TERRORISM & TERRORISTS
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TERRORISM DEFINED
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Terrorism is highly organized and
conducted primarily for political or
religious reasons.
The FBI defines terrorism as: The
unlawful use of force or violence against
persons or property to intimidate or
coerce a government, the civilian
population, or any segment thereof, in
furtherance of political or social goals.
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WHY TERRORISM?
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Terrorism is a tactic used to influence the
behavior of others through intimidation.
Terrorists typically appeal to a higher moral
good.
Terrorists strike at innocents because the very
essence of terrorism is public intimidation.
Terrorism has an ultimate purpose.
Every time terrorists gain an objective they
have sought, the rationality of terrorism in
demonstrated along with its immorality.
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IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
TERRORISTS & FREEDOM FIGHTERS?
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Freedom fighters are fighters in wars of
national liberation against foreign
occupiers or against oppressive domestic
regimes they seek to overthrow.
Freedom fighter activity is typically
confined to third-world dictatorships or
one-party states, while terrorists operate
mostly against liberal Western
democracies.
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Table 13.2 Some Major Terrorist Groups
Group
Description & Activities
Ideology
Strength
Funding
Abu Sayyaf
Philippine radical Islamic group
motivated to gain an independent
Islamic state in southern Philippines.
Engages in kidnapping, bombing, and
other criminal activities. Has strong
links with al-Qaeda.
Nationalist
/
Islamic
200 to 500
Self-financed
via criminal
activity +
other Islamic
groups.
Asbat al-Ansar
Lebanon-based Sunni Islamic group
that has assassinated Lebanese Shi’ite
religious leaders and bombed symbols
of Western “decadence” such as
nightclubs and U.S. franchise
restaurants.
Islamic
About 300
International
Sunni networks
and al-Qaeda
Basque
Fatherland and
Liberty (ETA)
Founded in 1959 with the aim of
creating an independent Basque
homeland in northwest Spain and
southwest France. Its activities have
been aimed primarily at Spanish
government officials and security
forces, but French interests have also
been attacked.
Nationalist
and weakly
Marxist
Unknown,
but has
many
supporters
in Basque
regions
Primarily via
criminal
activity; has
received
training in
Libya and
Lebanon
Source: Department of State (2004). Patterns of Global Terrorism.
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Table 13.2 Some Major Terrorist Groups
Communist
Party of
Philippines/New
People’s Army
Military wing of the Philippine
Communist Party. Carries out
assassinations and kidnappings of
political figures and U.S. military
personnel stationed in the Philippines.
Maoist
1,000+
Criminal
activity,
contributions,
and
“revolutionary
taxes”
extorted from
businesses
Harakat ulMujahidin
(HUM)
Pakistani group operating primarily
against Indian troops and civilians in
Kashmir, territory claimed by both India
and Pakistan. Has carried out airline
hijackings and kidnapping of
Westerners. HUM is aligned with alQaeda and signed bin Laden’s 1998
fatwa calling for war on the United
States.
Islamic
Several
thousand
Donations from
Saudi Arabia
and other
Islamic states;
also donations
from
individuals
Islamic
Movement of
Uzbekistan
Coalition of a number of central Asian
groups opposed to secular rule in
Uzbekistan. Responsible for numerous
bombing incidents and kidnapping of
Westerners. Fought with the Taliban
against U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.
Islamic
About
1,000
Support from
other Islamic
groups and
patrons in the
Middle East
Source: Department of State (2004). Patterns of Global Terrorism.
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Table 13.2 Some Major Terrorist Groups
Jemaah Islamiya
(JI)
A Southeast Asian network with links
to al-Qaeda that has the goal of
creating a huge Islamic state composed
of Indonesia, Singapore, the southern
Philippines, and southern Thailand. JI
was responsible for the Bali bombing in
2002 that killed 200 and wounded 300
others.
Islamic
About
5,000
Middle Eastern
and Asian
supporters and
al-Qaeda
Kurdistan
Workers Party
Composed of Turkish Kurds seeking an
independent Kurdish state in Turkey.
Has attacked Turkish diplomats in many
countries and attempted to disrupt
tourism in Turkey by bombing hotels,
historical sites, and kidnapping tourists.
Marxist
4,000 to
5,000
Syria, Iraq,
Iran
Liberation
Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE)
Composed of ethnic Tamils seeking an
independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka,
primarily through the use of bombings
and assassinations. The LTTE has
refrained from targeting Western
tourists for fear of drying up funds
from overseas Tamils.
Nationalism
10,000
Funds from
Tamil
communities
overseas and
some drug
smuggling
Source: Department of State (2004). Patterns of Global Terrorism.
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Mujahedin-e
Khalq
Formed in the 1960s to counter the
Westernization of Iran under the
Shah. It supported the overthrow of
the Shah but is presently fighting
against Iran’s Islamic fundamentalist
regime. Carries out attacks on Iranian
diplomats and Iranian property.
A mixture
of
Marxism
and Islam
Several
thousand
Contributions
from Iranian
expatriates
National
Liberation Army
Columbian Marxist group formed by
urban intellectuals inspired by Fidel
Castro and legendary terrorist Che
Guevara. Engages in kidnapping,
bombing, and extortion. Attacks
foreigners and Columbian
infrastructure.
