International Terrorism - Choosing the Right Target

• NCJ Number: 79967
• Author(s): B M Jenkins
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Rand Corporation
• Sale Source: Rand Corporation; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Rand Paper Series.

Annotation

This essay examines the level of Soviet support for international terrorism and the degree to which the United States should blame the Soviets for their attempts to foster terrorism.

Abstract

Although the Soviet Union does provide support for terrorist activities, this does not adequately explain the existence and persistence of worldwide terrorism. It would be a mistake to leap from evidence of Soviet involvement to a conspiracy theory of terrorism since conspiracy theories are too simple an explanation for complex phenomena. Soviets support 'national liberation movements,' groups which Moscow decides to support if they are in time with Soviet foreign policy aims at the moment. The Soviet Union supports such groups, often Marxist guerrilla groups fighting Western-backed governments in the Third World, with arms and training. Soviet allies and satellites provide support to an even wider range of groups, who in turn provide funds and training to other terrorist groups around the world. Beyond this point, the evidence of Soviet support and orchestration becomes murky. There is no convincing evidence that the Soviets created terrorist groups in Western Europe, although evidence exists of direct links between the two. It also cannot be said that support from the Soviets or from any other outside source has made terrorists much more effective. Hard evidence is required of direct Soviet involvement in terrorism; otherwise, such charges may prove counterproductive. Terrorism may decline for reasons having nothing to do with the level of Soviet support; evidence now suggests that terrorist activity is shifting from Western Europe to Latin America. To publicly accuse the Soviets of conspiracy in worldwide terrorism would hinder Soviet participation in international efforts to combat such areas of concern as assaults on the diplomatic community, an issue which also concerns the Soviet Union. Consensus among nations will be lost if the Soviets are excluded. No references are cited.