Domestic and international terrorist alliances and strategic advantages

Terrorism

Terrorist Alliances

Alliances between domestic and international terrorists make sense for the terrorist groups for a number of reasons. First, international terrorists targeting a country need inside information about the country, terrorist targets, and how to overcome security. Aligning themselves with a domestic terrorist who knows or can find this information can help them achieve their goal and destroy a target. It also makes sense that international terrorists would seek domestic partners who can stay in the target country for long periods of time without suspicion, while it might be more difficult for the international terrorists to gain continued access to the country.

Domestic terrorists also have something to gain by aligning themselves with international terrorists. First, they have more attack options, and can spread their message quicker and more effectively than just in a domestic location. In addition, the international group may be better funded, giving the domestic terrorist more opportunities to attack and cause major damage. While all of this may sound cold and calculating, it seems surprising that more terrorist organizations do not join up in their efforts to create terror around the world. There is strength in numbers, and a larger, better funded organization can often accomplish more than a smaller, splinter organization ever could. It seems that there are so many terrorist factions in the world, they are too far divided to ever join forces, and perhaps that is the only thing that is helping keep much of the world relatively free from terrorist activity.