September 11 th, Global Terrorism and War on Terrorism

Major Key Concepts Political terrorism: The deliberate use or threat of violence against non-combatants, calculated to instill fear, alarm, and ultimately a feeling of helplessness in an audience beyond the immediate victims. Political terrorism: The deliberate use or threat of violence against non-combatants, calculated to instill fear, alarm, and ultimately a feeling of helplessness in an audience beyond the immediate victims. The use of violence includes: hostage- taking, hijacking, bombing, and other indiscriminate attacks, usually targeting civilians The use of violence includes: hostage- taking, hijacking, bombing, and other indiscriminate attacks, usually targeting civilians Causes: ideological, ethnic, and religious exclusion Causes: ideological, ethnic, and religious exclusion

 Assymetric warfare: Armed conflict between terrorist networks and conventional military forces.

Major Key Concepts Information warfare: Attacks on an adversary`s telecommunications and computer networks to degrade the technological systems vital to its defense and economic well-being. This is also known as `cyber- terrorism`. Information warfare: Attacks on an adversary`s telecommunications and computer networks to degrade the technological systems vital to its defense and economic well-being. This is also known as `cyber- terrorism`. Bush Doctrine: It is a set of foreign policy guidelines including an emphasis on military pre-emption, military superiority, unilateral action against any perceived security threat (such as Iraq), and a commitment to "extending democracy, liberty, and security to all regions". It is a departure from the policies of deterrence and containment.

Terrorism as a Security Threat  Since the beginning of the modern state system about three and a half centuries ago (Westphalia-1648), nations have prepared themselves for wars against other countries.  During all that period, war has been considered as a large-scale organized violence between the regular armies of sovereign states.

Terrorism as a Security Threat Although national leaders still keep their countries prepared for such clashes and conflicts, increasingly they are faced with the prospect of asymmetric warfare which refers to an armed conflict between terrorist networks and conventional military forces. Although national leaders still keep their countries prepared for such clashes and conflicts, increasingly they are faced with the prospect of asymmetric warfare which refers to an armed conflict between terrorist networks and conventional military forces. However, globalization enabled terrorism to grow from a regional into a global one However, globalization enabled terrorism to grow from a regional into a global one Technologies associated with globalization have enabled terrorist groups to conduct operations that are deadlier Technologies associated with globalization have enabled terrorist groups to conduct operations that are deadlier Therefore, technologies associated with globalization have improved terrorist capabilities Therefore, technologies associated with globalization have improved terrorist capabilities

 Birth of transnational terrorism:  The expansion of air travel (travel freely between countries), the wider availability of televised new coverage (awareness), and broad common political and ideological interests  These changes allowed terrorism to grow from local and regional phenomenon into an international threat

Various Objectives of Terrorism  Although terrorist activities may be similar with their nature, they may have different objectives and aims. 1) Agitational objectives of terrorism include promoting the dissident group, advertising its agenda, and discrediting its rivals. e.g. Nineteenth century anarchists believed that one shocking act would draw more attention than a thousand leaflets e.g. Nineteenth century anarchists believed that one shocking act would draw more attention than a thousand leaflets

Various Objectives of Terrorism 2) Coercive objectives of terrorism include disorienting a target population, inflating the perceived power of the dissident group, wringing concessions from authorities, and provoking a heavy- handed overreaction from the police and military. e.g. Attacks at markets, cafes and other quiet locations to paralyze daily life and disseminate fear among the public. e.g. Attacks at markets, cafes and other quiet locations to paralyze daily life and disseminate fear among the public.

Various Objectives of Terrorism 3) Organizational objectives of terrorism include acquiring resources, forging group cohesion, and maintaining an underground network of supporters. e.g. Robbing banks, demanding ransom for hostages, and collecting protection money from businesses. e.g. Robbing banks, demanding ransom for hostages, and collecting protection money from businesses.

September 11 th 2001: The Turn of a New Era?  The terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11 th 2001 (shortly known as 9/11) clearly marked a new era in the security perceptions of the countries and led to a global war against terrorism.  After 9/11, the American foreign policy was re-defined and to fight against terrorism at the global scale, the concept of Bush Doctrine emerged which was mainly dominated by the neo- conservative perspective in the US administration.  Especially Afghanistan and Iraq have been the two main `battle grounds` of the United States` global war against terrorism.  So far, the death toll has been very high in these countries and they both seem to be unfinished stories.

 Al Qaeda, founder Osama Bin Laden:  Restoration of the former greatness of Islam  Defense of oppressed Muslims and defeat of the theological enemies of Islam  Absolute religious devotion  Global economic conspiracy theory that links to international poverty and suffering  Rejection of secular materialism

 Current wave of terrorist violence uses religious justification to legitimize the killings on non-combatants  Global jihad: a reaction to the perceived oppression of Muslims worldwide and spiritual bankruptcy of the West.  Religion powerful element of terrorism but ultimate purpose is the seizing the control of state!!!

Discussion Questions  Can the war against global terrorism be won?  Can terrorism be completely eliminated? If yes, how? If no, why not?  Can terrorism ever be justified?  What are the political, socio-economic and cultural reasons feeding global terrorism?