NCJ Number
69029
Date Published
1979
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE ON TERRORISM AND REVOLUTION IN AMERICA SUGGESTS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN SPARED THE WORST EXCESSES OF REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM BECAUSE IT LACKS BOTH INTERNAL NATIONALISMS AND REVOLUTIONARIES.
Abstract
TERRORIST TACTICS HAVE BEEN USED BY THE STRONG TO INTIMIDATE THE WEAK, BY THE WEAK TO INTIMIDATE THE STRONG, AND BY AMERICAN VIGILANTES, THE KU KLUX KLAN, AND COMPANY POLICE. MODERN TERRORISM COMES WITH A RATIONALE DERIVED ORGINALLY FROM THE STRUGGLES OF RADICAL NATIONALISTS TO ESTABLISH A HANDFUL OF NEW NATIONS, INCLUDING ISRAEL, VIETNAM, ALGERIA, AND SOUTH YEMEN. WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF THE PALESTINIANS AND BLACKS OF WHITE-RULED SOUTHERN AFRICA, HOWEVER, THE REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISTS OF THE 1970'S ARE MINORITIES OF MINORITIES. REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN DERIVED ENTIRELY FROM FOREIGN MODELS, AND AMERICAN REVOLUTIONAIRES WERE UNABLE TO SET ASIDE THE TACTICAL LIABILITY OF THEIR HUMANITARIANISM. REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM'S MOST EXOTIC MANIFESTATIONS CROPPED UP IN THE FORM OF TINY BANDS OF SOCIAL MISFITS AND OUTFITS SUCH AS THE BLACK LIBERATION ARMY, THE SYMBIONESE LIBERATION ARMY, AND THE MANSON GANG. LACKING IN BOTH SMOLDERING INTERNAL NATIONALISM AND VIOLENT-MILITANT REVOLUTIONARIES, THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN SPARED THE WORST EXCESSES OF REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM. HOWEVER, THE TECHNIQUES OF TERRORISM, STRIPPED OF THEIR REVOLUTIONARY RATIONALE, HAVE BEEN USED FOR MORE LIMITED OBJECTIVES SUCH AS HOSTAGE-TAKING (FOR EXAMPLE, BY THE HANAFI MUSLIMS). WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PUERTO RICANS, INDIGENOUS REVOLUTIONARY TERRORISM IS UNLIKELY ON ANY SUBSTANTIAL SCALE IN AMERICA. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)