Unit 4 AOS 2 : Key Knowledge (Terrorism) Flashcards
Terrrorism
An intent to commit the violence in the furtherance of political, ideological or religious aims
State-sponsored terrorism: when states fund, supply, inform, train, etc. terrorist organisations
State terrorism: when states use violence, or threat of violence, against its own people in order to terrorize them and maintain their grip on power
Causes
Extreme Ideology
- Promotes terrorism by radicalizing would-be terrorist to commit violence acts in accordance with fundamentalist views that do not account for alternate points of view
- Eg. 2019 Christchurch shooter was radicalized into believing the ‘Great replacement theory’
Social Media Echo Chambers
- The existence of social media allows for people to become radicalized and be influenced by the ideologies of terrorist organisations
- The proliferation of chat rooms, forums, and other platforms fuels the reach and increases the ability of groups to share extreme ideologies
- 8chan is an example of an online forum which facilitates right-wing terrorism
- Eg. 2019 Christchurch shooter was a user of the now-banned forum ‘8chan’, which he used to share his views and manifesto
Globalisation
- The advent of 24/7 news and mass media which spreads news quickly
- Encouragement of free trade and lower manufacturing costs
- The Internet, has allowed for recruitment by terrorist organisations and how-to guides on terrorism
- The expansion of commercial air travel and mass transit systems aiding and providing terrorists targets
Christchurch Mosque Shooting (2019) - Right-wing terrorism
- 51 people killed, 49 people injured
- Brenton Tarrant, 28-year-old Australian perpetrated a mass shooting in two mosques
- He was involved in the Identarian movement in Europe and wrote a manifesto titled ‘The Great Replacement’, which was emailed to 30 high-profile recipients and shared on Twitter and 8Chan
- He live-streamed the attack on Facebook
Responses
NZ Government
The New Zealand Government responded by imposing a general ban on assault weapons
On May 15th, 2019, NZ PM Ardern and French President Macron co-hosted the Christchurch Call Summit in Paris, where they called to major tech companies to step up their effort to combat violent extremism
Christchurch Call to Action Summit
Initiated by Jacinda Ardern, co-chaired by Emmanuel macron in Paris
Aimed to “bring together countries and tech companies in an attempt to bring to an end the ability to use social media to organise and promote terrorism and violent extremism”
World leaders and technology companies pledged to “eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online”
Fraser Anning
Former Australian Senator
Blamed the shooting on multiculturalism, saying that it highlights the “growing fear within our community” of the “increasing Muslim presence”
He described the “real cause of the bloodshed” being immigration programs
Islamic State (ISIS) - Non-state terrorism
Aims
Ensure devotion to Islam
Establish an Islamic caliphate
Implement Sharia Law
- Use modern tools such as social media to promote its ideology, radicalization and religious fundamentalism
ISIS - Responses
US Led Coalition
Operation Inherent Resolve (2014) is a multinational military formation led by the US against ISIS
They aim to “degrade and destroy” the organisation
In 2017, stated that its airstrikes have killed over 80,000 fighters since 2014
Conducted approx. 35,000 airstrikes between 2014 and 2019
UNSC
In 2015, UNSC Resolution #2249 called upon member states to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL and other UNSC designated terrorist groups
“unequivocally condemns in the strongest terms the horrifying terrorist attacks perpetrated by ISIL”
Assassination of Maher al-Agal
US military conducted an operation where they killed the leader of ISIS in Syria
Occurred in 2022 with the use of a precision drone strike at his residence
ISIS - Sydney Lindt Cafe Siege
- 15th December 2014, lone gunman (Man Haron Monis) held 18 hostages (10 customers and 8 employees)
- 16-hour standoff between police forces and gunman, tactical operations unit stormed the café
- Monis was killed during the raid and two hostages
- Gunman described as having a “political motivation” by Tony Abbot and assessed as having a “mix of extremism, mental health problems and plain criminality” afterwards
- Monis pledged allegiance to “the caliph of Muslims” on his website
- Monis also demanded that a hostage ask all media to broadcast that “this is an attack on Australia by the Islamic State”
- He demanded an ISIS flag be delivered to him
Responses
“Australians should be reassured by the way our law enforcement and security agencies responded to this brush with terrorism.” – Tony Abbot
#illridewithyou campaign sought to offer solidarity and emotional support to Muslims travelling alone on public transport by people tweeting their bus/train route and suggesting that they would be willing to “ride with” anyone who might feel threatened
“Australian public’s embrace of #illridewithyou and the Muslim leaders who have disavowed the actions of the hostage taker” – Barack Obama
Syria (State Terrorism)
- Assad Regime
2013 Ghouta attacks by the Syrian Gov’t, killing 1400 people (sarin gas rockets)
2017 Khan Shaykhun attacks by the Syrian Gov’t killed 89 people (sarin gas)
Responses
US
US military unilaterally launched 59 cruise missiles at Shayrat Air Base in response to the Khan Shaykhun attacks (which they held was responsible for the attack), killing nine
OPCW
In 2016, destruction of all chemical weapons declared by the Syrian Arab Republic completed
In June 2018, reported that Syria had not fully declared nor destroyed its entire chemical weapons stockpiles
In 2021, a conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) adopted a decision to suspend certain rights and privileges of Syria under the Convention
Challenges to achieving effective resolutions
Nature of Terrorism
Globalisation
Ideology
Lack of international cooperation
Media
Key Aspect: Non-state terrorism
- Any terrorist group or individual that commits atrocities or threats of violence in an attempt to further a political, ideological or religious aim
Eg. ISIS Kabul Mosque Bombing 2022
- In 2022, ISIS claimed responsibility for a bombing on a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan
- Attack was on minority Muslim groups to which ISIS do not agree with their beliefs
- Approx. 70 people were killed and 30 injured
- UN condemned the bombing as “heinous” and “yet another painful blow to the people of Afghanistan who continue to be exposed to unremitting insecurity and violence”
Key Aspect: Terrorism as an instrument of state policy
- Where states fund, supply, train or endorse any terrorist groups beyond their borders to further their national interests
Eg. Iran’s support for Houthi rebels in Yemen
- Iran backs the Houthi Rebels in the Yemeni civil war, against the Saudi-backed government
- The Houthi rebels are a part of the Shia sect of Islam, whereas the government is part of the Sunni sect (Iran is predominantly Shia)
- For Iran, supporting the revolt in Yemen is “a good way to bleed the Saudis”, Iran’s regional and ideological rival
- Accused of arming and training the Houthis, confirmed to provide “direct support” in 2015 by a Houthi official
- 2016, the U.S. Navy reportedly intercepted weapons from Iran believed to be headed for Houthi rebels (AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers)
Key Aspect: The role of asymmetric warfare
- Asymmetry means a mismatch in military capabilities between two adversaries
Eg. Syria
- 2017 Khan Shaykhun attacks by the Syrian Gov’t killed 89 people (sarin gas)
- US military unilaterally launched 59 cruise missiles at Shayrat Air Base in response to the Khan Shaykhun attacks (which they held was responsible for the attack), killing nine
- In 2018, the Syrian Gov’t again used chemical weapon in an attack in the city of Douma, where approx. 50 people were killed
- An OPCW fact-finding mission concluded that the toxic chemical was likely molecular chlorine
- In response, the US, France and the UK carried out a series of military strikes
