NCJ Number
62222
Journal
New Republic Volume: 173 Issue: 21, ISSUE 3176 Dated: (NOVEMBER 22, 1975) Pages: 10-12
Date Published
1975
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE INCIDENCE OF TERRORISM BY GUNMEN IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IS ASSESSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE DANGER TO EUROPEAN STABILITY FROM REACTIONARY AND REPRESSIVE ANTI-TERRORIST MEASURES.
Abstract
MOST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN TARGETS FOR GUERRILA WARFARE, TURKEY, THE NETHERLANDS, IRELAND, SPAIN, AND ITALY TO NAME A FEW. SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES ARE TORN BY ACTIVITIES OF CONFLICTING POLITICAL GROUPS, RANGING FROM LEFT-WING THEORISTS WHO SEE AN APPARENTLY INDESTRUCTIBLE POSTIMPERIAL SYSTEM OF OPPRESSION TO CONSERVATIVE REACTIONARIES WHO OPPOSE SECULARISM AND COMMUNISM. EVEN THOUGH ISOLATED TERRORIST INCIDENTS HAVE PROVEN INEFFECTIVE, THE OVERALL PROPECT THAT GUNMEN MAY PRECIPITATE A CIVIL WAR (THE ULTIMATE TERRORIST GOAL) IS SIGNIFICANTLY FRIGHTENING AS TO COMPEL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION. HOWEVER, THE WAVE OF PROTEST OVER STATE EXECUTIONS OF POLITICAL OFFENDERS IN SPAIN INDICATES THAT GOVERNMENTS MUST DEAL WITH TERRORISTS IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT DAMAGE LAW AND ORDER IN A COUNTRY. FURTHERMORE, GOVERNMENTS MUST REALIZE THAT THE THREAT OF REVOLUTION IS NOT LETHAL BUT TOLERABLE. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)