NCJ Number
57595
Date Published
1979
Length
238 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK DOCUMENTS THE SOPHISTICATED FIREPOWER IN THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS, EXPLORES TERRORIST INFRASTRUCTURE, AND EXAMINES THE GROWING PROFESSIONALISM OF TERRORIST TRAINING AND TACTICS.
Abstract
BEGINNING WITH A HISTORICAL EXPLANATION OF TERRORISM, ITS FOUNDATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT, THE BOOK GOES ON TO DESCRIBE WHO TERRORISTS ARE (MEN WANTING TO ACCUMULATE POWER AND FAME AND WOMEN WANTING SOME FORM OF LIBERATION) USING BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON KNOWN TERRORISTS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES AND GROUPS. THE 'MYTH' THAT TERRORISTS ARE POOR PEOPLE WAGING A POLITICAL WAR IS REFUTED, AS THE TEXT POINTS TO THE LAVISH LIFESTYLES OF TERRORISTS AND THE SOARING COSTS OF THEIR INCREASINGLY COMPLEX OPERATIONS. TERRORIST RECRUITS RECEIVE BOTH POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION AND MILITARY TRAINING (SHOOTING AND OTHER WEAPONS TECHNIQUES, MECHANICS, AND SURVIVAL SKILLS) AND MUST PROVE THEMSELVES IN ACTION BY KILLING. THE FINANCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF TERRORIST GROUPS (OFTEN ARAB PETRODOLLARS) ARE EXAMINED, AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO TERRORISM ARE DISCUSSED. AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF TERRORIST WEAPONS, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR FEATURES AND USES, SHOWS THAT TERRORISTS TEND TO USE MORE MODERN WEAPONS IN THEIR OPERATIONS THAN THE POLICE AND THE MILITARY. THE BOOK INCLUDES COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY DOSSIERS OF THE MOST ACTIVE INTERNATIONAL GROUPS, SHOWING THEIR ORIGINS, LEADERSHIP, AIMS, AND THEIR INTERGROUP AND INTERNATIONAL LINKS. A CHRONOLOGY OF TERRORIST ACTS FROM 1968 TO 1979 IS INCLUDED, AND A COLOR INSERT DISPLAYS POPULAR TERRORIST FIREARMS. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (DAG)