Chapter 13 Terrorism Terrorists 1 Chapter Summary Chapter

Chapter 13 Terrorism & Terrorists 1

Chapter Summary ü Chapter Thirteen is an overview of domestic and international terrorism. ü The Chapter begins with a definition of terrorism and the extent of terrorism worldwide. ü Chapter Thirteen then outlines three major terrorist groups throughout the world. ü This is followed with a discussion of terrorist groups within the borders of the United States. 2

Chapter Summary ü The Chapter concludes with possible causes of terrorism and how law enforcement is attempting to combat terrorism. After reading this chapter, students should be able to: ü Define terrorism ü Explain the difference between terrorists and freedom fighters ü Discuss the extent of terrorism 3

Chapter Summary ü Understand Al-Qaeda, the PLO, and Hizballah ü Discuss terrorism in the United States ü Explain the causes of terrorism ü Discuss law enforcement’s policy for combating terrorism 4

Introduction ü Terrorism has a long history ü The term terrorism itself is believed to have originated with the French Revolution. 5

Terrorism Defined ü Terrorism is highly organized and conducted primarily for political or religious reasons. ü The FBI defines terrorism as: The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social goals. 6

Why Terrorism? ü Terrorism is a tactic used to influence the behavior of others through intimidation. ü Terrorists typically appeal to a higher moral good. ü Terrorists strike at innocents because the very essence of terrorism is public intimidation. ü Terrorism has an ultimate purpose. ü Every time terrorists gain an objective they have sought, the rationality of terrorism in demonstrated along with its immorality. 7

Is there a Difference between Terrorists & Freedom Fighters? ü Freedom fighters are fighters in wars of national liberation against foreign occupiers or against oppressive domestic regimes they seek to overthrow. ü Freedom fighter activity is typically confined to third-world dictatorships or one-party states, while terrorists operate mostly against liberal Western democracies. 8

Figure 13. 1 International Terrorist Attacks, 1982– 2003 Source: U. S. Department of State (2004). Patterns of Global Terrorism, 2003. 9

The Extent of Terrorism ü Although terrorism has ancient roots, it became far more prevalent, deadly, and destructive from the late 1960 s onward, because: ü The instability experienced by many countries following WWII ü The high point of conflict between the superpowers ü Modern transportation ü Modern technology 10

The Extent of Terrorism ü Of the 74 terrorist groups listed by the U. S. Department of State (2003), only three of the groups still active originated before 1960. ü We are seeing fewer terrorists incidents as counter terrorism becomes more sophisticated. ü Although deaths and injuries caused by terrorists are matters of grave concern, the damage to a society as a whole is more psychological than physical. 11

Terrorism & Common Crime ü Terrorist organizations must be financed. Funding may come from: ü Governments sympathetic to the cause. ü Private sympathizers ü Common criminal activities ü Nongovernmental organizations 12

Table 13. 1 International Terrorist Attacks, 1982– 2003 Year International Terrorism Deaths Homicides in the United States 2000 409 15, 586 2001 3, 547 16, 037 2002 725 16, 204 2003 307 16, 503 2004 1, 907 16, 137 Sources: 2000 - 2003 terrorism figures from U. S. Department of State (2004); the 2004 figure from the National Counterterrorism Center. Homicide figures from the 2001 through 2005 UCRs. 13

Al-Qaeda ü Al-Qaeda is not a single terrorist group but rather the base organization for a number of Sunni Muslim terrorist groups. ü Al-Qaeda got its start under Osama bin Laden in the late 1980 s. ü Bin Laden and his organization are virulently anti. West in general, and anti-American in particular.

