AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF TERRORISM

    Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion, or ransom (FBI website).  Terrorists often use threats to create fear and strain among the public, in order to try and convince citizens that their government is helpless at preventing such acts. It also obtains immediate publicity for a cause.  The FBI categorizes terrorism as two types: domestic and international (FBI website).  Domestic terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are usually directed toward the government for policies rendered.  International terrorism involves groups or individuals whose activities are foreign-based and directed by countries or groups outside the United States.  Usually, this is also done for government policies that have been handed down.  In recent years, there has been a growing threat of terrorism, hindering how we live our everyday lives.

    Many events have happened.  On February 29, 1993, a bombing in the parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York resulted in the death of five people and thousands of injuries.  The bomb left a crater 100 by 200 feet wide and possibly as much as five stories deep.  This truly awakened Americans due to the fact that the World Trade Center is the second largest building in the world and houses one hundred thousand workers and visitors every day.  In April of 1995, a terrorist car bomb exploded outside a federal office building.  It collapsed the North face of a nine story building, injuring hundreds of people and killing hundreds more.  This event was recorded as the deadliest attack by terrorism on U.S. soil, and it was an act of domestic terrorism.  Apparently, the government used some regulations that Timothy McVeigh did not agree with.  McVeigh was found guilty of the attacks later on in that year.  Recent times have also seen an increase in terrorist strikes against Western targets in Puerto Rico.  Attacks in Puerto Rico have accounted for nearly sixty percent of terrorist attacks in the world since 1983 (Source date).  The CIA reports that at least ten countries are believed to possess research on biological agents for weaponization (Source date).

    The deadliest attacks on U.S. forces overseas took place in the Middle East.  There was an attack on Marine barracks in Beirut during 1983, and about the same time, a vehicle bomb in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia badly damaged the headquarters of the office of Program Manager/Saudi Arabian National Guard.  Seven people included five U.S. citizens were killed in the latter blast.  Many groups took credit for the attack, but focus centered on one, the Islamic Movement for Change.  Saudi Arabian authorities, as well as the FBI, have been closely monitoring this group.

    The most furious attack of all occurred on September 11, 2001 with, once again, the World Trade Center.  American commercial airplanes were hijacked and rammed into the twin towers.  The buildings burned and collapsed, killing thousands of people.  It has been speculated that this act was done by a terrorist group called Islamic Jihad, assumed to be led by Osama Bin Laden.  His name has been tossed around for many events such as the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in August of 2000.  He is apparently receiving help and harboring from a few nations that support his beliefs, such as the Taliban government that was formed in Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion.

    Terrorism can take several forms depending upon the technological means available to the terrorist. Bombings are the most frequently used method (Source date).  Targets include transportation facilities, utility companies, or other public services.  Terrorist bombings in the United States have included the World Trade Center, the federal building in Oklahoma City, the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C., and Mobil Oil's corporate headquarters in New York City.

    Terrorist threats are changing.  During the 1970s, policymakers prepared for bombings and hijackings overseas.  Today, policymakers must prepare for attacks on United States soil.  The worst of these threats involves weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological weapons.  The actual possibility of chemical and biological attacks remains low compared to other methods such as car bombings and hijackings, but the impact of the former would be much greater. 

LITERATURE REVIEW

    A review of Internet resources was conducted for this paper, and these resources are enumerated and reviewed below 

1. Terrorism Research Center - http://www.terrorism.com/index.shtml - This site informs the public of the phenomena of terrorism.  It also gives information on different groups.  It also gives you reference to many current articles on this topic.

2. Cato on Terrorism - www.cato.org/current/terrorism/index.html - This site goes into lengths of what citizens should do in case of a terrorist attack.  It also gives you the reasons for attacks and times that other attacks may occur.  Another helpful motive of this site is the summary of economical and political impacts caused by the attacks.  Cato also shows you the affects on what these attacks will do to our environment and energy sources.  

3. Milnet: Terrorism - www.milnet.com/milnet/terror.html - On this site milnet helps one distinguish the patterns of terrorist and terrorism.  This also shows the attacks on the US and the cause.  This goes over in depth on different groups and members of these groups.  Also the weapons that are used in these attacks are examined to show the possible effects.  Finally this site goes over the legal aspects of terrorism.

4. Terror Files - www.terrorismfiles.org - This site discusses the history of terrorism going back to early man.  It also tells the countries that are involved in the acts.  The countries and the groups they harbor are explained.  They go into detail about the connection that the country and terrorist have.  One can also see the faces of major terrorist and the groups they belong to.  Finally the weapons that are used by certain groups are examined, and why they do this.   

5. American Scientist - www.fas.org/rp/threat/terror.html - This is site where one is able to understand the forensics of terrorism.  This tries to understand what the terrorist thinking when they commit these acts.  This may be the most helpful site because it gives you the reason for these acts, and purposes.  This also shows intelligence and resource programs.  This helps one see backgrounds and treat assessments.  

6. FBI Most Wanted - www.fbi.gov/mostwant/terrorist/fugatives.html - This site goes over the most wanted men in the world.  It gives you the reasons for the crimes and what crimes they committed.  This also shows the rewards that these men have on their heads.  

7. Fema Organization - www.fema.gov/library/terrort.htm - Fema gives you a terrorist library.  This helps you learn the nature of terrorism.  One is also able to understand different types of terrorism, and the weapons used.  The main point of this source is that it gives citizens something they need to look for.  This is presumed to help in further attacks.  

8. Jurist Law - www.jurist.law.pitt.edu/terrorism.htm - Jurist Law is a site that that explains the laws against terrorism.  It also shows one the results of what happens.  

RESEARCH METHODS

    The U.S. State Department's Patterns of Global Terrorism 2000 was relied upon for this section of the paper. The first graph shows international casualties by region. Contrary to what most people think, the Middle East does not have the highest casualty rate. A higher percentage comes from Asia and Africa. 

    Another chart shows the number of facilities struck by international terrorist attack, also from the years 1995 through 2000. It shows that the highest number of targets involve business. This demonstrates a huge displeasure with money and how it is spent. Military and government institutions were shown to attract less hits. This does not show the places targeted. The highest rate for the year 2000 happened to be businesses. The lowest number of attacks were on military institutions, but most of the military bases in Israel and Palestine are under constant attack.

    A final graph shows the total of international terrorist attacks since 1981, and better expresses the patterns of global terrorism. Terrorism hits reached a high point in 1986, which was during the Reagan administration and when the U.S. was having problems with Libya and Iran. During this time, there were also many problems going on in the Middle East and Russia. 

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

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REFERENCES

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Last updated: 11/21/01