International Terrorism, Motivation and Trends - Coursework Example

Criminology Name Institute Date Introduction International terrorism as described by the U.S government circles and included into law is terrorism that involves the citizens or property of various nations. Terrorism is widely described as politically stimulated violence carried against noncombatant targets. Current explanations of terrorism mostly have one common feature: politically provoked behavior. Such descriptions do not comprise violence for economic profit or spiritual motivation. For instance, the high-profile actions of such organizations as Al Qaeda and Hamas underscore the importance of selective religious philosophies in driving terrorist fighting, or at least offering a pretext. Suicide bombing can also be described as a rational whose purpose is to achieve strategic gains and not necessary at ruining peace actions. Basically the removal of foreign armed forces from contested regions. For instance, American and French armed forces removal from Lebanon in 1983, Israeli forces from Lebanon in 1985, Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in 1994 and 1995, and the Sri Lankan authorities enthusiasm to build an independent Tamil territory from 1990 ( Robert,2003). Another description for the raise in suicide bombing concurs that it is rational but differ with the source of that motivation. Bloom (2004), stated that, violent groups are not encouraged strategically through the external arena as much as by the wish to outbid domestic opponents and enhance their reputation on the home front. According to Bloom, Hamas and the Jihad al-Islamic employed suicide-bombing in the current wave of war to challenge the political domination of Fatah. The Threat of Terrorism International terrorism is identified as a menace to U.S. overseas, also domestic, security. Timing and target selection by terrorists can influence U.S. welfare in sectors varying from protection of commerce to nuclear non-explosion to the procedures of peace. An increasing number of researchers express concern that activist Islamist set try to exploit financial and political conflicts in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, Jordan, Pakistan, and other nations. Due to their affirmed aim of defeating secular or Western-allied governments in particular Nations with huge Moslem populations, such groups are viewed as a specific menace to U.S. foreign policy goals (Katzman, 2005). There is the likelihood that a number of countries may decrease or remove their sponsorship of terrorist groups. This has led organizations to seek and set up operating bases in states that do not have an operating central government or lack efficient control over their nationwide territory. For instance, on November 17, 2003, the Washington Post announced that Al Qaeda associates were instructing Indonesian operators in the areas of southern Philippines. In overall, the gray region of terrorist actions not functionally associated to any encouraging or sponsoring state represents a growing complex challenge for U.S. policymakers. Terrorists have the capability to expand their own basis of financing, which vary from non government organizations and donations from illegal ventures, for instance, narcotics, extortion, and abducting. Colombia’s FARC is supposed to generate hundreds of millions of dollars yearly from illegal activities, regularly from “taxing” of, or taking part in, the narcotics deals. The greatest concern to policymakers is the specter of proliferation of “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) or the methods of creating them. The main five officially designated territory supporters of terrorism, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria, are identified or alleged to have had one or many WMD-associated program. Two of the nations that is Iran and North Korea, have had nuclear weaponry Oriented programs in differing phases of development. Motivation of Terrorism Vengeance motivates acts of terrorism and suicide-bombing. Andrew, Barbara (2002), Walter stress in suggesting that terrorism is widely employed by the Palestinian opposition, Hamas and the Jihad al-Islamic, as a way to destroy the possibility of peace negotiations just as they appear most likely and promising. Terrorism causes the moderates on the Palestinian part appear weak. This produces doubt between Israeli mediators that political compromise will not create the essential dividends of calm and calm, hence decreasing their enthusiasm to end the violence through signing a peace deal with the Palestinian side. Trends in Terrorism Following 9/11 attacks, the danger of international terrorism instantly become among top international agenda. Increasing recognition of the danger, combined with a raise in government expenditure, impelled the growth of educational research institutions and new higher academic programs to survey the issue of domestic security and fight terrorism (Brunn, 2004). The trend was specifically popular in the United States, as researchers attempted to understand the characteristics of bombing and agencies sought methods to successfully manage the phenomenon. This trend came with a major increase in the figure of researchers concentrating on the occurrence of terrorism (Hoffman, 1998). Terrorism as widely been viewed as a main and real danger to world peace. It is a peril that requires international coalition and collaboration on an unprecedented height. Such a great level of collaboration cannot be created or maintained however with no harmony over the most basic denominator that is the