Terrorism – what is it?!

Terrorism Global War on Terrorism (2001-now)

Lesson #4

TERRORISM – a definition• Destructive actions meant to create dramatic

fear and to shift political support for a cause• Usually violent• Considered illegal• They usually target innocent people (civilians)• Terrorists usually say they are fighting for a

bigger cause

Civilian Targets

Suicide Bombing

Terrorists can act alone…

… or with a group

A quick history of Terrorism

• 66-72 AD - Romans attacked by people they controlled

• “terrorism” first used by French Revolutionaries to scare French people to stay “with” the revolution

• Terrorism is usually used by people who feel they are oppressed, and have no other means of getting attention for their cause

Terrorism in recent times

• IRA in Ireland• Palestinians in Israel

Increase in attacks

Terrorism in America

Ted Kaczynski, the "Unabomber"

Nationwide bombing campaign Between 1978 and 1995Opposed modern technology, industrializationMailed and planted homemade bombskilling three people; injuring 23 others.

Went to Harvard at age 16Was guinea pig in stress experimentsEarned PhD in math from Mich.Professor @ age 25, UC BerkeleyQuitRecluse in MontanaSent 16 bombs in 17 yearsIn prison for life

American Terrorist

Timothy McVeighOklahoma City bombingDetonated a truck bomb next toFederal Building in Oklahoma City, 1995.Killed 168 people and injured over 600Found guiltyExecuted quickly (four years)

He hoped to inspire a revolt against what he considered to be a tyrannical federal government.

Foreign terrorist in America, WTC 1993

Ramzi Yousef

World Trade Center bomber, 1993Car bomb - detonated below North Tower1,500 lb (680 kg) bomb intended kill 250,000 peopleIt failed, but killed six people and injured 1,042

Yousef sent letter to New York Times after the bombing:The bombing was “in response for the American support to Israel," And he hoped to show Americans the pain they caused to the Japanese in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Foreign terrorist, WTC 1993

Ramzi Yousef

"Yes, I am a terrorist, and proud of it as long as it is against the U.S. government and Israel, because you are more than terrorists; you are the one who invented terrorism and using it every day. You are butchers, liars and hypocrites."

Sentenced to 240 yrs in prisonYousef prayed almost every hour Made many attempts to convertCellmates on "Bomber's Row."

• Timothy McVeigh• Ted Kaczynsk

Yousef reportedly converted to Christianity in 2005.

Our first real attack of TERRORISM in America:

9-11 attackAmericans were confusedMost had no idea anyone was mad at usMost Americans wanted revengeAMERICANS WERE ANGRY AT

• All of the MIDDLE EAST• All MUSLIMS

Where did terrorists come from?

• Small in number• Mostly made up of

VERY loyal Muslims• Most just want

“Western” things out of Middle East

• Problem: we depend on Middle Eastern Oil

9-11 (Sept. 11, 2001)

New York city

World Trade CenterBecame known as“GROUND ZERO”

Click-Is Islam Dangerous?17 min

What is the history of terrorism?

click

Anti-Terrorism Measures

Anti-TerrorismGoal – prevent terrorismPrepare and defend ourselves from themReact to them after they attack – keep others safe

Counter-TerrorismGoal – defeat terrorismDeny them the ability to attackFind and attack terrorists to eliminate them

EXAMPLE: AIRPORT SECURITY

EXAMPLE: TRACK DOWN TERRORIST RING & DESTROY

Counter Terrorism Measures

Goal of War on Terror

1. Find terrorists2. Deny terrorists funds3. Destroy terrorist

networks

Purpose of troops in Afghanistan• Remove Al Qaeda

terrorists• Taliban government

fought our efforts• New goal: remove

Taliban government

• US Troop became advisors at end of 2014

Click-War on Terror

Modern History of Terrorism• Terrorism is Asymmetric Warfare.

– Asymmetric warfare is the use of apparently random/unpredictable violence by an weak military against a stronger military to gain advantage. (Allen, 1997).

– The key of Asymmetric warfare is using unexpected, unconventional tactics in combat (Craig, 1998).

Arthur H. Garrison

Prevention of Terrorism

• Primary prevention:– Education!!!– Understand the differences in cultures, religions,

beliefs and human behaviors– Think of the peace, freedom and equality of all

human beings, not just “my group of people”– Eliminate the root of terrorism

Prevention of Terrorism

• Secondary prevention:– Establish surveillance and monitoring system on

terrorism attack– Improve protective system for citizens

Prevention of Terrorism

• Tertiary prevention– Early detection of the sources– Prevent the extension of impairments– Rescue the survivors– Console the rest of the population

Types of Terrorism • Domestic terrorism involves groups whose

terrorist activities are directed at elements of our government without foreign involvement. Oklahoma City is a primary example.

• International terrorism involves groups whose terrorist activities are foreign-based and/or directed by countries or groups outside the United States. Sept. 11 is an example of International Terrorism.

the Center for National Security Studies

Methods of Terrorism

• Firearms• Explosive and Incendiary Devices• Chemical Agents• Biological Agents• Nuclear Weapon

From Emergency Net NEWS Archives, 1994 Document Courtesy of the U.S. Postal Inspector's Office

Suspicious Thing to Look for

Death Rate of Various Causes in 2000 USA and that from TerrorismHeart disease* One in 400

Cancer * One in 500

Cerebrovascular diseases* One in 2,000

Accidents * One in 3,000

Diabetes* One in 4,000

Suicide* One in 10,000

Homicide* One in 20,000

Terrorism in 2001 One in 100,000

Terrorism in 1990’s One in 50,000,000

Why did terrorism draw considerable attention in 2001?

• The risk of dying from terrorism was extremely low in 1990’s, and was still relatively low compared with some diseases in 2001

• But the death rate increased by 500 times in 2001 due to Sept. 11

• Overall the death rate of terrorism has not been high• Despite the low risk, shock, surprise and fear

engulfed the United States and world

Conclusion• Terrorism is unlawful act• Terrorism has a long history of being used to

achieve political, religious and ideological objectives

• Terrorism can be conducted through firearms, explosive devices and biological, chemical, nuclear materials

• Even through the events of 2001,the risk of dying from terrorism has remained much lower than that from motor vehicles, smoking, and alcoholic beverage.