NCJ Number
48357
Journal
Society Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1977) Pages: WHOLE N 111,P 48-52
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
IT IS ARGUED THAT THE RISE IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IS THE RESULT OF INCREASED NUMBERS OF TARGETS, ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY, AND HEIGHTENED TOLERANCE OF TERRORISTS SUGGESTIONS FOR FIGHTING TERRORISM ARE PROVIDED.
Abstract
A BRIEF REVIEW OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS FORM 1944 THROUGH 1975 SHOWS THAT POLITICAL TERRORISM FALLS INTO TWO GROUPS. THE FIRST GROUP HAS NO STRONG POLITICAL CAUSE AND OFTEN DEGENERATES INTO A CRIMINAL GANG. THE SECOND GROUP USES TERROR AS PART OF A WIDER POLITICAL EFFORT, USUALLY INSPIRED BY NATIONALISTIC OR ETHNIC ASPIRATIONS. WORLD TERRORISM HAS INCREASED BECAUSE THE NUMBERS OF VULNERABLE POINTS IN OPEN SOCIETIES HAVE INCREASED AND THE WEAPONS AVAILABLE TO ATTACK THESE WEAK SPOTS HAVE BECOME MORE SOPHISTIACTED AND ACCESSIBLE. TARGETS INCLUDE LARGE AIRCRAFT, SUPERTANKERS. INTERNATIONAL POWER GRIDS AN PIPELINES, TRANSPORTATION HUBS, COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTERS, AS WELL AS OTHER VITAL POINTS. WEAPONS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED FROM BOMBS, MACHINE GUNS, AND PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES TO INCLUDE A VARIETY OF MISSILES AND CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND RADIOLOGICAL AGENTS. ADDED TO THIS IS INCREASED TOLERANCE OF TERRORISM IN THE FORM OF ACTIVE AID BY VARIOUS COUNTRIES. ANOTHER FACTOR SEEMS TO BE THE SPREAD OF ANTITERRORIST AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS, A FACTOR WHICH APPARENTLY IS FORCING DISSIDENTS TO OPERATE ABROAD. TO COMBAT TERRORISM, GOVERNMENTS SHOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VULNERABLE POINTS IS TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. A VARIETY OF DELIVERY METHODS AND SOURCES SHOULD BE MAINTAINED FOR CERTAIN VITAL SERVICES AND RESOURCES. DUPLICATES SHOULD EXIST FOR ALL IMPORTANT SYSTEMS. MANDATORY DEATH PENALTIES ARE GENERALLY USELESS BECAUSE MANY TERRORISTS HAVE SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. HOWEVER, STRONGER ATTACKS AGAINST TERRORIST-PRONE GROUPS ARE URGED. IT IS ARGUED THAT IN GREAT BRITAIN, A POLICY OF TOLERATION HAS BEEN PRACTICED TOWARD IRISH TERRORISM AND THE RESULT HAS BEEN DISASTEROUS, AND FURTHER, THAT THE LOSS OF CIVIL LIBERTIES IS NOT AS GREAT A DANGER TO A SOCIETY AS ANARCHY. THE ANALOGY OF SPECIAL WAR POWER IS CITED. COUNTERTERRORIST INTELLIGENCE IS UNDERSCORED AS VITAL FOR PRESERVATION OF SOCIETY. PHOTOGRAPHS AND SUGGESTED READINGS ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)