Terrorism and the War on Terror Flashcards
What is the definition of terrorism ?
More than 100 definitions!
“Calculated use of violence to intimidate civilians in pursuit of goals that are political, religious, or ideological”
What is the clash of civilizations theory ?
SamuelHuntington
* Civilizations/cultures will fight
* War less about economics, politics, ideology
* West vs . the rest is main conflict
Western, Japanese, Confucian, Islamic, African, Hindu, Slavic-Orthodox, Latin American
Non-western countries team up against the West
What is the counter view to the clash of civilization ?
- More about power, inequality, policy
Ex: West allied to Saudi Arabia, Indonesia - Civilizations are not homogenous: power inequality within states
- More commonalities than differences across cultures
What are the different varieties of terrorism ?
- International vs. domestic terrorism
- State (or “state-sponsored”) vs. non- state terrorism
- Freedom fighter vs. terrorist
- Combinations
What are the historical origins of terrorism ?
French revolution, 1789-1799
- Monarchy overthrown leads to Robespierre’s Reign of Terror, 1793-1794 by Terrorists
- 18,000-40,000 killed
“If the basis of a popular government in peacetime is virtue, its basis in a time of revolution is virtue and terror – virtue, without which terror would be barbaric; and terror, without which virtue would be impotent.“
What are three examples of terrorism ?
- World Trade Centre attacks (9-11)
- Beheadings
- Dylann Roof
- Cuba hit and run attacks (e.g., Operation Mongoose)
* Contras against Nicaragua’s elected government
What occurred in Gaza in 2009 ?
Attacks on Gaza by Israeli forces
Goldstone: “the Mission concludes that what occurred in just over three weeks was a deliberately disproportionate attack designed to punish, humiliate and terrorize a civilian population”.
What is Al Qaeda ?
Conventional view: integrated, tight-knit, tentacles around the world answering to bin Laden
- Origins in 1980s but until 1996-2001, OBL one among many terrorists
What are the historical roots of 9-11 ?
- Soviet invasion and occupation, 1979-1989
- Soviet Union’s Vietnam
– 15,000 Soviets killed
– 1-2M Afghans killed
Followed the mujahideen’s insurrection, at the root of the rest of the conflict.
Explain the mujahideen’s inssurection ?
Afghan civil war, 1978-present
- US support starts before Soviet invasion, might provoke Soviets
- US/CIA financial support ($ billion) through Pakistan (ISI)
- Some mujahideen trained in US
How has this conflict been represented in the media ?
- Rambo III (1988) - Supports the Mujahideen
“freedom fighters” against Soviet occupation - Charlie Wilson’s War - 2007 movie on Congress man who pushed for support for Mujahideen
What is the demographic of Afghans Arabs like at the time ?
35,000 radical Muslims from 43 countries along Afghan mujahideen
Total of 100,000 with madrassas in Pakistan
Support from mostly Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, but also US
Who is Osama bin Laden ?
Contributions to Mujahideen insurrection through MAK
MAK forerunner of al-Qaeda
Direct contacts with CIA unclear
Which atrocities took place in the 1990s concerning the mujahideen ?
1992: fighting among Mujahideen groups
- Kabul shelled
- 65,000 dead
- Rapes and murders
What is the Taliban regime and how is it initially perceived ?
1996-2001
- Brought stability
- Human rights atrocities
- Northern Alliance opposition (support from the US of mujahideen which had lost to the Taliban)
What is the blowback from the Afghan Arabs groups world-wide ?
After Afghanistan campaign (1989), Afghan Arabs spread to many countries
– Algeria, Bosnia, Chechnya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Kenya, etc.
– And US!
- Some attacks linked to Al Qaeda, others are not.
Describe Al-Qaeda’s structure between 1996 and 2001.
Provides a central focus and resources for disparate Islamic militant elements, based in Afghanistan
Is hardcore
– 12 + 100 leaders
– Run OBL’s organization
Coopted groups
– Dynamics relationship
– But local factors also important
* Ideology
– Worldview of radical Islamic militancy
* Range of AQ’s involvement in terrorist attacks
What are the 1998 bombings ?
Tanzania and Kenya US embassies
Al Qaeda / bin Laden are directly involved
What are the 9/11 attacks ?
WTC, Pentagon, Pennsylvania
3,000 dead
19 hijackers (15 Saudis)
What was the organization of the 9/11 attacks like ?
AQ hardcore
– Supervision, finance (extent unknown)
* 2-3 groups of hijackers
– Hamburg cell (pilots: e.g. Atta): allied itself with OBL for resources
– “Passenger containers”
What is Al-Qaeda like post-9/11 ?
- Core and networks scattered, captured, and/or destroyed
Weakening of Al Qaeda as a resource and central focus
- But the Al Qaeda idea stronger than ever
Military response to 9-11 increased terrorist threat worldwide
- Increasingly autonomous terrorist groups
2004 Madrid bombings
- AQ ideology spreading, new leaders emerging
What are the factors that may have pushed Al-Qaeda to conduct these attacks ?
Bin Laden’s 1998 fatwa
– Against US foreign policy – US bases in Saudi Arabia – Support for dictators
– Sanctions on Iraq
– Israel killing Palestinians
Vast majority of Muslims do not support OBL’s methods, but may identify with his causes
What is a possible appropriate response to this crisis ?
Determine who is guilty
- Bring the guilty to court and have an international trial
- Use force only if necessary, perhaps international police force
What was the Taliban’s response to the US extradition request ?
US wants OBL, al-Qaeda leaders delivered
- Taliban: ready for trial of OBL if evidence provided
- Taliban agree to extradite OBL
- US, UK reject offers
- No solid evidence at time of attack
