Terrorist Group Leaders
Tools and Techniques Used by Terrorist Group Leaders to Influence their Followers
In his article, War, Psychology, and Time, Friedman (2007) shows how Osama bin Laden employed a psychological strategy in an attempt to create a massive Islamic empire in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The disintegration of the union provided an ideal opportunity for bin Laden to demonstrate to the world that America was actually weak and could be severely hurt. For bin Laden, the Muslim world "suffered from a psychology of defeat" following America's triumph over the Soviet Union and it was therefore important for Muslims to show their might and create terror (Friedman, 2007). The use of psychology to advance terrorist ideologies is not limited to bin Laden and al Qaeda. Indeed, leaders of terrorist groups capitalize on psychological techniques to recruit and influence their followers (Victoroff, 2005). This paper explains the…...
Hezbollah
The Formation and Perpetuation of Hezbollah: Successful Politics and Successful Terrorism
The decade following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City has seen some dramatic changes in U.S. And global policy towards terrorist groups and terrorist action, and to public sentiment and attitude regarding these groups and their actions, as well. From the semi-official War on Terror to the recent "Arab Spring" and the attendant turmoil in the Middle East, the global context within which terrorism exists -- the way in which the world responds to terrorism and the way in which terrorist organizations present themselves to the world -- has changed dramatically in the recent past. This has necessitated certain changes amongst terrorist organizations, or those organizations labeled as terrorists by the international community, that hope to remain viable and relevant forces in the modern world. Though it can be impolitic to discuss these organizations…...
mlaReferences
Baranovich, Nadia, and Ravichandran Moorthy. "The Dynamics of Terror Strategies by Hezbollah and Hamas in the Israel-Palestine Conflict." Tamkang Journal of International Affairs 14, no. 4 (2011): 28-61.
Byman, Daniel. "Should Hezbollah be next?" Foreign Affairs (2003): 54-66.
Cohen, Ariel. "Knowing the Enemy." Policy Review 145 (2007): 40-53.
Feldman, Shai. "The Hezbollah-Israel War: A Preliminary Assessment." Middle East Brief 10, no. 2 (2006).
Husayn al-Musawi, a member of a contingent of the Hizbollah party, said that "Even if we, the people of Islamic Amal, do not have relations with those who committed these attacks, we are nevertheless on the side of those who defend themselves, by whatever means they have chosen." (Kramer 1990) Additionally, Musawi stated that "I supported their glorious attacks against the U.S. And France," (ibid.). This more-than-tacit support of terrorist actions such as suicide bombings and other clandestine attacks on peacekeeping or other troops is more than enough to define the organization as one which supports terrorist actions and condones their use against innocent soldiers, peacekeeping troops, and civilians.
After this condoned attack, Hizbollah terror has not achieved such a marked event in one act of terrorism; however, they have supported terrorist actions that have grown in number each year since the Israeli pullout of Lebanon and which have, as…...
mlaWorks Cited
Diaz, T., and Newman, B., 2005. Lightning out of Lebanon: Hezbollah Terrorists on American Soil, Presidio Press.
Y., 1989. Israel's Fateful Hour. New York, NY: Harper & Row
Information Division article of Israel Foreign Ministry, published online at accessed 10/29/05.http://www.ict.org.il/inter_ter/orgdet.cfm?orgid=15#documentsand
Kramer, M., 1990."The Moral Logic of Hizballah." In Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind, ed. W. Reich (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990), pp. 131-57.
Terrorist Group's Use Of Cloud Technology
After the 1980s there have been changes on a global scale that included post cold war developments. The changes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union coupled with the technological change on the nations of the East caused structural and perceptional changes that were needed to make them competitive in high technology; which included everything from military to the service sector. There was advance of science and technology in the context of world affairs, however lopsided development led to religious fundamentalism and also the terrorist ethos.
The world was for a long time in dread of nuclear weapons, but these too have taken a different dimension. Nations, even rogue nations with nuclear power are not the threat but a fanatic group that succeeds in hijacking a nuclear missile, for example, is. Though science and technology have been blamed for environmental disasters, the proliferation of technology is…...
mlaBibliography
Baker, John C, et al. Mapping the Risks: Assessing Homeland Security Implications of Publicly Available Geospatial Information. Rand: Santa Monica, CA, 2004.
Costigan, Sean S; Gold, David. Terrornomics.
Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2007.
Furht, Borko; Escalante, Armando. Handbook of Cloud Computing.
Terrorist Groups:
Terrorism is basically defined as activities or violence that is carried out to coerce the government or civilian population to change its policies. Such activities are usually carried out due to divergent political, religious and ideological beliefs by individuals or members of an extremist group. However, the federal agencies definitions of terrorism vary depending on their operational roles and missions resulting in the lack of a universally accepted definition of terrorism in the United States. Consequently, there is either domestic or international terrorism depending on the origin of an extremist or terrorist group, where they launch their terrorist activities and who the victims of these attacks are ("Combating Terrorism," 2003). International terrorism is motivated by a range of interrelated factors and trends including technological advances and associations with international crime.
