NCJ Number
101513
Date Published
1986
Length
6 pages
Annotation
If advances are to be made in the fight against terrorism, confusion concerning the true nature of terrorism and how it relates to the struggle for human freedom must be clarified.
Abstract
While both terrorists and freedom fighters resort to violence and justify their actions in terms of ideological arguments, terrorists differ in targeting innocent victims -- a violation of human rights and a form of oppression in which freedom fighters would not engage. While it may be argued that terrorists fight for the liberation of their own people and rights without regard for the rest of the world, an analysis of regimes in which terrorists have prevailed liberators. Finally, the patrons and promoters of terrorism all are states with repressive regimes in which freedom has no place.