Terrorism Final

Definition of Terrorism

Common components - Political motivation, civilian targets, the use of illegal force, unconventional weapons and tactics, subnational actors, seeking to provoke public attention and create fear

New Terrorism

Loose cell-based structure, asymmetric tactics, high casualty rates, indiscriminate targeting of civilians, religious or ideological motivation, transnational goals

State-Sponsored Terrorism

To achieve its goals, the state employs terrorism through state patronage (overt support; US support to Nicaraguan Contras in early-1980s) or state assistance (tacit, covert support; US actions during Iran-Contra events during the mid-1980s). Terrorism can be used in foreign policy and domestic policy (can range from unofficial endorsements of terrorism through vigilantes to genocide)

Dissident Terrorism

“Terrorism from below”, pursues goals incompatible with the existing state.

Variations: Revolutionary (seeks to overthrow the existing government; FARC in Colombia), nihilist (seeks to eradicate the state with no goals after revolution; Weather Underground), ethno-nationalist (seeking to establish a separate ethnic state; Chechens in 1990s-2000s)

Can be communal (group against group; Palestinian liberation movements) or lone-wolf (Kaczynski)

Religious Terrorism

Driven by fundamentalist religious belief, increasingly prevalent currently, has adapted to modern technologies, usually is characterized by transnational activity

Examples - ISIS, Al-Qaida, Boko Haram

Left-Wing Ideological Terrorism

The New Left was prevalent in the 1960s-1980s. Generally sought to establish a new equitable society, generally based on neo-Marxist or Maoist ideology and anti-imperialism

Prominent public figures - Fanon, Marighella (a Marxist who laid out for armed struggle), Carlos the Jackal

Examples - Red Army Faction in Germany, Red Brigades in Italy, Japanese Red Army

Right-Wing Ideological Terrorism

Increasingly prevalent in the 1990s. Seeks to protect traditional value systems but follows no single ideological framework

Common themes - Racism, xenophobia, anti-globalization

Examples - Neo-Nazis, Grey Wolves in Turkey

International Terrorism

Can overlap with other categories, but has explicitly agenda, targets international targets at home or abroad, and seeks international effects. Conducts symbolic and high-profile attacks, often international hijackings. Evolved during the Cold War (New Left, Palestinian, mujahideen movements)

Gender-based Terrorism

Systemic violence directed against men or women that specifically targets them because of their gender

Examples - Massacres of men in Yugoslavia and Sudan, kidnappings of women in Iraq and Mali; a sub-type of women terrorists (ISIS and Chechen suicide terrorists)

Eco-Terrorism

Terrorism in the name of the environment

Examples - The Sea Shepherd, Earth Liberation, Extinction Revolution (mass protests in England which slowed down London for 10 days)

Environmental Terrorism

Terrorism which uses the environment as a weapon

Examples - Attacks on oil pipelines and fields in Colombia, Chechnya, Syria, Iraq

Criminal Dissident Terrorism

Distinction between traditional criminal enterprises (mostly profit-driven with limited political ambitions) and criminal-political enterprises (actively engaging in political violence, seeking control over govt or territory)

Examples - Latin America (Mexican drug cartels), Asia (Chinese Triads), Europe (Italian and Russia mafias)

Terrorist Objectives

Range from gaining recognizability and creating disruption (Palestinian orgs in the 1970s or eco-terrorists of the 2000s) to achieving declared goals such as creating revolutionary environment (New Left) or establishing a religious state (ISIS)

Targets

Selected for their symbolic value (embassies, MNCs, historic sites, leaders)

Methods

Reliance on the diffusion of information and transnational movements, and asymmetric warfare: cell-based networks, indiscriminate targets, unconventional weapons, unexpected tactics (bombings, hijackings, firearms, kidnappings, vehicle attacks). Increasingly sophisticated and incorporating cyber attacks

Effectiveness of Terrorism

Is relative; can range from gaining attention/propaganda value (ISIS videos), often provoking the govt to overreact (IRA in Northern Ireland, the 1980s) to creating public fear and disrupting society (Boko Haram in Nigeria, the 2020s) to exacting specific concessions (Madrid bombing, 2004)

Role of Terrorism in the Media

Media - Reports terrorist grievances and thus provides to terrorists desired public exposure

Govt - Seeks to control the terrorist narrative, pursues its own agenda

Public - Has the right to know and is interested in protecting civil liberties

Example of competing interests - WikiLeaks exposures in the early 2000s

Origins of Right-Wing Extremism in the US

The aftermath of the Civil War, KKK, lynching, repression of the Black population

Modern Right-Wing Terrorism in the US

Various specific concerns but united in the sense of being threatened by global and domestic social developments

The Patriot Movement

Anti-govt movement, opposes federal institutions, centralized govt, and globalization. Concerned about the infringement of individual rights and national cultural values. Initially motivated by the federal operations in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and Waco, Texas and the establishment of armed militias in the 1990s

Groups involved with Jan 6

Proud Boys, QAnon, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters

White Supremacists/Neo Nazis

Claims the racial supremacy of white Americans. A rise in the 1980s with the establishment of the Aryan nations, White Aryan resistance, and the National Alliance. In the 1990s-2000s, rise of new organizations based on white nationalism, white separatism, and alt-right ideologies

Examples of orgs and lone wolves - Aryan Republican Army, The Order (both committed large-scale robberies and murders) and lone wolf attacks on black churches (Dylan Roof, 2015) and synagogues (Rober Bowers, 2018)

