Full Format(English Terrorism)

8/14/2019 Full Format(English Terrorism)

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What is Terrorism?

Terrorism is a criminal act that influences an audience

beyond the immediate victim

History of Terrorism Terrorist acts or the threat of such action have been in

existence for millennia Over the past 20 years,

terrorists have committed extremely violent acts for

alleged political or religious reasons

Terrorist Behavior

There is clearly a wide choice of definitions for

terrorism. Despite this, there are elements in common

among the majority of useful definitions. Commonthreads of the various definitions identify terrorism as:

Political

Psychological

Coercive

Dynamic

DeliberateDifferences between Terrorism and Insurgency

A key difference is that an insurgency is a movement -

a political effort with a specific aim. This sets it apart

from both guerilla warfare and terrorism, as they are

both methods available to pursue the goals of the

political movement.

State Sponsored Terrorism

Three different ways that states can engage in the use

of terror are:

Governmental or "State" terror


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State involvement in terror

State sponsorship of terrorism

Goals and Motivations of Terrorists

common form of symbolism utilized in terroristtargeting is striking on particular anniversaries or

commemorative dates

Terrorist Groups

There are two general categories of organization;

hierarchicaland networked. The age of an

organization is one of the determinants of whether it is

likely to adopt a network or hierarchical structure

The Evolution of Terrorism Terrorism is continually changing. While at the

surface it remains "the calculated use of unlawful

violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate

fear

Future Trends in Terrorism

As a conflict method that has survived and evolved

through several millennia to flourish in the moderninformation age, terrorism continues to adapt to meet

the challenges of emerging forms of conflict, and

exploit developments in technology and society

Terrorism Glossary

Definitions of some common terrorist and counter-

terrorism terms (A-B) Terrorism is not new, and even though it hasbeen used since the beginning of recorded history it can berelatively hard to define. Terrorism has been describedvariously as both a tactic and strategy; a crime and a holyduty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusableabomination. Obviously, a lot depends on whose point ofview is being represented. Terrorism has often been an


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effective tactic for the weaker side in a conflict. As anasymmetric form of conflict, it confers coercive power withmany of the advantages of military force at a fraction of thecost. Due to the secretive nature and small size of terrorist

organizations, they often offer opponents no clearorganization to defend against or to deter Terrorist actsor the threat of such action have been in existence formillennia. Despite having a history longer than the modernnation-state, the use of terror by governments and those thatcontest their power remains poorly understood. While themeaning of the word terror itself is clear, when it is applied toacts and actors in the real world it becomes confused. Part

of this is due to the use of terror tactics by actors at all levelsin the social and political environment. Is the Unabomber,with his solo campaign of terror, a criminal, terrorist, orrevolutionary? There is clearly a wide choice of definitionsfor terrorism. Despite this, there are elements in commonamong the majority of useful definitions. Common threads ofthe various definitions identify terrorism as:

Political Psychological Coercive Dynamic Deliberate

A key difference is that an insurgency is a movement - apolitical effort with a specific aim. This sets it apart from bothguerilla warfare and terrorism, as they are both methodsavailable to pursue the goals of the political movement.

Three different ways that states can engage in the use ofterror are:

Governmental or "State" terror State involvement in terror State sponsorship of terrorism


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The type of target selected will often reflect motivations andideologies. For groups professing secular political or socialmotivations, their targets are highly symbolic of authority;government offices, banks, national airlines, and

multinational corporations with direct relation to theestablished order. Likewise, they conduct attacks onrepresentative individuals whom they associate witheconomic exploitation, social injustice, or political repression.While religious groups also use much of this symbolism,there is a trend to connect it to greater physical devastation.There also is a tendency to add religiously affiliatedindividuals, such as missionaries, and religious activities,

such as worship services, to the targeting equation

There are two general categories of organization;hierarchicaland networked. The age of an organization isone of the determinants of whether it is likely to adopt anetwork or hierarchical structure. Newer groups tendtowards organizing or adapting to the possibilities inherent inthe network model. Ideology can have an effect on internalorganization, with strict Leninist or Maoist groups tending

towards centralized control and hierarchical structure. Withinthe larger structure, virtually all groups use variants ofcellular organizations at the tactical level to enhance securityand to task organize for operations. Terrorism is continuallychanging. While at the surface it remains "the calculated useof unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence toinculcate fear" it is rapidly becoming the predominantstrategic tool of our adversaries. As terrorism evolves into

the principal irregular warfare strategy of the 21st century, itis adapting to changes in the world socio-politicalenvironment. Some of these changes facilitate the abilities ofterrorists to operate, procure funding, and develop newcapabilities. Other changes are gradually moving terrorisminto a different relationship with the world at large. As a


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conflict method that has survived and evolved throughseveral millennia to flourish in the modern information age,terrorism continues to adapt to meet the challenges ofemerging forms of conflict, and exploit developments in

technology and society. Terrorism has demonstratedincreasing abilities to adapt to counter-terrorism measuresand political failure. Terrorists are developing newcapabilities of attack and improving the efficiency of existingmethods. Additionally, terrorist groups have shownsignificant progress in escaping from a subordinate role innation-state conflicts, and becoming prominent asinternational influences in their own right. They are becoming

more integrated with other sub-state entities, such ascriminal organizations and legitimately charteredcorporations, and are gradually assuming a measure ofcontrol and identity with national governments Definitions ofsome common terrorist and counter-terrorism terms (A-B):

A - B

AAIA: Aden-Abyan Islamic Army, a.k.a. Islamic Army ofAden based in Yemen

ABB: Alex Boncayao Brigade based in the Philippines

ADF: Allied Democratic Forces based in Uganda and theCongo

AIAI: Al-Ittihad al-Islami, a.k.a. Islamic Union based inSomalia

Al-Badhr: Al-Badhr Mujahidin based in Pakistan


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ALF: Animal Liberation Front

ALIR: Army of the Liberation of Rwanda

anti-terrorism: (AT) (JP 1-02) - Defensive measures used toreduce the vulnerability of individuals and property toterrorist acts, to include limited response and containment bylocal military forces. See FMs 31-20 and 100-20.

ASG: Abu Sayyaf Group based in the Philippines

asset (terrorist): A resource - person, group, relationship,instrument, installation, or supply - at the disposition of anterrorist organization for use in an operational or supportrole. Often used with a qualifying term such as suicide assetor surveillance asset. Based upon JP 1-02 asset(intelligence).

AUC: Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, a.k.a. United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia

AUM: Aum Supreme Truth, a.k.a. Aum Shinrikyo and Alephbased in Japan

biological agent: (JP 1-02) - A microorganism that causesdisease in personnel, plants, or animals or causes thedeterioration of materiel.

biological weapon: (JP 1-02) - An item of materiel, whichprojects, disperses, or disseminates a biological agentincluding arthropod vectors.

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