Difference between revisions of "Terrorism"
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== '''Terrorism''' == | == '''Terrorism''' == | ||
Terrorism is the use of terror, violence, and intimidation to achieve an end. Terrorism also refers to any fear and subjugation produced by this. The term is also used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals. Terrorism is the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. | Terrorism is the use of terror, violence, and intimidation to achieve an end. Terrorism also refers to any fear and subjugation produced by this. The term is also used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals. Terrorism is the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons. | ||
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| + | ==Leftist (Radical) Terrorism== | ||
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| + | Leftist Terrorism, often referred to as radical terrorism, is terrorism that embraces the fringe left side of the political spectrum (Countries that are hostile to dissident movements often also see violence from the far left as well). Radical terrorists are future orientated. That is, radicals believe that they are currently being oppressed by some current government or regime, and therefore they should overthrow that oppressor and install a better government. Radical terrorists often operate with the belief that it is possible to create a utopia for the people. Radicals generally follow the beliefs of Karl Marx and Lenin, with emphasis on the idea of Lenin's vanguard party. Leftist terrorists often choose symbolic targets that emphasize what they see as a an oppressor to the working class. Leftist terrorist tend to target buildings and governmental structures that represent capitalism, or assassinate government leaders and capitalists. Leftist terrorists are self characterized as the young, self-educated elites of society, who are destined to both weaken the oppressive government and at the same time expose the weakness of the government to the exploited workforce. Radicals also tend be more exclusive with what issues they champion. Often, very narrow radicals will focus on one issue, resulting in animal rights, feminist, and eco-terrorists. Radical groups often operated in highly organized and clandestine groups, easily recognizable and orderly. However, leftist groups often had internal divisions in the larger groups that often broke off to create new group. | ||
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| + | ==Right (Reactionary) Terrorism== | ||
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| + | Historically, reactionary terrorism has been less organized and less symbolic than leftist terrorists. Reactionary terrorists, like radical terrorists, see the current government as corrupt, but until radical leftists, reactionaries do not see the current government as needing revolutionary change. Rather reactionaries view the government as a perversion of some older, better, government or social order. Reactionary terrorist violence is an attempt to regain the lost government and return to "order" and status quo. Reactionary violence is often justified by a use of mysticism about the old order. Scapegoating is a common tactic among reactionary terrorists to create an enemy for which to blame for the current order. Historical scapegoats among reactionary terrorists have included Jews, foreigners, homosexuals, atheists, leftists, blacks, illegal immigrants, and other racial minorities. Reactionary groups often defined by racial supremacy and a sense of order. Goals of reactionary terrorist include the delegation of minorities back to secondary status with respect to the national majority and a creation of a strong government to sustain order and prevent chaos through a police state. It should be noted however that due to conspiracy theories prevalence in the American fringe right, American reactionaries do not seek the creation of a strong government. Reactionaries often act as individuals or small groups and are not as discriminate with their targets as are leftist groups. This is partially due to the lack of unity between reactionaries and the scope of reactionary targets, often encompassing entire races. | ||
== Domestic terrorists == | == Domestic terrorists == | ||
Revision as of 05:07, June 22, 2007
Terrorism is defined by the US Department of Defense as "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives." Many in the academic and law enforcement communities debate this definition and others.
Terrorist
One who uses terroristic tactics to coerce behavior in another person or group is generally accepted as a definition of a terrorist. However, no convenient definition exists as the nature of terrorism makes the definition mutable. One who uses such terroristic tactics (suicide bombing, sniper, assassination, random bombing, etc.) can often be described as such, but again, the definition is a key subject of debate in intelligence, academic and diplomatic circles.
Terrorism
Terrorism is the use of terror, violence, and intimidation to achieve an end. Terrorism also refers to any fear and subjugation produced by this. The term is also used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals. Terrorism is the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.