Marxist
3,000 to
5,000
Criminal activity
(drug trafficking
and extortion)
and some aid
from Cuba
Sendero
Luminoso (Shining
Path)
Formed in late 1960s to destroy
existing Peruvian institutions and
replace them with a peasant
revolutionary regime. Almost all
Peruvian institutions have been brutally
targeted in Peru and abroad.
Marxist/
Maoist
2,000+
Mostly drug
trafficking and
other forms of
crime
Turkish Hizballah
Kurdish Sunni Islamic group that arose
in opposition to the Marxist Kurdish
Workers Party’s (KWP’s) actions
against Muslims. Fights against KWP
and Turkish armed forces. Bombs any
establishment considered anti-Islamic.
Kidnapped, tortured, and murdered at
least 70 businessmen and journalists in
the 1990s.
Islamic
A few
hundred +
several
thousand
supporters
Unknown
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TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES
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Left-wing terrorism in the United States became
active during the turmoil of the 1960s.
Some left-wing terrorist groups in the United States:
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Weather Underground
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May 19 Communist Organization
Revolutionary Armed Task Force
Black Liberation Army
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IDEOLOGICAL: RIGHT-WING
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Most right-wing American groups characterized as
terrorist are extremist rather than terrorist groups in that
they hold views that are to the extreme right of
mainstream.
Some right-wing terrorist groups in the United States:
Aryan Nations
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SPECIAL-ISSUE DOMESTIC TERRORISM
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There are a number of groups in the United
States that employ terrorist tactics that have
no grand sociopolitical agenda but rather seek
to resolve special issues:
Animal Liberation Front
Earth Liberation Front
Anti-Abortion Groups
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IS THERE A TERRORIST PERSONALITY?
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No study of terrorist psychology has ever produced
a psychological profile leading the majority of
terrorist experts to suspect that there is any such
thing as a terrorist personality.
Terrorist groups live on the fringes of the host
society & espouse a violently radical vision of
reality.
We should look at what terrorist groups have to
offer if we want to understand why individuals join
them.
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IS THERE A TERRORIST PERSONALITY?
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The terrorist group is made up of three types of
individuals.
The charismatic leader is socially alienated,
narcissistic, arrogant, and intelligent.
Antisocial individuals have opportunities in
terrorist groups to use force and violence to
further their own personal goals.
The majority of terrorists are simple followers
who see the world purely in black and white and
have deep needs for acceptance.
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BECOMING A TERRORIST
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The bulk of terrorists are probably better
characterized as crusaders convinced of the moral
rightness of their cause.
The willingness to perform terrorist acts may reflect
a process of moral disengagement more than a
manifestation of pathological and/or criminal traits
the individual brings to the terrorist group.
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LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE & GOVERNMENT POLICY
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There are a number of ways a democracy can
respond to terrorism, ranging from making
concessions to military intervention.
Concessions are only likely when there is moral
substance to the terrorist cause, or when such
concessions are reasonable.
Military intervention may be used when the
terrorist threat is too big for civilian authorities to
handle.
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Law Enforcement Response & Government Policy
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The principle of international law obliges countries
to either extradite terrorists to the country where
their crimes were committed or to punish them
themselves.
The mission of the Department of Homeland
Security is to detect, prevent, prepare for, and
recover from terrorist attacks within the United
States.
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Law Enforcement Response & Government Policy
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The US Patriot Act grants federal agencies greater
authority to track & intercept private
communications, greater powers to the treasury
Department to combat corruption & prevent money
laundering, & creates new crimes, penalties, and
procedures for use against domestic & foreign
terrorists.
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WHEN DID AL-QAEDA FORM?
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The beginnings of al-Qaeda go back to 1979
when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
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1979 was during the Cold
War, a time when the USA
was a rival to the Soviet
Union. The USA wanted to
help Afghans fight the
Soviets.
The CIA sent stinger
missiles to Afghans to
shoot down Soviet
helicopters.
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In 1983, during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, a terrorist group bombed a
Marine barracks in Lebanon. Reagan did not retaliate. 283 killed.
DESERT STORM (GULF WAR I)
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In 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded
the tiny, oil-rich country of Kuwait. Kuwait owed
Iraq money, so Hussein wanted to secure
Kuwaiti oil fields.
US AND SAUDI COALITION
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The United States asked the Saudis for permission to
establish military bases in their country. The Saudis
have a tough choice to make. Do they allow a
Christian army into the holiest country of Islam? Can
the Saudis themselves stop Saddam Hussein?
SAUDI’S CHOICE
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Osama bin Laden was back home from
Afghanistan. He offered the Saudis the use of his
soldiers to fight the Iraqi army because once
America establishes a base, they won’t leave.
Christian armies have no place in the land of Islam
according to bin Laden.
SAUDIS CHOSE THE USA AND SNUBBED BIN LADEN.
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President George H.W. Bush liberates Kuwait and pushes
the Iraqi army back into Iraq.
BIN LADEN
Osama bin Laden overtly criticizes the Saudi
government. Saudi Arabia banishes him; his
family disowns him (officially).
