TerrorismA PHILOSOPHY OF DEATH

Terrorism

Definition the attempt to achieve a goal through

violent or destructive acts intended to induce change by instilling fear among a civilian population.

Terrorists do not generally care about innocent victims. In fact, targeting innocent victims often meets the aims of terrorists.

Historical Examples Guy Fawkes’s Attack on British

Parliament

Irish Republican Army (Troubles 1968 – 1998)

Israeli and Palestinian militia groups prior to formation of Israel in 1948

Attacks on Oklahoma City Federal Building on 4/19/1995

Terrorism

Examples Individuals: Ted Kaczynski (The

Unabomber)

Groups: Al-Qaeda

State Sponsored: Libya and Pan-am flight 103 in 1988

Bombing of Abortion clinics

Non-examples Crime

Warfare

Which of the following are examples of Terrorism?

● The United States Declaring War on Germany during World War II● The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the U.S.● An individual sending letters with Anthrax in them to members of the

Government.● al-Qaeda setting off a bomb in the middle of a crowded subway station.● Bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese planes on 12/7/1941● Libya dictator Muammar Gaddafi may have supported bombing of Pan Am flight

103● Chechnyan-American immigrants plant bombs in a backpack near the finish line

of the Boston Marathon● Shooting of 12 students by peers in Columbine, Colorado.

Which of the following are examples of Terrorism?

● The United States Declaring War on Germany during World War II● The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the U.S.● An individual sending letters with Anthrax in them to members of the

Government.● al-Qaeda setting off a bomb in the middle of a crowded subway station.● Bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese planes on 12/7/1941● Libya dictator Muammar Gaddafi may have supported bombing of Pan Am

flight 103● Chechnyan-American immigrants plant bombs in a backpack near the

finish line of the Boston Marathon● Shooting of 12 students by peers in Columbine, Colorado.

U.S. Terrorism

Unabomber Oklahoma City Bombing

Middle Eastern Terrorism

Islamic Terrorism has its roots in the formation of Israel in the 1920s and 1930s.

Both Jewish (Arabs and European) and Muslim (mainly Arab) militia groups fought each other and British occupiers following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I

Several groups arise that oppose Israel and other forms of “Western” influence.

Middle Eastern Terrorist Groups

Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO): Created in 1964 to oppose Israel. Now a political party that accepts Israel’s right to exist.

Hamas: Ruling party in Gaza strip. Did not agree with 1993 Oslo Accords in which PLO agreed to a “Two-State Solution.”

Hezbollah: Shi’a organization in Lebanon formed to oppose Israeli occupation of Lebanon. Supported by Iran.

Al-Qaeda: Sunni Terrorist Group founded by Osama Bin Laden and responsible for 1993 and 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Supported and sheltered by Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Taliban: a tribal group/militia that took political control of Afghanistan in 1996 and provided protection for Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda prior to and after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

al-Qaeda attacks on U.S. soil

● 1993 attack on the World Trade Center

● Ramzi Yousef...spent time in al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan.

● Nephew of Khaled Shaikh Mohammed

● Kills 6 and injures thousands

al-Qaeda attacks on U.S. Soil Continued: 9/11/2001

9/11 - Two planes crash into North and South Towers of the World Trade Center.

- One Plane Crashes into Pentagon

- A third plane (flight 93) crashes into a field in Pennsylvania

9/11 Continued

Reasons given:● U.S. Support of Israel● Presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia● Creation of Islamic State● Sectarianism● Economic sanctions imposed on Iraq● Anti-capitalism feelings

Facts:● Osama bin Laden head of al-Qaeda● al-Qaeda supported by Taliban government in

Afghanistan● Close to 3000 people died (343 firefighters)

U.S. Reponse to 9/11

● George W. Bush declares a “War on Terror”

● In October 2001 - U.S. and allied forces invade Afghanistan in order to root out al-Qaeda forces that had been protected by the Taliban.

● PATRIOT Act signed into law in October 2001

● Department of Homeland Security created in 2002

● U.S. Detains many suspected terrorists in bases abroad and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba