HSEP Final exam study guide

What is terror from above and what are some examples?

It is state terrorism. It is when the government is terrorizing its own population by using violence to create fear all inorder to bring about a particular political objective.

• Violent actions used to maintain the power of a local or national elite

  • Ex.) Pinochet; implemented a series of security operations in which around 3,000 suspected terrorists or known dissidents were killed, 80,000 were imprisoned and approximately 30,000 more were tortured.

  • Ex.) Hitler’s 3rd Reich

Why do terror groups use suicide terrorism?

They use this as a:

• A strategic value or force multiplier to increase their strength

• To achieve major political

• To punish a state or society for doing harm to their community or religion

• Targeting specific individuals

• To create high casualties to ensure media coverage to mobilize support for their cause

• The terrorist group has failed to meet it goes through less extreme measures

• Individual incentives

• Heavenly aspirations or incentives

Why do people join suicide terror groups?

They join for:

• Revenge, feelings of humiliation, anger

• Fatalism (Nothing to lose)

• Religious and theological incentives

• “Jihad” and “martyrdom”

• Heroic sacrifice

• The individual’s social status increases exponentially, as does his families

How are people rewarded for committing suicide terrorism?

They are rewarded with:

• Economic Incentives; Financial benefits to the martyrs family

  • $3-5k ($10k during the al-Aqsa Intifada) awarded to the family

  • $25k from Saddam, 2000-2003

• Social services provided by the sponsoring group

• Community Incentives

  • “The family of a martyr”

• HEAVENLY ASPIRATIONS/INCENTIVES

• ISLAM’S SHAHEEDs (MARTYRS)

• ALL SINS FORGIVEN, IMMEDIATE ASCENSION TO HEAVEN

  • "It's as if a very high, impenetrable wall separated you from Paradise or Hell," he said. "Allah has promised one or the other to his creatures. So, by pressing the detonator, you can immediately open the door to Paradise—it is the shortest path to Heaven."

• 72 DARK EYED VIRGINS

• BECOMES A HEAVENLY ADVOCATE FOR 70 FAMILY MEMBERS

Which terrorist organization was responsible for the Terror in Mumbai attack and which country gave it a safe haven?

LeT (Laskar e Taiba); Pakistan

What is the most dangerous form of terrorism and why?

Ethnic Nationalist Terrorism is the most dangerous form of terrorism because it can escalate into genocide quickly.

What is the difference between international and domestic terrorism?

Domestic Terrorism originates from within a country and International terrorism originates from outside a country.

Which type of domestic terrorism has been more prevalent in the U.S. - right wing or left wing?

Right Wing

What is the deadliest domestic terrorist attack?

Oklahoma City Bombing

The Khmer Rouge is an example of "terror from above" in which country?

Cambodia

Which country gave safe haven to Bin Laden and Al Qaeda?

Afghanistan

Which terrorist organization is best known for anti-abortion violence and clinic attacks?

Army of God

This country is the primary home of the PKK, a Kurdish Terrorist organization?

Turkey

What is the Arabic word for martyr?

Shaheed/Shahid

There are only four countries that are state sponsors of terrorism. Who are they and why are they on the list?

These states are:

• Cuba

• Iran

• Syria

• North Korea

Cuba

This is on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This state was removed by Obama since we are normalizing our relationship with that nation, but put back on by Trump

• This country provided medical support and safehaven to members of FARC (OG Narco terrorist group) and ETA.

• Supported other Leftist insurgency groups

• Political reasons for keeping it on (Trump did this to keep Cubans in Florida to vote red)

Iran

This is on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This country is the most active state sponsor of terrorist groups.

• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force is its support mechanism.

• Supports Palestinian Groups (Hamas, PIJ, PFLP, etc..) and Hezbollah

• Holding senior Al Qaeda members but won’t release their identities

• High Profile role in anti-Israeli activity

• Policies trying to disrupt Iraq

• Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Threat

• Support to the Houthi Rebels in Yemen

Syria

This is on the list of state sponsors of terrorism (Under Assad Regime). They support Hamas, PIJ, PFLP, Hezbollah

• Claim Palestinians can engage in “legitimate armed resistance”

• Involved in assassination of Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri

• States it will protect US citizens and facilities in Syria

North Korea

This is on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This state were relatively recently removed from list (as an enticement to have them curtail nuclear program), but put back on.

How many of the terrorist survived the Terror in Mumbai attack?

One

Why is the Terror in Mumbai attack an example of state sponsored terrorism?

This is clearly an example of state-sponsored terrorism for many reasons.

• Firstly, the Lashkar-e-Taiba is deeply embedded within Pakistani society, with the Pakistani government completely turning a blind eye to their activity because it so closely aligns with their own goals. They provide them with intelligence, as well as space, and no interference with the recruitment and training of their members.

• Secondly, the Pakistani government gives them the subtle green light to go ahead with attacks such as these because they further their own regional and international political goals. It is said in the documentary that the terrorists were motivated to attack to try to instill fear in the Indian population and government, and that their conflict over Kashmir is not over. Kashmir is a highly disputed piece of land/territory that is currently under Indian control, much to the dismay of the Pakistanis.

• The Pakistanis also wanted to prove that they were a threat to be contended with, which is why they did an attack of that scale that forced the attention of the international community. They also wanted to create a standard for terror in Islamic Jihad that no attack was too extreme.

What are some single-issue causes for domestic terrorism?

What is the primary goal of ethnic nationalist terrorists?

The primary goal of ethnic nationalist terrorists is to make a statement about the group’s identity.

• It easily provokes government overreaction who see it as an insurgency or domestic problem (which further exacerbates the ethnic divisions)

• It frequently produces government concessions which are seen as a sign of success

• It often raises money (donations) and public support quickly