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Terrorism
"Fear
is apparently a formidable ally"
-Xenophon(430-354)
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 not new ,it has a history that is at least 2000 years old. Although targets,
victims, causes and justifications for the use of terror have changed, the
methods of terrorism have remained the same throughout history. The only major
change is the technology of terrorism.
Terrorism
today is a worldwide problem.
The
FBI describes terrorism as either domestic or international, depending on the
origin, base, and objectives of the terrorists:
*
Domestic terrorism is the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence
by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States
or its territories without foreign direction committed against persons or
property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any
segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.
*
International terrorism involves violent acts dangerous to human life that are a
violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state, or that would
be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United
States or any state. These acts appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a
civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or
coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping.
International terrorist acts occur outside the United States or transcend
national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the
persons they appear intended to coerce or intimidate, or the locale in which the
perpetrations operate or seek asylum.
Terrorists often use threats to:
- Create fear among the public.
- Try to convince citizens that
their government is powerless to prevent terrorism.
- Get immediate publicity for
their causes.
Acts of terrorism include threats
of terrorism; assassinations; kidnappings; hijackings; bomb scares and bombings;
cyber attacks (computer-based); and the use of chemical, biological, nuclear and
radiological weapons.
High-risk targets for acts of
terrorism 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. Further, terrorists are capable of spreading fear by sending explosives
or chemical and biological agents through the mail.
Terrorism
should not be confused with traditional warfare. In war, a target is selected
because it has military value and will achieve a specific military objective.
The terrorist chooses targets that have symbolic or economic value or targets
that have public value in order to get the society's attention and cause
governments to change policies.
Types
of Terrorism
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weapons of mass destruction-A
weapon of mass destruction causes damage to the infrastructure of a society.
Targets for mass destruction can include bridges, dams, water treatment plants,
computer systems and any other structure.
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weapons of mass casualty-A
weapon of mass casualty causes massive sickness and/or death. Biological and
chemical weapons are weapons of mass casualty.
-
weapons of mass disruption-Weapons
of mass disruption cause social, political and/or economic disruption to
society.
United States
Department of State-State
Sponsors of Terrorism
Countries
determined by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for
acts of international terrorism are designated pursuant to three laws: section
6(j) of the Export Administration Act, section 40 of the Arms Export Control
Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act. Taken together, the four
main categories of sanctions resulting from designation under these authorities
include restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance; a ban on defense exports and
sales; certain controls over exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous
financial and other restrictions.
Designation
under the above-referenced authorities also implicates other sanctions laws that
penalize persons and countries engaging in certain trade with state sponsors.
Currently there are five countries designated under these authorities: Cuba,
Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.
| Country |
Designation
Date
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Cuba
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March 1, 1982
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Iran
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January 19, 1984
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North Korea
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January 20, 1988
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Sudan
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August 12, 1993
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Syria
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December 29, 1979
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Credit: United States Department
of State
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