The Tale of Terrorism

The Tale of Terrorism

Michael L. Madigan

American Military University

Fort Leonard, Missouri

Abstract

Terrorism is a global issue and threatens all those concerned. Those concerned is everyone and everywhere in every nation around the globe. No one is safe from the acts of a terrorist and the terrorist will strike anywhere at any time to cause chaos and mass panic to a country, its people, and disrupt all normal social functions.

International terrorism has been a global issue for decades, and now is a major threat to the United States and its allies. The essence of terrorism motivated by political idealism its unanticipated, premeditated, intimidation by force and total disregard for human life.

The response of acts of terrorism has primary been a law enforcement issue, and since 911 it has become the entire responsibility of the United States, US Government, and it allies around the globe. Are responses have comes from the states, federal and the military to combat this issues. It is now all of us working together to fight this enemy.

The acts of terrorism are not limited to use of military explosives, chemicals, biological agents, and radiological or nuclear materials. The use of common hazardous substances, hazardous waste, and illegal disposal are all potential weapons for the motivated terrorist. Telling the story of terrorism is complex and simply at the same time and this is my explanation and views on what terrorism is about by a step by step process.

What is Terrorism?

There is no official definition of terrorism agreed on throughout the world, and definitions tend to rely heavily on who is doing the defining and for what purpose. Some definitions focus on terrorist tactics to define the term, while others focus on the actor. Yet others look at the context and ask if it is military or not.

Terrorism is a system of terror, and it can be intimidations by governments as directed by and carried out by the party in power. A policy intended to strike with terror against those whom it is adopted for, and the employment of methods of intimidation to include the act of being terrorized. Anyone who attempts to further his views by a system of coercive intimidation as it applies to members of one extreme revolutionary society. Oxford English Dictionary

This is only one definition of what terrorism is and after reading Inside Terrorism by Bruce Hoffman there is so many different description of what terrorism is about and over the last two centuries the term has changed and applied depending on whom is using the term.

So what is terrorism, well I give my view of what terrorism is and continue this paper on the prospective and build a step by step basis on what it is.

Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property for the purpose of intimidation, coercion, or ransom. Terrorists often use violence and threats to create fear among the public, to try to convince people that their government is powerless to prevent acts of terrorism, and to get immediate publicity for their causes.

Acts of terrorism can range from threats to actual assassinations, kidnappings, airline hijackings, bomb scares, car bombs, building explosions, mailings of dangerous materials, agro terrorism, computer-based attacks, and the use of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons--weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Terrorism March 2007 Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages Terrorism-1

Why talk about terrorism?

In addition to the natural and technological hazards described elsewhere in this guide, people face threats of terrorism posed by extremist groups, individuals, and hostile governments. Terrorists can be domestic or foreign, and their threats to people, communities, and the nation range from isolated acts of terrorism to acts of war.

High-risk terrorism targets include military and civilian government facilities, international airports, large cities, and high-profile landmarks. Terrorists might also target large public gatherings, water and food supplies, utilities, and corporate centers. They are capable of spreading fear by sending explosives or chemical and biological agents through the mail.

The commonly accepted meaning of the word terrorism is any use of terror in the form of violence or threats meant to coerce an individual, group, or entity to act in a manner in which any person or group could not otherwise lawfully force them to act. The world community has struggled with creating a legal definition of terrorism that is globally accepted. In the United States, terrorism is broken down into two categories.

The first category is international terrorism, and the second is domestic terrorism. The main characteristics of acts or threats that constitute terrorism are the same as in the wider definition above, but additional details have been added. Both categories include violent acts or any actions that endanger human life or violate U.S. laws, both federal and state. The definition further clarifies that these acts appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce civilians - collectively - or to intimidate or coerce changes in governmental policy or government conduct through the use of mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

The main difference between the two definitions of terrorism is the inclusion under international terrorism that clarifies criminal violations as those that would be construed as such if committed in U.S. federal or state jurisdiction. The other distinction describes where acts of terrorism occur. International terrorism occurs primarily outside the "territorial jurisdiction" of the United States, and domestic terrorism primarily occurs within U.S. jurisdiction.

Despite legal definitions, terrorism means different things to different people. While the threat to the modern world appears to involve more Islamist extremists than any other type of terrorist, it should be clearly acknowledged that not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslim. In fact, many Muslims are in as much danger under the radicalized practices of Islam as any other people, because they divert from the extremist interpretation of Islam.

Terrorism has been around for centuries, although it's been defined or described differently throughout the years. Today, it amounts to bullying, only on a grand scale, because these bullies have powerful weapons and fighters who embrace death