NCJ Number
62159
Journal
US NAVAL INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS Volume: 96, Dated: (1970) Pages: 64-69
Date Published
1970
Length
5 pages
Annotation
WHETHER THEY CALL THEMSELVES PATRIOTS, TERRORISTS, OR COUNTERTERRORISTS, PERSONS USING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TOOL OF TERROR ARE DEALING WITH A METHOD THAT CAN RESULT IN RUNAWAY DESTRUCTION AND PUBLIC ALIENATION.
Abstract
THE FIRST FORM OF ACTION IN A GUERRILLA CAMPAIGN, TERROR BREAKS THE SPRING OF RESISTANCE, ERECTING AN INVISIBLE BARRIER OF NONCOOPERATION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THEIR GOVERNMENT. IT ANNOUNCES TO A NATION, AND TO THE WORLD, THAT A WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED ON THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT. REPEATED ACTS OF TERRORISM THEN REVEAL TO THE PEOPLE AND TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE GOVERNMENT'S IMPOTENCE TO STOP THE ATTACKS. USING THE STRATEGY OF SELECTIVE TERROR, TERRORISTS ATTACK JOURNALISTS OR LABOR LEADERS WHO ARE HOSTILE TO THE GUERRILLA'S OBJECTIVES AND IMPATIENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S LACK OF EFFICIENCY. THE TERRORISTS CAN THEN PLACE THE BLAME ON THE GOVERNMENT WHILE POSING AS CHAMPIONS OF THE MURDERED PROGRESSIVES. CLUMSY, UNPLANNED TERRORIST ACTION CAN ALIENATE THE POPULATION, SOLIDIFY SUPPORT FOR AN EXISTING REGIME, AND FORCE AN OTHERWISE HESITANT GOVERNMENT TO RALLY ITS COMPLETE RESOURCES. THE UNLEASHING OF A TERRORIST CAMPAIGN CAN ALSO AGGRAVATE PROBLEMS FOR GUERRILLA LEADERS IF THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THEIR RECRUITS. IN ADDITION, TERRORISM OFTEN STIMULATES COUNTERTERRORISM. HOWEVER, THE UNRESTRAINED CLASH OF TERRORIST AND COUNTERTERRORIST CAN CAUSE PUBLIC LOSS OF FAITH IN BOTH THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO COMBAT IT. COUNTERTERRORISM MAY BE TEMPTING AS AN EXPEDIENT METHOD TO FIGHT GUERRILLA TERRORISTS, BUT THE METHOD USES A TOOL OF NEGATIVE POWER AND MAY CREATE NEW PROBLEMS RATHER THAN SOLVE EXISTING ONES. (MHP)