Assumptions about Counter-Terrorism

Question 1

Terrorism categories by Europol

Answer 1

Religiously inspired, Ethno-Nationalist and separatist, Left-Wing and Anarchist, Right-Wing, Single-issue.

Question 2

Expressive Terrorism

Answer 2

The violence itself seems to be both the method and a goal.

Question 3

Assumption: one can recognise a terrorist

Answer 3

False, there is no standard terrorist and therefore also no distinct profile.

Question 4

Assumption: decapitation of a terrorist organization works

Answer 4

partly true, depending on the type of organization.

Question 5

False positives

Answer 5

We get it wrong with unfamiliar faces around 30% of the time, even when somebody stands in front of us holding a fake ID.

Question 6

Stages of reconnaissance

Answer 6

Surveillance, elicitation, test of security, funding/supplies, impersonation, rehearsal, deployment

Question 7

Assumption: terrorism cannot be defeated

Answer 7

Partly true, organizations can cease to exist, but they will be replaced with a new one.

Question 8

Assumption: CT requires a holistic approach

Answer 8

Partly true, the complexity of terrorism requires multiple ways of dealing with it.

Question 9

Assumption: de-radicalisation is possible

Answer 9

Rather than de-radicalisation, it is more realistic to aim at disengagement, as that doesn’t necessarily changes behaviour.