NCJ Number
62594
Journal
ARMY Volume: 23 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1973) Pages: 10-17
Date Published
1973
Length
8 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH TERROR HAS BEEN CONDEMNED AS UNETHICAL, THE DEVICES AND TECHNIQUES OF TERROR ARE LEGALLY AND ILLEGALLY USED AS A MEANS OF CONTROL IN NEARLY EVERY SOCIAL ORDER.
Abstract
THE TERRORIST HAS ONLY RECENTLY EMERGED AS A MAJOR ELEMENT IN POLITICAL STRUGGLES, BACKED BY AN ORGANIZATION AND AIDED BY THE MEDIA, THE JET AGE, AND A GROWING INTERNATIONAL COMPLICITY IN THE USE OF TERROR. THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE USE OF TERROR IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE SAME: TO GAIN SOCIAL OR POLITICAL CONTROL OVER THE TARGET GROUP. A GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE, MAY USE TERROR OVER ITS OWN PEOPLE OR OVER OTHER STATES. ON THE OTHER HAND, DISSIDENTS AND INSURGENTS MAY USE TERROR ILLEGALLY AGAINST A LEGALLY CONSTITUTED GOVERNMENT OR AGAINST A SPECIFIC GROUP. A TERRORIST INCIDENT HAS THREE ELEMENTS: (1) THE ACT OR THREAT OF VIOLENCE, (2) THE SOURCE OF THE VIOLENCE OR AGENTS WHO CARRY OUT THE ACT, AND (3) THE TARGET OR SOCIAL GROUP TO BE CONTROLLED. A SYSTEM OF TERROR--DEFINED AS A SPHERE OF RELATIONSHIPS CONTROLLED BY THE TERROR PROCESS--INCLUDES VIGILANTE TERROR, DIRECTED AGAINST CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF POPULATION; A REIGN OF TERROR, USED BY THE DOMINANT POWER STRUCTURE TO MAINTAIN POLITICAL CONTROL; AND A SIEGE OF TERROR USED AGAINST THOSE IN POWER BY AN OUTSIDE GROUP. COUNTERTERRORISM IS THE USE OF TERROR BY LEGAL AUTHORITY AGAINST THE TERRORIST INSURGENT GROUP; ITS APPLICATION IS FREQUENTLY MORE VIOLENT. EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT THE BEST COUNTERAPPROACH TO TERROR IS THE JUDICIOUS USE OF PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL REFORM BACKED BY AN EFFICIENT, STERN SECURITY FORCE. THE RULING AUTHORITY MUST ALSO IDENTIFY AND ALLEVIATE THE GENUINE GRIEVANCES OF THE POPULATION THAT ARE EXPLOITED BY TERRORISTS. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)