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) ü The PLO serves as an umbrella organization for several groups serving a variety of ideologies and agendas united by Palestinian nationalism. ü The PLO was created at the first Arab Summit meeting in Egypt in 1964 with the aim of liberating Palestine from the Israelis. 15

Hizballah: Party of God ü Hizballah is the best contemporary example of a state-sponsored terrorist organization. 16

Hizballah ü It was organized by the Shi’ite religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini to fight the secular rule of the Shah of Iran. ü The more radical among modern Shi’ites view the existence of a Jewish state in an area they also consider holy to be an affront to Islam. 17

Table 13. 2 Some Major Terrorist Groups Group Abu Sayyaf Description & Activities Ideology Strength Funding Nationalis t/ Islamic 200 to 500 Self-financed via criminal activity + other Islamic groups. Asbat al-Ansar Lebanon-based Sunni Islamic group that has assassinated Lebanese Shi’ite religious leaders and bombed symbols of Western “decadence” such as nightclubs and U. S. franchise restaurants. Islamic About 300 International Sunni networks and al-Qaeda Basque Founded in 1959 with the aim of Fatherland creating an independent Basque Liberty (ETA) homeland in northwest Spain and southwest France. Its activities have been aimed primarily at Spanish government officials and security forces, but French interests have also been attacked. Nationalis t and weakly Marxist Unknown, but has many supporter s in Basque regions Primarily via criminal activity; has received training in Libya and Lebanon Philippine radical Islamic group motivated to gain an independent Islamic state in southern Philippines. Engages in kidnapping, bombing, and other criminal activities. Has strong links with al-Qaeda. Source: Department of State (2004). Patterns of Global Terrorism. 18

Table 13. 2 Some Major Terrorist Groups Communist Party of Philippines/Ne w People’s Army Military wing of the Philippine Communist Party. Carries out assassinations and kidnappings of political figures and U. S. military personnel stationed in the Philippines. Maoist 1, 000+ Criminal activity, contributions, and “revolutionary taxes” extorted from businesses Harakat ul. Mujahidin (HUM) Pakistani group operating primarily against Indian troops and civilians in Kashmir, territory claimed by both India and Pakistan. Has carried out airline hijackings and kidnapping of Westerners. HUM is aligned with al. Qaeda and signed bin Laden’s 1998 fatwa calling for war on the United States. Islamic Several thousand Donations from Saudi Arabia and other Islamic states; also donations from individuals Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Coalition of a number of central Asian groups opposed to secular rule in Uzbekistan. Responsible for numerous bombing incidents and kidnapping of Westerners. Fought with the Taliban against U. S. -led invasion of Afghanistan. Islamic About 1, 000 Support from other Islamic groups and patrons in the Middle East Source: Department of State (2004). Patterns of Global Terrorism. 19

Table 13. 2 Some Major Terrorist Groups Jemaah Islamiya (JI) A Southeast Asian network with links to al-Qaeda that has the goal of creating a huge Islamic state composed of Indonesia, Singapore, the southern Philippines, and southern Thailand. JI was responsible for the Bali bombing in 2002 that killed 200 and wounded 300 others. Islamic About 5, 000 Middle Eastern and Asian supporters and al-Qaeda Kurdistan Workers Party Composed of Turkish Kurds seeking an independent Kurdish state in Turkey. Has attacked Turkish diplomats in many countries and attempted to disrupt tourism in Turkey by bombing hotels, historical sites, and kidnapping tourists. Marxist 4, 000 to 5, 000 Syria, Iraq, Iran Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Composed of ethnic Tamils seeking an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka, primarily through the use of bombings and assassinations. The LTTE has refrained from targeting Western tourists for fear of drying up funds from overseas Tamils. Nationalism 10, 000 Funds from Tamil communities overseas and some drug smuggling Source: Department of State (2004). Patterns of Global Terrorism. 20

