NCJ Number
45853
Date Published
Unknown
Length
5 pages
Annotation
ASPECTS OF TERRORISM OVERLOOKED BY CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS ARE DISCUSSED, AND AN APPROACH TO REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF TERRORIST ATROCITIES IS SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE STATE DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE, THOUGH ITS OBJECTIVES WERE CLEARLY STATED AND ITS PANEL SUBJECTS SATISFACTORILY FORMULATED, FAILED TO DISTINGUISH THE FEATURES AND ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. A MAJOR DEFICIENCY OF THE CONFERENCE WAS A GENERAL OBLIVIOUSNESS TO THE HISTORICAL DIMENSIONS OF TERRORISM. ONLY ONE SPEAKER NOTED THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE REVOLUTIONARY TERRORIST TRADITION AND THE CULTURAL MILIEU THAT INSPIRED THE TRADITION. HISTORY POINTS TO DIFFERENCES IN PERSPECTIVE BETWEEN THE TERRORIST AND THE NONTERRORIST. THE TERRORIST BELIEVES THAT A PERFECT WORLD IS POSSIBLE AND THAT THE FINAL SUCCESS OF THE CAUSE WILL JUSTIFY ALL MEANS. PROBABILITY MAY BE IMPORTANT IN PLANNING SPECIFIC ACTIONS, BUT THE TERRORIST'S BELIEF IN THE POSSIBILITY OF VICTORY IS THE MAINSPRING OF HIS FAITH. TERRORISM IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH WAR. IN WAR, ONE WANTS TO WIN BUT ONE ALSO WANTS TO AVOID PROVOKING THE ENEMY. IN TERRORISM, ATROCITIES ARE COMMITED TO PROVOKE ATROCITIES, THE IDEA BEING THAT, ONCE EVERYONE IS GUILTY OF THE SAME THING, ATTENTION WILL FINALLY BE DIRECTED TO THE CAUSE. INTERNATIONAL LAWS REGARDING THE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT OF THOSE INVOLVED IN ATROCITIES COULD BE REWRITTEN TO MAKE TERRORIST ACTION MORE DIFFICULT AND LESS PROFITABLE. WITHIN STATES, LAWS COULD BE ALTERED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOSE WHO PERPETRATE ATROCITIES AND THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN LESS HEINOUS FORMS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE. WHILE IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE TERRORISM, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO REGULATE ITS FORMS. (LKM)