 Bin Laden leaves Saudi Arabia for Sudan to
further build al Qaeda.
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USA IN SOMALIA
Dec. 4, 1992, George H.W. Bush sends 28,000
American troops to Somalia.
 Bush wanted to help the Somali people since
all attempts to send food to them were
intercepted by war lords.
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BLACK HAWK DOWN!
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In 1993, 18 Americans
died when their Black
Hawk helicopter was
shot down over
Mogadishu, Somalia.
IRAQI TERRORISM
In 1993, agents working with the full support of
Saddam Hussein tried to kill former President
George H.W. Bush.
 President Clinton responded by destroying their
intelligence center.
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WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING
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9-11 was not the first terrorist attack on the
WTC. In 1993, a man rented a Ryder truck and
detonated a large bomb in one of the towers
hoping to knock it over onto the other tower.
RAMZI YOUSEF
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He was a planner of the WTC
bombing. He was a
member/leader of al Qaeda.
Yousef stated, "Yes, I am a
terrorist, and proud of it as long
as it is against the U.S.
government."
Speaks 7 languages and has
college degrees in engineering
and chemistry.
Currently serving a life
sentence.
1993 WTC BOMBING
It killed 6 people and injured over 1000.
1995 OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING
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Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols detonated
a large truck bomb at the Murrah federal
building in Oklahoma City.
OKLAHOMA CITY
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168 people died and many more were injured,
including children in the day care on the bottom
floor.
CONSPIRACY THEORISTS WILL LOVE THIS!
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Terry Nichols, Ramzi Yousef, and 9-11 mastermind
Khalid Sheik Muhammad were in the Philippine city of
Cebu on the same days. Is there a connection?
According to Richard Clarke, the main counterterrorism czar for Clinton and GW Bush, Nichols’s
bombs worked only after he returned from the
Philippines
Khalid Sheik Muhhamad
Terry Nichols
1996 CAR BOMBING OF KHOBAR TOWERS
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The Khobar Towers provided housing for American
military stationed in Saudi Arabia. 19 Americans were
killed and hundreds injured. Look familiar?
FATWA
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In August of 1998, Osama bin Laden and 4 of
his close associates sign and distribute a
statement declaring “it is the individual duty for
every Muslim who can do it” to kill Americans.
KENYAN EMBASSY BOMBINGS
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Two American embassies in Kenya
and Tanzania were bombed
simultaneously in 1998. 220
people were killed.
CLINTON RESPONDS.
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President Clinton, risking “Wag the Dog”
criticism during the Lewinsky scandal, decided
to attack al Qaeda in response.
US ATTACKS AL QAEDA TRAINING CAMPS IN SUDAN
AND AFGHANISTAN WITH TOMAHAWK MISSILES.
CAMPS WERE DESTROYED. OSAMA LIVES.
MILLENNIUM ATTACKS FOILED!
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Jordanian police halted 4 bombings that were to
happen January 1, 2000. 16 al Qaeda members were
arrested.
Four al Qaeda terrorists were arrested after one tried
to cross the Canadian border with nitroglycerin in his
spare tire. They set out to bomb LA International
Airport.
In Yemen, a boat with explosives tried to bomb a navy
ship but sank due to being overloaded!
USS COLE ATTACK OCT. 2000
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In Yemen, Al
Qaeda operatives
sent a suicide
bomber aboard a
small ship near
the USS Cole and
detonated its
bomb, blowing a
large hole in the
US Navy ship. 17
sailors killed.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Four airplanes were hijacked by al Qaeda
terrorists.
 Two crashed into the 2 World Trade Center
towers.
 One crashed into the Pentagon, the military
building of the US armed forces.
 One crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, likely
because passengers forced the plane down.
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2819 people were killed
343 firefighters and
paramedics were killed
Khalid Sheik Muhhamad was the central
Planner of the 9/11. Most terrorists (at right)
were from Saudi Arabia.
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PENTAGON
A plane crashed into the Pentagon killing
hundreds.
 It showed Americans that terrorism doesn’t just
happen in New York and our most important
buildings are vulnerable.
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PENTAGON AFTER ATTACK
FLIGHT 93 CRASHED IN PENNSYLVANIA
Its target was possibly the
White House or Capitol
building. We think the
passengers forced the
plane down.
TALIBAN
Al Qaeda and the Taliban government of
Afghanistan were virtually one and the same.
 President George W. Bush sent a small force
into Afghanistan to eliminate the government
and destroy al Qaeda.
 This war is still going on.
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TORA BORA
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Famous battle in Afghanistan where al Qaeda
allegedly saved Osama bin Laden’s life and
snuck him out of the area.
TERRORISM AFTER 9/11
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In 2005, terrorists
bombed a London
subway.
They were trying to get
England out of Iraq.
RICHARD REID
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December 22, 2001
Now known as the “shoe bomber”, he tried to
destroy an airplane by igniting explosives hidden
inside his shoes. English mother, Jamaican father.
Converted to Islam in prison. Now in Colorado.
BALI NIGHTCLUB BOMBING OCT. 2002
MAY 1, 2011