Mujahedin-e Khalq Formed in the 1960 s to counter the A mixture Several Westernization of Iran under the Shah. of Marxism thousand It supported the overthrow of the and Islam Shah but is presently fighting against Iran’s Islamic fundamentalist regime. Carries out attacks on Iranian diplomats and Iranian property. Contributions from Iranian expatriates National Liberation Army Columbian Marxist group formed by urban intellectuals inspired by Fidel Castro and legendary terrorist Che Guevara. Engages in kidnapping, bombing, and extortion. Attacks foreigners and Columbian infrastructure. Marxist 3, 000 to 5, 000 Criminal activity (drug trafficking and extortion) and some aid from Cuba Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) Formed in late 1960 s to destroy existing Peruvian institutions and replace them with a peasant revolutionary regime. Almost all Peruvian institutions have been brutally targeted in Peru and abroad. Marxist/ Maoist 2, 000+ Mostly drug trafficking and other forms of crime Turkish Hizballah Kurdish Sunni Islamic group that arose in opposition to the Marxist Kurdish Workers Party’s (KWP’s) actions against Muslims. Fights against KWP and Turkish armed forces. Bombs any establishment considered anti-Islamic. Kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at least 70 businessmen and journalists in the 1990 s. Islamic A few hundred + several thousand supporters Unknown 21

Terrorism in the United States ü Left-wing terrorism in the United States became active during the turmoil of the 1960 s. ü Some left-wing terrorist groups in the United States: ü Weather Underground ü May 19 Communist Organization ü Revolutionary Armed Task Force ü Black Liberation Army 22

Ideological: Right-Wing ü Most right-wing American groups characterized as terrorist are extremist rather than terrorist groups in that they hold views that are to the extreme right of mainstream. ü Some right-wing terrorist groups in the United States: Aryan Nations 23

Special-Issue Domestic Terrorism ü There a number of groups in the United States that employ terrorist tactics that have no grand sociopolitical agenda but rather seek to resolve special issues: ü Animal Liberation Front ü Earth Liberation Front ü Anti-Abortion Groups 24

Theories about the Causes of Terrorism ü Terrorism cannot be understood without understanding the specific historical, social, political, and economic conditions behind the emergence of each terrorist group. ü The groups originated in response to some perceived injustice. 25

Theories about the Causes of Terrorism Many Islamic terrorists are recruited from religious schools known as madrasas. 26

Is there a Terrorist Personality? ü No study of terrorist psychology has ever produced a psychological profile leading the majority of terrorist experts to suspect that there is any such thing as a terrorist personality. ü Terrorist groups live on the fringes of the host society & espouse a violently radical vision of reality. ü We should look at what terrorist groups have to offer if we want to understand why individuals join them. 27

Is there a Terrorist Personality? ü The terrorist group is made up of three types of individuals. ü The charismatic leader is socially alienated, narcissistic, arrogant, and intelligent. ü Antisocial individuals have opportunities in terrorist groups to use force and violence to further their own personal goals. ü The majority of terrorists are simple followers who see the world purely in black and white and have deep needs for acceptance. 28

Becoming a Terrorist ü The bulk of terrorists are probably better characterized as crusaders convinced of the moral rightness of their cause. ü The willingness to perform terrorist acts may reflect a process of moral disengagement more than a manifestation of pathological and/or criminal traits the individual brings to the terrorist group. 29

Law Enforcement Response & Government Policy ü There a number of ways a democracy can respond to terrorism, ranging from making concessions to military intervention. ü Concessions are only likely when there is moral substance to the terrorist cause, or when such concessions are reasonable. ü Military intervention may be used when the terrorist threat is too big for civilian authorities to handle. 30

Law Enforcement Response & Government Policy ü The principle of international law obliges countries to either extradite terrorists to the country where their crimes were committed or to punish themselves. ü The mission of the Department of Homeland Security is to detect, prevent, prepare for, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States. 31

Law Enforcement Response & Government Policy ü The US Patriot Act grants federal agencies greater authority to track & intercept private communications, greater powers to the treasury Department to combat corruption & prevent money laundering, & creates new crimes, penalties, and procedures for use against domestic & foreign terrorists. 32