WORLD TERRORISM

Ann: (VideoSlide of terrorist attacks) Terrorism isn’t new in society, it is not even
inevitable and that even in the present society, whether we hear it or see it, it
gives us the catastrophic effects and even fear of the terrorists and even fear of
travelling to that area infamous of the attacks. Terrorism is a criminal act that
influences an audience beyond the immediate victim. For example: the Munich
Olympics in 1972, 11 Israelis were killed by the Black September Organization.
The victims were the Israelis but the true targets were the estimated one billion
people watching the televised event. The watching audience were to be
introduced to fear- which is terrorism’s ultimate goal.
Terrorists do not see themselves as evil. They believe that they are legitimate
combatants, fighting for what they believe in, by whatever means possible to
attain their goals. Terrorists try to foster a Robin Hood Image. Let us now look
into how it started and how it maintained its continuity over the years:

Yvonne: (Narration of History while video is shown)

Terrorism isn’t a contemporary issue. It had existed even before a stable

government were introduced and even before international relations became
common during the 1st and the 14th century A.D the Zealots of Judea were the
earliest known organization that exhibited aspects of modern terrorist
organization. They were dagger-men and carried out underground campaign of
assassination of Roman occupation forces. Assassins were the next group to
show recognizable characteristics of terrorism as we know today. During the
early 20th century nationalism then intensified throughout the world.

Most ethic groups chose nationalism as their reason for uprising to be able to
recover their identity. Several of these groups chose terror as a method to
conduct their struggle and to make their situation known to world powers they
hoped would be sympathetic.

One of the largest act of international terrorism occurred on September 11, 2001
in a set of co-ordinated attacks on the United States of America where Islamic
terrorists hijacked civilian airliners and used them to attack the World Trade
Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC.

Ann: There are common messages that are present among the different terrorist
attacks worldwide. But what a common person can observe is that only that
terrorists wanted to make a scene and promote fear. But nothing instantly
happens for a reason, terrorists aren’t just some random people, they serve their
goals which they believe that are necessary to achieve. These terrorists can be
politically motivated hey believe that war is the continuation of a policy, a policy
they intended to change. Psychological, as what I have been mentioned in the
 definition of terrorism, although these terrorist target actual victims but there real
intention is to promote fear worldwide, terrorists acts are televise thus a person
watching will be affected and be feared by attacks thinking that it would probably
happen to them, audiences are victims. Terrorists are usually small groups of
persons but they also imply that they have a coercive force, the destructions are
not the result of their operation since it only destructs a small portion of
population, what they want to imply is that they have a potential of violence that
they can pose threat to the government. Finally terrorist attacks are dynamic and
deliberate, their purpose are to turn back the clock, or restore what has been
taken from them and these are activities that are actively planned and are not
random acts.

Yvonne: (Video and Narration) There are also different Types of Terrorist Incidents:
Bombings which is the most common type and composed of improvised explosive
devices which are inexpensive and easy to make.

Next to this are the Kidnappings and Hostage takings which are used to establish a
bargaining position and to raise publicity. Kidnapping is one of the most difficult acts
for a terrorist group to accomplish, but if the act is successful it can gain terrorists
money, release of jailed comrades, and publicity for an extended periods. Hostage-
taking provokes a confrontation with authorities. It forces authorities to either make
dramatic decisions or to comply with the terrorist’s demands.

Terrorist attacks may also come in the image of Armed Attacks and Assassinations.
It includes raids and ambushes. Drive-by shooting is a common technique employed
by unsophisticated or loosely organized terrorist groups.

Arsons and Firebombings ,Hijackings and Skyjackings are also common types of the
incidents which eventually draws heavy media attention.

Ann: There are many different forms of terrorism that terrorist commit, first, Civil
disorder it is a form of collective violence interfering with the peace, security, and
normal functioning of the community. Political terrorism a violent criminal behaviour
designed primarily to generate fear in the community, or substantial segment of it,
for political purposes. Non-Political terrorism is not aimed at political purposes but
which exhibits conscious design to create and maintain a high degree of fear for
coercive purposes, but the end is individual or collective gain rather than the
achievement of a political objective. Quasi-terrorism is where quasi-terrorist uses the
modalities and techniques of the genuine terrorist and produces similar
consequences and reaction. For example, the fleeing felon who takes hostages is a
quasi-terrorist, whose methods are similar to those of the genuine terrorist but
whose purposes are quite different. Limited political terrorism is characterized by a
revolutionary approach; limited political terrorism refers to acts of terrorism which are
committed for ideological or political motives but which is not part of a concerted
campaign to capture control of the state. Official or state terrorism referring to
nations whose rule is based upon fear and oppression that reach similar to terrorism
or such proportions. It may also be referred to as Structural Terrorism defined
broadly as terrorist acts carried out by governments in pursuit of political objectives,
often as part of their foreign policy.

Yvonne: Media exposure may be a primary goal of those carrying out terrorism, to
expose issues that would otherwise be ignored by the media. Some consider this to
be manipulation and exploitation of the media.
The internet has created a new channel for groups to spread their messages. This
has created a cycle of measures and counter measures by groups in support of and
in opposition to terrorist movements. The United Nations has created its own online
counter-terrorism resource.

Ann: (Video/Slideshow of Examples) Terrorism has been associated with physical

acts of violence and crime; for example killings, bombings, kidnapping, destruction of
property, etc. starting in the 20th century the increasing advent of technology and
more specifically systems controlled by computers, has seen a new form of criminal
activity that has often combined destruction of property with financial crime,
propaganda, economic warfare and possibly physical harm to innocent human lives.
It comes in different ways such as Viruses, Malware and Trojans, Terrorist
Propaganda and Criminal Elements.

Yvonne: 9/11 attacks, the Syrian Crisis, Effects of Mass Media and Cyber terrorism,
with all of this happening, why do you think terrorism never cease to exist within this
present times?

Ann: As a conflict method that has survived and evolved through several millennia
to flourish in the modern information age, terrorism continuous to adapt to meet the
challenges of emerging forms of conflict, and exploit developments in technology
and society.

Yvonne: Indeed, terrorists are improving their sophistication and abilities in virtually
all aspects of their operations and support. The aggressive use of modern
technology for information management, communication and intelligence has
increased the efficiency of these activities. Weapons technology has become more
increasingly available, and the purchasing power of terrorist organizations is on the
rise.

(Text): Most experts believe that certain parts of the Middle East, Pakistan and
Afghanistan are turning out to be the main power centers for terrorism. Decades
of lawlessness and corruption have seen Islamic terrorist groups fill the power
vacuum in this region and continue to turn out an alarming number of religiously
motivated terrorists.
End text: “One day we will be free of this kind of constraint, and that will be
another way of knowing that we have won.”

Yvonne Grace J. Dolorosa

Ma. Ana Victoria L. Pendon