Transnational Terrorism

• The unlawful use of force or indiscriminate violence by internationally-linked groups against persons and properties in many different parts of the world.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_designated_terrorist_organizations

September 11 attacks - Significance?

• It was the FIRST time the United States of America was attacked on their home soil. Right at the heart of the country, at the symbols of American economy & defence. (Pearl Harbor is only in the Pacific)

• The most elaborate intelligence system in the USA could not even detect such a great threat facing it!

• The most powerful military in the world could not even ensure the safety of its own citizens at home!

News clips on 911

Phone call from within WTC

What is Al-Qaeda?

Al-Qaeda (The Base)

Also known as:• Al-Qaida• Al-Qadr• The International Islamic Front for Jihad Against

Jews and Crusaders.• Islamic Salvation Foundation• The Group for the Preservation of the Holy Sites• Islamic Army for the Liberation of Holy Shrines• The Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy

Places

Al-Qaeda (The Base)

• Emerged from the mekhtab al khidemat (MAK), the Afghan mujahedeen around 1989 during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

• An international terrorist network heavily funded and led by Osama bin Laden.

Who is Osama bin Laden?• Born in 1957 in Saudi Arabia.• 17th son of 51 children of

Muhammad bin Laden• His father founded the Saudi

BinLaden Group, one of the largest construction company in the Islamic world, earning more than US$5 billion annually.

• The BinLaden family is a wealthy family intimately connected with the innermost circles of the Saudi royal family.

Who is Osama bin Laden?Education• Bin Laden was raised as a devout Sunni Muslim. • Bin Laden studied economics and business

administration. • Some reports suggest bin Laden earned a

degree in civil engineering in 1979, or a degree in public administration in 1981.

• At university, bin Laden's main interest was religion, where he was involved in both "interpreting the Quran and jihad" and charitable work.

Who is Osama bin Laden?Family• In 1974, at the age of seventeen, bin

Laden married his first wife. Bin Laden is reported to have married four other women and divorced two.

• Bin Laden has fathered anywhere from 12 to 24 children.

Who is Osama bin Laden?Beliefs• Bin Laden believes that the restoration of Sharia

law will set things right in the Muslim world, and that all other ideologies must be opposed.

• He has consistently dwelt on need for jihad to right what he believes are injustices against Muslims perpetrated by the United States and sometimes by other non-Muslim states

• Expressed the need to eliminate the state of Israel, and the necessity of forcing the US to withdraw from the Middle East.

Who is Osama bin Laden?Beliefs• Stated that it is the duty of Muslims to

prepare as much force as possible to attack the enemies of God.

• Stated the objective of al-Qaeda is to “unite all Muslims and establish a government which follow the rule of the Caliphs.”

Al-Qaeda (The Base)

• Loosely knit network comprised of various terrorist organizations.

• Serves as an informal organizational structure for extremist Arab-Afghans.

Al-Qaeda (The Base)

• Has thousands of new recruits and supporters in 55 countries.

• http://www.milnet.com/al-qaeda-graph/Al-Qaeda-Network.htm

Impact of terrorism

Economic impactSeptember 11 attacks- The total loss of life and property cost

insurance companies about US$40 billion.

- The airline industry lost a lot of business in the months following the attacks as many people were afraid of flying.

Economic impactBali Bombing• Tourist arrivals fell by more than 50%

immediately after the bomb blasts in 2002.• Many Balinese lost their livelihood.• Many governments also spend a lot of money

and resources in holding exercise to ensure that the emergency services and their citizens are prepared in the event of a terrorist attack.

Bali before bombingBali after bombing

Social ImpactLondon Incidents 2005Mas Selamat Incident 2008 • Suspicion and tension among the various

ethnic and religious groups.• Community Engagment Programme

launched by PM Lee, aims to bring together Singaporeans from different communities.

Political Impact

• Governments tightened various controls such as stepping up border security to ensure that terrorists do not slip into the country.Eg?

Political Impact

• These border security measures involve greater checks on travellers’ identities and belongings, slowing down immigration clearance as a result.

• Intrusive legislation aimed at countering terrorism has also been introduced.

Impact?

Can terrorism be managed?

ASEAN’s Efforts

• ASEAN pledged to enhance information and intelligence exchange on terrorists and terrorist activities.

• This has helped member countries to disrupt terrorist activities on their soil.

Eg? Pg 39

ASEAN’s Efforts

• The member countries also used the ASEAN Regional Forum as a platform to discuss transnational terrorism issues.

• The Convention on Counter-terrorism signed by ASEAN leaders in January 2007 in Cebu, Philippines is the region’s first legally binding anti-terrorism accord.

International Efforts• The UN passed a series of resolutions aimed at

getting all member countries - to freeze the financial assets of terrorists and

their supporters, - deny them travel and safe haven, - prevent terrorist recruitment and weapons

supply, - and cooperate with other countries in

information sharing and criminal prosecution.

International Efforts

• The UN also set up a Counter-Terrorism Committee to monitor member countries’ adherence to the resolutions as well as to strengthen the counter-terrorism capacity of UN member states.

• The committee also provides technical assistance to countries that require help in implementing the resolutions.

International Efforts

Result:• more than 4,000 terrorist suspects have been

arrested. • Member countries have managed to freeze

more than US$200 million in terrorist funding.However,• not completely successful as terrorist groups

managed to- evade security restrictions, be able to recruit

new operatives, have the aid of internet.

Possible Questions

What are the impacts of terrorism?

• Political impacts are the greatest impact of terrorism. Do you agree? EYA. (13)

How do international organisations manage terrorism?

• Are the current methods of management of terrorism effective? EYA. (13)