Al-Qaeda Network:
The Al-Qaeda Network is an international terrorist organization that was established in 1988 and is led by Osama Bin…...
mlaReferences:
"Al-Qaeda." (n.d.). Oracle ThinkQuest: Education Foundation. Retrieved April 30, 2011, from http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0212088/teroraalqaeda.htm
"Al-Qaida / Al-Qaeda (the Base)." (2006, August 15). GlobalSecutiy.org. Retrieved April 30,
2011, from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/al-qaida.htm
"Combating Terrorism: Interagency Framework and Agency Programs to Address the Overseas
Most of them tend to be nationalist (Jones & Libicki, 2008).
Application
Jones and Libicki (2008) presented credible information in the document, which could be applied towards exploiting weaknesses in terrorist organizations. A lot of information is learnt especially on the way terrorist groups can be defeated and the factors that make cease to exist. Indeed, Jones and Libicki (2008) findings on how terrorist groups end adds significant knowledge on the efforts to deal with increased threat of terrorism around the globe. Much can be inferred on how the existing terrorist groups may be brought to an end (Jones & Libicki, 2008).
The findings on the nature of group (religious or non-religious) are a critical aspect in exploitation of the weaknesses of the organization. In this regard, it evident that efforts put to end terrorist groups should be based on a succinct consideration of the nature of group. eligious terrorist groups, which…...
mlaReference
Jones, S. & Libicki, M. (2008). How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering Al Qaida.
RAND Corporation
causes of terrorism have attracted huge concern among policymakers and the public given the increase in terror attacks across the globe in the recent past. The modern society has been characterized by the increased emergence of terrorist groups and organizations in various places in the world. These organizations have continued to use sophisticated methods to accomplish their goals due to rapid technological advancements. Some of the major examples of terrorist groups include Baader-Meinhof, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and the alleged Iranian state-sponsored terrorism. Following my analysis of these groups, I have chosen as my theoretical framework, Margolin's argument that, 'much terrorist behavior is a response to the frustration of various political, economic, and personal needs or objectives' (Joseph Margolin, 1977, 273-4).
My discussion will involve analysis of three terrorist groups across three categories i.e. ideological, nationalist, and religious terrorism. I will use Baader-Meinhof gang, the Liberation Tigers of…...
mlaReferences
Brynjar, L. & Katja, S. (2000). Why Terrorism Occurs -- A Survey of Theories and Hypotheses
on the Causes of Terrorism. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.ffi.no/no/rapporter/00-02769.pdf
"Chapter 3: State Sponsors of Terrorism Overview." (2013, May 30). Office of the Coordinator
for Counterterrorism. Retrieved from U.S. Department of State website: http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2012/209985.htm
Terrorist Organization Comparison
Japanese Aum Shinrikyo and the Islamic State
The Japanese Aum Shinrikyo is a cult that is relatively low key when compared to the actions that have been take in recent years by groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In March 1995, the Aum Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth), was responsible for killing 13 and injuring over five thousand by using sarin gas on a subway in Tokyo, Japan which was order by the group's leader Shoko Asahara (Nadeau & Adelstein, 2016). hile the group has been quiet since this time, until recently in which they have become the center of some attention in the media. Despite the group's long stretch of inactivity, it is also important to note that this has still been the only terrorist group to actually use a sophisticated chemical compound, such as sarin…...
mlaWorks Cited
Cole, B. (2014, April 6). Why have 30,000 Russians joined Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo? Retrieved from International Business Times: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/why-have-30000-russians-joined-japanese-doomsday-cult-aum-shinrikyo-1553461
Nadeau, B., & Adelstein, J. (2016, April 1). Aum Shinrikyo: Japan's Death Cult Is Hiding In Europe. Retrieved from The Daily Beast: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/04/02/aum-shinrikyo-japan-s-death-cult-is-hiding-in-europe.html
The Atlantic. (2015, March). What ISIS Really Wants. Retrieved from The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/
Tomlinson, L. (2016, February 4). Size of ISIS army 'remains the same' since last year, U.S. official says. Retrieved from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/02/04/size-isis-army-remains-same-since-last-year-us-official-says.html
Terrorist Groups
The intentions behind religious fundamentalist terrorist activities are varied. It is noteworthy that terrorists are psychologically normal and are neither depressed, severely emotionally disturbed, nor crazed fanatics. In fact to ensure that their members are not clinically psychotic, emotionally unstable individuals are regularly screened out because they can be a security risk.
eligious fundamentalist terrorist groups are driven by a sense of giving power to the powerless. Some always want to seek revenge over religious grievances, while others seek to gain a sense of significance. They are driven by group interests as opposed to self serving actions hence their group, organizational, and social psychology. The responsibility of a leader of a terrorist organization like Al Qaeda is to interpret religious scriptures to justify their extreme acts of violence. He draws frustrated leaders into a coherent organization (Neumann, 2005).