Christian Right

Fundamentalist Protestant/Evangelical Christians seek to establish dominancy of traditional family values and are against gays and abortion. Terroristic activities include arson, bombings, and shootings, particularly on abortion provider facilities and individuals

Examples - Army of God (attacks on abortion providers from 1980s to 2010s), Phineas Priesthood (bank robberies and bombings in the 1990s)

Origins of Left-Wing Terrorism in US

Labor activism, violence in the South, repression and segregation of Black population, subsequent Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Evolved from non-violent protests and civil disobedience in the 1950s to violent activities in the 1960s

The New Left

Associated with revolutionary neo-Marxism. Characterized by being anti-Establishment, opposing the military-industrial complex and the war in Vietnam, seeking social justice. Supported by students in the 1960s-1970s

Largest orgs - Students for Democratic Society (relatively peaceful), Weathermen (bombing nation-wide targets), the Symbionese Liberation Army (killings; other criminal activities, including the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst)

Longest active - May 19 Communist Org and the United Freedom Front

Black Liberation Movement/Black Liberation Army

Black movements which sought to counter harassment and repression, overthrow the government, and end white domination. Organized bombings, bank robberies. Inspired by Malcolm X and Mao

Puerto Rican Terrorism

Sought independence for Puerto Rico

Examples - FALN and Macheteros (bombings in NY, Chicago, DC, also robberies and individual killings in the 1970s-80s

Modern Left-Wing Terrorism

Characterized by focus on single issues and in comparison to the New Left, less reliant on Marxism and Maoism. Often, environmentally and anti-corporation oriented organizations commit arson, vandalism, and potentially lethal sabotage, causing economic damage with limited casualties

Examples - Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front

International Terrorism in the US

Until 9/11, generally less of a concern than ideologically-motivated terrorism; isolated incidents pre-9/11

Cold War - Cuban (anti-Castro), Irish (Provisional IRA), Jewish (Jewish Defense League)

1980s - Puerto Rican independence-related attacks

1990s-2000s - International terrorism becomes increasingly related to conflicts in the Middle East and Jihadism. First attack on World Trade Center and 9/11 changes perceptions of international terrorism in the US, linking it with Islam and heightening security concerns

Post 9/11 - Increased concerns about homegrown Jihadism. San Bernardino (2015), Boston Marathon Bombing (2013), pipe bombs in NY + NJ (2016)

Counterterrorism - Military Responses

Can range from maximum use of force (military suppression campaigns, including punitive or preemptive strikes) to more selective use of force (covert coercive operations, special operations, including extraordinary renditions and assassinations)

Military suppression examples

Military suppression examples - Israel’s incursions in the West Bank and Gaza, US and allies’ invasion of Afghanistan

Punitive strikes

US bombings in Sudan and Afghanistan, 1998

Preemptive strikes examples

Israeli raids in Lebanon, US strike in Libya

Assassinations examples

Israeli response to the Munich Olympic massacre, US drone attacks in Somalia, Yemen, and Syria

Special Operations Forces

Forces are highly trained military and police units that specialize in unconventional operations (operate covertly and quickly in hostile environments

Military unit example - 1RPIMa in France (trained to operate in desert, urban, and tropical environments; they have been deployed to several crises, particularly Africa)

Police unit example - GSG-9 in Germany (paramilitary unit that has been used domestically and internationally as a counterterrorist and hostage rescue unit; freed hostages held by Palestinian terrorists in 1977)

Counterterrorism - Non-Military Responses

Can range from repressive options (non-violent covert operations, including intelligence enhance security, economic sanctions) to conciliatory options (diplomacy, peace processes, social reform, concessions) to legalistic options (prosecuting terrorism through law enforcement, domestic, or international law)

Varieties of Intelligence

SIGINT - Surveillance through data interception

HUMINT - Manipulation of individuals

OSINT - Using open source data

US Intelligence

FBI - Domestic intelligence

CIA - Intelligence abroad

NSA - Collects SIGINT from abroad and ensures cybersecurity in the US

Enhanced Security Examples

Border walls, reinforced structures

Conciliatory Measures Examples

Successful peace processes in Northern Ireland; successful social reform regarding ETA in Spain

Examples of concessions: Spain’s withdrawal from Iraq after Madrid train bombing

Legalistic Options Examples

Domestic persecution or amnesty, extradition treaties, international courts

Homeland Security and Civil Liberties in the US

The Patriot Act (2001) - Large scale surveillance, search, and data collection without specific legal authorization. Modified by the Freedom Act (2015) which ended bulk data collection and some other data collection

The Department of Homeland Security (2002) - The single overarching structure of counterterrorism management with functions of law enforcement and intelligence

Concerns over Civil Liberties - Threats to national security take precedence over personal freedoms when counterterrorism agencies use profiling, arbitrarily applying the designation of terrorism, conduct extraordinarily renditions, and torture

Projections Short-Term

2 theoretical approaches - Terrorism as a religious wave which is likely to continue (the theory of terrorism waves) and terrorism has as the fourth-gen war (terrorism becoming increasingly the essence of modern conflict)

New terrorism characteristics - Fewer incidents, but higher casualties

Projections Long-Term

State terrorism has risks of using WMDs; dissident terrorism, religious terrorism, right-wing terrorism, and criminal terrorism are likely to continue with few modifications

Middle East, Israel/Palestine, Africa, and SE Asia are likely to remain particularly prone to terrorism