Leftist (Radical) Terrorism
Leftist Terrorism, often referred to as radical terrorism, is terrorism that embraces the fringe left side of the political spectrum (Countries that are hostile to dissident movements often also see violence from the far left as well). Radical terrorists are future orientated. That is, radicals believe that they are currently being oppressed by some current government or regime, and therefore they should overthrow that oppressor and install a better government. Radical terrorists often operate with the belief that it is possible to create a utopia for the people. Radicals generally follow the beliefs of Karl Marx and Lenin, with emphasis on the idea of Lenin's vanguard party. Leftist terrorists often choose symbolic targets that emphasize what they see as a an oppressor to the working class. Leftist terrorist tend to target buildings and governmental structures that represent capitalism, or assassinate government leaders and capitalists. Leftist terrorists are self characterized as the young, self-educated elites of society, who are destined to both weaken the oppressive government and at the same time expose the weakness of the government to the exploited workforce. Radicals also tend be more exclusive with what issues they champion. Often, very narrow radicals will focus on one issue, resulting in animal rights, feminist, and eco-terrorists. Radical groups often operated in highly organized and clandestine groups, easily recognizable and orderly. However, leftist groups often had internal divisions in the larger groups that often broke off to create new group.
Right (Reactionary) Terrorism
Historically, reactionary terrorism has been less organized and less symbolic than leftist terrorists. Reactionary terrorists, like radical terrorists, see the current government as corrupt, but until radical leftists, reactionaries do not see the current government as needing revolutionary change. Rather reactionaries view the government as a perversion of some older, better, government or social order. Reactionary terrorist violence is an attempt to regain the lost government and return to "order" and status quo. Reactionary violence is often justified by a use of mysticism about the old order. Scapegoating is a common tactic among reactionary terrorists to create an enemy for which to blame for the current order. Historical scapegoats among reactionary terrorists have included Jews, foreigners, homosexuals, atheists, leftists, blacks, illegal immigrants, and other racial minorities. Reactionary groups often defined by racial supremacy and a sense of order. Goals of reactionary terrorist include the delegation of minorities back to secondary status with respect to the national majority and a creation of a strong government to sustain order and prevent chaos through a police state. It should be noted however that due to conspiracy theories prevalence in the American fringe right, American reactionaries do not seek the creation of a strong government. Reactionaries often act as individuals or small groups and are not as discriminate with their targets as are leftist groups. This is partially due to the lack of unity between reactionaries and the scope of reactionary targets, often encompassing entire races.
Domestic terrorists
International
Famous Left-Wing Terrorist Groups
Terrorism and the Media
The prime goal of any terrorist is mass media exposure. Terrorism cannot recruit new initiates like regular armies, rather when they run out of discontented radicals within their state, they must rely on the media to spread their message. Therefore, media outlets and the press must be careful when choosing a story, as often running a story about a terrorist attack just creates more support for a terrorist cause.
However, terrorist must be careful, as if an attack goes too far, it is possible to cause political backlash against the group, as what happened in the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
Groups Considered by the United States to be Terrorist Organizations
- Al-Qaeda
- Hamas
- Abu Sayyaf
- Ansar Al-Islam
- Hizbollah
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad
- Tamil Tigers
- Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade
- Jemaa Islamiya
- ETA
- Real ETA
Groups receiving CIA support
The American CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) has the stated objective of "Conducting covert action at the direction of the President to preempt threats or achieve US policy objectives."[1]. Over the course of it's well-documented history, this has involved the establishment, funding and organization of various organizations some have regarded as terrorist, including:
- Mujahadeen el-Khalq[1]
- KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army)[2][3][4][5]
- FRAPH (Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haïti)[6].
War on terror
Fighting terrorism
The Reality Show - The Watch the Fight links to many sites that deal with the 'war on terror'.
See also
References
- ↑ Michael Ware,U.S. protects Iranian opposition group in Iraq, CNN, April 6, 2007.
- ↑ Jerry Seper, KLA rebels train in terrorist camps, The Washington Times, May 4, 1999.
- ↑ Gary Wilson, Who's the KLA? German document Reveals Secrtet CIA Role.
- ↑ Peter Beaumont, Ed Vulliamy and Paul Beaver,CIA's bastard army ran riot in Balkans' backed extremists, The Observer, March 11, 2001
- ↑ Andy Wilcoxson, Kerry Campaign Financed by Terrorists, October 18, 2004.
- ↑ Reed Lindsay,Cold War returns to US backyard, The Observer, March 7, 2004