Terrorism A Brief Overview

The Beginning Terrorism: Key Terms Vision Power Strategy Tactic Duty Shame Freedom fighter Ideology Indoctrination Radicalization Rationalization Emotions Moral Disengagement Communicative Acts

Political act – Desire for political change – Terrorism is typically non-state in character (Note the separate but related topic of state terrorism – typically antithetical to the desire for political change.) States can terrorize, but they are not terrorists. – Terrorists do not abide by norms They target innocents They seek psychological trauma Defining Terrorism

Driven by liberal or idealist political concepts Prefer revolutionary anti- authoritarian anti-materialist agendas Typically target elites that symbolize authority Examples? Left wing terrorist

Right wing terrorists Often target race and ethnicity Examples?

Ethno nationalist/ separatists Usually have clear territorial objectives – Liberation/separation – Popular support usually along ethnic/racial lines. Examples?

Religious terrorists Believe involved in a struggle of good vs evil Acting along desires of a diety (god) – audience is thus not necessarily human. Feel unconstrained by law – higher calling Complete alienation from existing socio/political order Ideologies are supremacist & absolutist Examples?

Historical Examples Zealots – Sicarri 1 st century BCE – Murdered Romans in broad daylight in Jerusalem Hindu Thugee – Thugs originally religious sect that strangled & robbed victims in ritual sacrifice Muslim Assassins – It is a myth that the word assassin comes from the Arabic word haschishin for hashish user. – Assassin comes from Hassassin -- a follower of Hassan – Hassan was Persian not Arabic

Historical Examples Irish Republican Army Hizballah ETA (Basque Separatists) LEHI, Stern Gang and Zvi Irgun (Jewish extremists) Tamil Tigers (LTTE) Sendero Luminoso FARC MRTA (Tupac Amaru movement) Al Qaida Jemaah Islamiya Aum Shinrikyo Moro Islamic Liberation Front Egyptian Islamic Jihad Algerian GIA and GSPC Syrian Muslim Brotherhood Hizb ut-Tahrir Al Qaeda in Iraq Lashkar-e Taiba (and other Kashmir groups) Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Italian Red Brigades Red Army Faction (Baader Meinhof Gang) U.S.-based militia groups The Order, the Aryan Brotherhood, Christian Identity, The Sword, the Covenant & Arm of the Lord Many, many others...

First VBIED (or “Car Bomb”) terrorist attack? New York City, September 1920 Terrorist: Italian anarchist Mario Buda Vehicle: Horse-drawn wagon Target: Corner of Wall and Broad streets (directly across from JP Morgan Company) Attack: The wagon—packed with dynamite and iron slugs—exploded at precisely noon in a fireball of shrapnel, killing 40 and wounding more than 200. Historical Examples

Islam is fastest growing religion in U.S. & elsewhere; estimated over 1.2 billion followers worldwide. More than a religion: a system of laws, courts, traditions, customs, etc. to govern all aspects of life “Islam is the answer” – Muslim Brotherhood Religious Inspiration Wave – Islamic Extremism