Terrorism

Terrorism has occurred throughout history, but today the world is experiencing a global rebirth of attacks. Today it no longer affects only small societies, such as isolated third world countries who fell victim to regular terrorist attacks, but the whole world is becoming more familiar with Arab and Muslim names. The terrorist violence that is on the rise today has informed citizen all over the world about different types of terrorism. Also with the resurgence the world is experiencing of terrorism, the Nation's have begun to do what they can to eliminate terrorism.

Terrorism can be defined as "the deliberate creation of fear to bring out political change." (dictionary.com) All terrorist acts involve violence or the threat of violence. These violent acts are usually committed by nongovernmental groups or individuals who are either part of or officially serving in the military, law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, or other governmental agencies of an established nation. Terrorists attempt not only to create panic but also to weaken confidence in the government and the political leadership of the target country. Terrorism therefore is designed to have psychological effects that reach farther beyond the impact on the immediate victims of an attack. Terrorists mean to frighten and therefore scare a wider crowd, such as a rival ethnic or religious group, an entire country and its political control, or the entire international community. Terrorist groups are generally small and have few members, limited firepower, and other resources. For this reason they rely on intense bloody and destructive acts of hit-and-run violence to attract attention to their group and their cause. Through the media they are able to create a larger voice for themselves and create hostilities among people.

"A terrorist is a criminal who seeks publicity. This sets him far apart from what British officials in Northern Ireland have taken to calling the ODC, or Ordinary Decent Criminal, who understandably shuns the limelight. They require publicity. It is their lifeblood. If the media were not there to report terrorist acts and to explain their political and social significance (the motives inspiring them and so fourth) terrorism as such would cease to exist" (Netanyahu 70)

What has caused terrorism can be a mystery for many reactionary groups, but for other groups the main causes can be historical, cultural, religious, economic, social, and psychological. Generally democratic countries have been proven to be grounds for terrorism because of the open nature of their societies. In such societies people have fundamental rights, civil liberties are protected, and government control and constant surveillance of the people and their activities are absent. Also by through the same reasons repressive societies, where the government closely monitors citizens and restricts their speech and movement, have often provided more difficult environments for terrorists. But even countries with strict police-enforced laws have not been immune to terrorism, even though they limit civil liberties and are against free speech and rights of assembly.

One the most commonly seen forms of terrorism have been Suicide terrorism, other wise known as psychological warfare. "While suicide bombers are often portrayed as lone mad zealots, they are in fact pawns in large terrorist networks that wage calculated psychological warfare. (National Center for Policy Analysis) The suicide bombers often do die while attempting their terrorist acts, hence the name, but the bombers do wish to live to see how the tragedy has affected their victims. The wide range use of suicide terrorism is because it is simple and low-cost, guarantees mass casualties, guarantees the act will succeed, suicide bombers have no fear to surrender information, and the intense impact on the media. "The relatively high number of casualties guaranteed in such attacks, which are usually carried out in crowded areas, ensures full media coverage. Thus, suicide terrorism ranks with other spectacular modus operandi such as blowing up airplanes in mid air or the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction as a sure means to win maximum effect." (National Center for Policy Analysis) Some of the most recent act of suicide terrorism in the U.S. was the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Suicide Bombers hijacked two planes full of fuel and used them as missiles into the Twin Towers, Killing everyone aboard the two planes and collapsing the towers. This suicide attack is the worst act of terrorism ever committed on US soil. This type of terrorism has been around for many years and dates back to the 18th century.

"Looking at history of terrorism, it can be seen that suicide attacks are in actuality a very old modus operandi. In ancient times two notorious sects, the Jewish Sicairis and the Islamic Hashishiyun became infamous for such attacks. In the 18 century, suicide tactics were used on the Malabar Coast of Southwestern India, in Atjeh in Northern Sumatra and in Mindanao and Sulu in the Southern Philippines. In all of these places Muslims carried out suicide attacks in their fight against Western hegemony and colonial rule. "(National Center for Policy Analysis)

"Suicide terrorism is defined as a politically motivated violent attack perpetrated by a self-aware individual who actively and purposely causes his own death through blowing himself up along with his chosen target. The perpetrator's ensured death is a precondition for the success of his mission."(Schweitzer) Today's suicide terrorist attacks are obviously different from ones of ancient times, but also the mode of warfare has changed. Modern suicide attacks are often for the purpose to inflict both physical and psychological damage to the population. Another popular form of terrorism is Bio-chemical terrorism, which is one of the most deadly types. Bio-chemical terrorism can be defined as a group that threatens or attacks their target with the usage of a chemical that is very harmful and can be fatal. (dictionary.com)

" In the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf war Iraq produced and planned to use not only chemical weapons but also biological weapons " (Gay 12) This is a good example of how other countries have tried to use bio-chemical warfare against another country. Along with the threat among opposing nations, there is also the threat of this terrorism in one nation. "In 1994 and 1995, Japanese citizens in Tokyo and other cities were terrorized by chemical attacks planned and executed by members of the Aum Shinrikyo (supreme truth) religious cult and its leader Shoko Ashara, who called himself "Holy Pope." (Gay 13) This cult tired to create a war by attacking the legislature and other authorities