description of terrorism. Trend in terrorism portray a threat from radical Jihadists which is becoming more widespread. Regularly short of clear formal operational link with AlQaeda ideological influential, although maybe motivated by them or aided through training. Connected to the issue of domestic terrorism is increasing concern that limited terrorist asylums might already be established within the towns of independent societies. Three trends in terrorism are recognized in the Unit of State report. First is the appearance of so-called “micro actors,” impelled in part by U.S. and allied achievements in isolating and executing a lot of Al Qaeda’s leadership. The consequence is an AlQaeda supposed as having a more subdued operational function, but presuming more of a philosophical, motivational, and propaganda task. Second is a trend toward “sophistication”; that is terrorists abusing the international transaction of information, economics, and ideas to their advantage, frequently via the Internet. Third is an increasing overlap among terrorist action and global crime, which might expose the terrorists to a wide range of regulation enforcement actions (Gurr, & Cole, 2005). There is an overall increase in suicide bombings and a firm connection between the current unrest in Iraq and the wider terrorism violence. “Terrorism incidents in Iraq accounted for almost a third of all terror incidents in 2005 and more than half of terror linked deaths worldwide that year”. Statistics provided by the NCTC along with the Department of State’s 2006 terror statement shows that in 2005 around 40,000 people were injured or killed in terrorist events, as contrasted to 9,300 the preceding year and 4,271 in 2003. Deaths due to terrorism in 2005 figured 14,602 as contrasted to 1,907 deaths in 2004and 625 in 2003. The details placed the figure of total accounted terrorist assaults in 2005 at 11,111 against 3,168 in 2004 and 208 in 2003. Foiled assaults are not contained in the statistics reported. In overall, the report commends the Saudi authorities for its anti-terrorism endeavors. Libya and Sudan continued to take major steps to combine forces in the worldwide fight on terror. Libya was withdrawn from the U.S. record of nations supporting global terrorism. In earlier years, Syria is alleged to provide political and resources support to both Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist organizations. Cuba and North Korea are mainly mentioned for lack of anti-terror collaboration and past connection in terrorist activities, thus signifying a trend of their less vigorous support for bombing than in preceding decades. Though, many recognize North Korea’s nuclear plan with a possibility of future trading of WMD to terrorists, as very worrying. However, North Korea is not contained on the State Department’s record of state supporters of terrorism. Lebanon is reported for recognition of several terrorist groups, including Hezbollah. The Lebanon regime does not exercise efficient control over regions in the south and in Palestinian immigrant camps; terrorists can function freely in such regions. This lack of legislative control is representative of a wider phenomenon that Nations with inadequate counterterrorism resources and infrastructure are more subject to befalling safe havens for terrorism. Terrorists have tried to obtain WMD skill through their own funds and links (Gurr, & Cole, 2005). Conclusion The fight against terrorism has been increasing. U.S forces have been to Afghanistan and others in Yemen, Philippines, and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia to instruct local military forces to combat terrorist. In year 2002 and 2003, the government sought and obtained sponsorship and permission to utilize such funding for U.S. military aid to Colombia to support the Colombian government’s united anti- narcotics trafficking campaign, terrorist actions, and other perils to its general security. An encouraging indication in the fight against terrorism has been the clear readiness of certain countries supporters of terrorism to detachment from radical set that they had sponsored earlier or from global terrorism generally. For instance, Sudan, in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement and intellect agencies, has arrested Al Qaeda affiliates and closed down many Al Qaeda training camps on its region. Libya has also offered intellect information on Al Qaeda’s actions with U.S government and Syria has assured to end terrorist organizations on its region and cutback general sponsorship for terrorist members (Blanchad, 2005). References 1. Mia.Bloom, (2004). ‘Palestinian Suicide Bombing: Public Support, Market Share, and Outbidding', Political Science: Quarterly119/1 80. 2. Andrew K & Barbara W (2002), ‘Sabotaging the Peace: The Politics of Extremist Violence’, International Organizations. 3. Robert A. (2003), ‘The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism’, American Political Science Review: 97/3 343-361. 4. Brunn, S. (2004). “Introduction”. In 11 September and its Aftermath, the Geopolitics of terror. London: Frank Cass: 1-15 5. Blanchad, C (2005). “Al Qaeda: Statement and Evolving ideology”. CRS Report for Congress, The library of congress: Congressional research service. 6. Katzman, K. (2005). Al Qaeda: Profile and Threat Assessment”. CRS Report for Congress. The library of Congress: Congressional Research Service. 7. Gurr, N. & Cole, B. (2005) The New Face of Terrorism, Threats from weapons of mass destructions. London: I.B. Tauris 8. Hoffman, B. (1998). Inside Terrorism. New York: Columbia University Press Read More