the privileging of certain religious sect began to slowly emerge. Hussein’s Ba’ath government was nonreligious, however Hussein was a Sunni Muslim and had overt conflicts with Shia dominated Iran throughout his rule. This came to fruition after the Iranian Revolution when, “Iran’s new Islamist regime explicitly challenged the Ba’ath’s secular brand of anti-imperialism, and it’s new leader Ayatollah Khomeini appealed to Iraqi Shia to topple their government” as a means of exploitative...
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...Paper The word "terrorism" is politically and emotionally charged which compounds the difficulty of providing an accurate definition of terrorism. Some research studies by scholars have shown there to be over 100 different definitions of terrorism. A less politically and emotionally charged meaning of terrorism is a better defined term used for terror. The word "terror" comes from a Latin word meaning "to frighten.” My definition of terrorism is a violent act which is intended to create fear, to promote an ideological/political goal, and deliberately target civilians and non civilian targets. The age of modern terrorism might be said to have begun in1968 when the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) hijacked an El Al airliner en route from Tel Aviv to Rome. While hijackings of airliners had occurred before, this was the first time that the nationality of the carrier (Israeli) and its symbolic value was a specific operational aim. Also a first was the deliberate use of the passengers as hostages for demands made publicly against the Israeli government. The combination of these unique events, added to the international scope of the operation, and gained significant media attention. The founder of PFLP, Dr. George Habash observed that the level of coverage was tremendously greater than battles with Israeli soldiers in their previous area of operations. "At least the world is talking about us now” (Andrews and Kifner, 2008). Another aspect of this internationalization...
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