INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM (FROM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD, 1978, BY MARIUS LIVINGSTON - SEE NCJ-52737)

• NCJ Number: 52738
• Author(s): R A FEARY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Greenwood Publishing Group
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

CRIMINAL AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ASPECTS OF TERRORISM ARE ADDRESSED, INCLUDING ASSASSINATION, MURDER, KIDNAPPING, AND OTHER POLITICAL ACTS: GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES AND VICTIMS ARE ALSO CONSIDERED.

Abstract

AS WITH OTHER FORMS OF TERRORISM, INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM EMBODIES AN ACT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY CRIMINAL. IT IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, WITH VIOLENCE OFTEN DIRECTED AGAINST INNOCENT PERSONS, AND IT TRANSCENDS NATIONAL BOUNDARIES THROUGH THE CHOICE OF A FOREIGN VICTIM OR TARGET, THE COMMISSION OF A TERRORIST ACT IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, OR AN EFFORT TO INFLUENCE THE POLICIES OF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT. INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS MAY OR MAY NOT WISH TO KILL THEIR VICTIM(S). EXPERIENCES WITH AND THE STUDY OF TERRORISM, WHICH LARGELY BEGAN WITH HIJACKINGS BY PERSONS TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM EAST EUROPEAN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES IN THE 1940'S, HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE ARE THREE BASIC WAYS OF DEALING WITH TERRORISM: INTELLIGENCE, PHYSICAL SECURITY OF TARGET INSTALLATIONS AND PEOPLE, AND APPREHENSION AND PUNISHMENT OF TERRORISTS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE IS AN 80-PERCENT CHANCE THAT AN INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST INVOLVED IN A KIDNAPPING WILL ESCAPE DEATH OR CAPTURE. FOR ALL CRIMES OF TERRORISM, AS OPPOSED TO KIDNAPPING ONLY, THE AVERAGE SENTENCE FOR THE SMALL PROPORTION OF TERRORISTS CAUGHT AND TRIED IS LESS THAN 18 MONTHS. WORLDWIDE PUBLICITY, NORMALLY AN IMPORTANT TERRORIST OBJECTIVE, IS ACHIEVED IN ALMOST EVERY TERRORIST ACT. POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES WITH RESPECT TO ASSASSINATION SEEK TO DETER OR THWART SUCH ATTACKS THROUGH INTELLIGENCE WARNING AND PHYSICAL SECURITY IN COOPERATION WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS NOT AND WILL NOT PAY RANSOM, RELEASE PRISONERS, OR OTHERWISE YIELD TO TERRORIST BLACKMAIL. IN 1975, THERE WAS AN ENCOURAGING TREND TOWARD GREATER FIRMNESS BY A NUMBER OF NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION GOVERNMENTS IN THEIR HANDLING OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS. THE YEAR ALSO SAW A TREND TOWARD A HIGHER LEVEL OF TERRORIST ARRESTS AND TRIALS AND STRICTER LAWS AGAINST TERRORISM, NOTABLY IN GERMANY. ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISTS IS A COORDINATED APPROACH TO APPREHENSION, TRIAL, AND PUNISHMENT. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SPECIFIC TERRORIST GROUPS AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AS A WORLD PROBLEM ARE DISCUSSED. THE FUTURE OF TERRORISM WITH REGARD TO WEAPONS AND TACTICS IS EXAMINED. (DEP)