Their unifying message to disparate followers is lined with religious, political, and ideological…...
mlaReferences List
Davis, P.K. & Jenkins, B.M. (2002). Deterrence and Influence in Counterterrorism. Santa Monica: RAND.
Neumann, P.R. (2005). Addressing the Causes of Terrorism: The Club de Madrid Series on Democracy and Terrorism. Retrieved from http://media.clubmadrid.org/docs/CdM-
Series-on-Terrorism-Vol-1.pdf
Abu Nidal Organization:
The Abu Nidal Organization is also known by several other names, such as: Fatah evolutionary Council, Arab evolutionary Brigades, Black September, or evolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims. It is an international terrorist organization that was founded by Sabri al-Banna, otherwise known as Abu Nidal. The organization split from PLO in 1974 and is made up of various functional committees. These include: political, military and financial committees. Founder Abu Nidal died in Baghdad in November 2002 and it is now unclear who the new leader of the organization is ("Abu Nidal," 2004).
The Abu Nidal Organization has carried out terrorist attacks in 20 countries and has killed or injured nearly 1,000 people in those attacks. Primary targets include the United States, United Kingdom, France, Israel, moderate Palestinians, the PLO, and a variety of Arab countries. They were responsible for the attacks on the ome and Vienna airports in December of…...
mlaReferences
Abu Nidal Organization. (June 2004). Retrieved January 16, 2005, at http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/tgp/abu.htm.
Al Qaeda. (10 Jan. 2005). Retrieved January 16, 2005, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Qaeda .
Hizballah. (16 Jan. 2005). Retrieved January 16, 2005, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hizballah .
Pike, J. (3 Nov. 2004). Al-Qa'ida (The Base). Retrieved January 16, 2005, at http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/ladin.htm .
egardless, the image of the United States was shaken by the success of the Al Qaeda.
From a security point-of-view, the existence of Al Qaeda triggered more vigilance among the security environment in the sense that it attracted the attention on the phenomenon of terrorism as a global threat that needs to be treated at the global level through mechanisms that in 2001 were not set in place. Therefore, a reconsideration of homeland security strategies was necessary. This in turn however affected all levels of the society, from increased security at the level of the president to the increased airport controls throughout the country and abroad. These tightened rules of security attracted scrutiny at the level of the ordinary people and accusations of infringing privacy were even articulated. Even so, the fight against terrorism has become, after 9/11 one of the primordial subjects on the agenda of world leaders.
eference list
Buzan,…...
mlaReference list
Buzan, B. (1991). People, States, and Fear: An Agenda for International Security Studies in the Post-Cold War Era. New York: Lynne Rienner Pub
Huntington, S. (1996) the Clash of Civilizations and the remaking of World Order. New York: Simon & Schuster.
PBS. (2010) Bill Moyers Journal: Brief history of Al Qaeda. Online at http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07272007/alqaeda.html
Reuters. (2009). Analyst's view: Al Qaeda's strengths and weaknesses. Online at http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/06/19/us-security-qaeda-strength-weakness-sb-idUSTRE55I22Z20090619
SOS-440 Terrorism
When determining the motives of terrorists, there are two issues to consider: the psychology of the individual, and the sociological impact of the group. While both of these are very important, they are not equal. The impact of the group is more significant when it comes to how a person feels about engaging in terrorist activity, and whether that person may have motives that are focused on and that allow that activity to be carried out. In other words, something as simple as what many people would call "peer pressure" is a serious factor when it comes to the motives of terrorists. One person may not make much difference, but when that one person joins a group that has shared beliefs and common goals, the motives of the entire group quickly become more focused on a particular idea or plan. That is one of the ways in which terrorism…...
Terrorist Tactics
Understanding the enemy is an important aspect of defense. In fact, it is perhaps the most important aspect of being able to protect the people of your country. Since September 11th, 2001 the primary enemy of the United States has been terrorist organizations throughout the world, particularly in the Middle East. Terrorists have been a problem for Americans before that time as indicated by incidences throughout American history, up to and including the 1970s and 1980s. However, since the 2001 attacks, the enemy has been more blatant about their attitudes towards the United States and with regard to their intentions for citizens of the United States. Terrorism is defined by the American Department of Defense as "The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear: intended to coerce or to intimidate government or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious,…...
mlaWorks Cited:
Department of the Army. Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century. Fort Leavenworth, KS:
TRADOC. 2007.
"Emerging Threats and Security Challenges."
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has re-emerged among the list of most critical terrorist organizations fighting the federal government of the epublic of the Philippines (GP), America, and it is allies within Southeast Asia. Established in 1991 by Abdurrajak Janjalani, a veteran in the Afghan Mujiheddin as well as associate of Osama bin Laden, the gang rapidly rose to popularity as being a deadly terrorist group dedicated to the institution of a separate Islamic county. Together with cash from Saudi charitable organizations managed by bin Laden's relative, Mohammad Jamal Khalifa, the ASG progressed rapidly. The gang targeted its terrorist, killing, as well as kidnapping initiatives on sectarian targets. But, following a plot directed by amzi Yousef along with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to explode Eleven U.S. airliners as well as assassinate the Pope, Khalifa's and also the ASG's functions had been exposed (Laude, 2004).
Khalifa had been struggling to go back to the…...
mlaReferences
Fellman, Z. (2011). Abu Sayyaf Group. Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Aqam Futures Project Case Study Series.
Abuza, Z. (2005). Balik-Terrorism: The Return of The Abu Sayyaf. http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ssi
Rodell, Paul. "The Philippines and the Challenge of International Terrorism," in Terrorism and Violence in Southeast Asia: Transnational Challenges to States and Regional Stability. Ed. By Paul J. Smith, ed. New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2005.
Gomez, J. (2005). Terror Suspect Details Training, Plots, AP.
"Muslims from Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Southeast Asia, and beyond fought side by side, forging relationships and creating a cadre of veterans who shared a powerful life experience, a more global view,..."
Jenkins 3)
This experience was bolstered by the victory over the Soviet Union, which consequently strengthened the organization. However, the Afghan veterans, on returning to their various homes, were viewed with suspicion by the different governments and regimes and were often seen as a political threat. Due to this factor, these veterans were susceptible to new campaigns and ideologies.
Jenkins provides a clear outline of the motivational genesis of Al Qa'ida after the Afghan resistance.
There were ample reasons and opportunities to continue the fight: the Gulf War and the consequent arrival of American troops in Saudi Arabia; the continued repression of Islamic challenges to local regimes; armed struggles in Algeria, Egypt, the newly independent Muslim republics of the former Soviet…...
mlaBibliography
Abuza, Zachary. "Funding Terrorism in Southeast Asia: The Financial Network of Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya." Contemporary Southeast Asia 25.2 (2003): 169+. Questia. 1 July 2005 http://www.questia.com/ .
AL QAEDA'S GRAND STRATEGY: SUPERPOWER BAITING. 2004. Accessed June 30, 2005. http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2004/05/al_qaedas_grand.html
AL-QAEDA: SOC. June 30, 2005. http://www.specialoperations.com/Terrorism/Terrorist_Groups/al_qaeda2.htm
Al Qa'ida: Terrorism Files. June 29, 2005. http://www.terrorismfiles.org/organisations/al_qaida.html
We would start this essay by looking at the Department of State’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Looking at that list is a great way to identify transnational terrorist groups. Working from those groups, you could the identify a transnational group that is linked to a domestic terrorist group. The County Reports on Terrorism also reveal how international terrorist groups work and can provide some insight into their ties to domestic organizations. Working this way may be important for the integrity of your research because the designation of groups as domestic terrorist groups changed....
Cults are certainly in the cultural zeitgeist these days, making them a perfect topic for a literature review. In fact, while many people think of cults as a relic from the experimentation that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s, cults actually play a surprisingly large role in modern religion throughout the world. What this means is that whether you are focusing on a specific cult, common traits of cult leaders, or what makes an individual susceptible to a cult’s influences, you are sure to find plenty of information out there.
What differentiates....
Modern Conflicts and the Evolution of War Titles
Modern conflicts have witnessed a significant departure from the conventional titles traditionally bestowed upon wars. These new titles reflect the evolving nature of warfare, the socio-political context in which they occur, and the shifting perceptions of war's causes and consequences.
The Decline of Traditional Titles
In the past, wars were often named after their geographical location (e.g., the Franco-Prussian War) or the specific conflict between two or more belligerents (e.g., the Hundred Years' War). However, such titles have become less common in recent decades. The increasing complexity and interconnectedness of global conflicts has made it....
The process of destabilization can lead to unforeseen consequences in a number of ways:
1. Creation of power vacuums: When a government or organization is destabilized, it can create a power vacuum where different factions vie for control. This can lead to infighting, conflict, and further destabilization as different groups struggle for power.
2. Spread of violence: Destabilization can lead to violence and conflict that spills over into neighboring countries or regions. This can create a ripple effect of instability and violence that exacerbates the original destabilization.
3. Economic repercussions: Destabilization can have negative effects on the economy, leading to unemployment, inflation, and....
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