Terrorism: What is It - Research Paper Example

Chapter 1
1.1. Introduction
Terrorism has been happening sporadically and it received worldwide attention only a decade ago when the now well-known 9/11 attack took place in the U.S.A. Perhaps it must be happening now almost every day, an hour, or even a second at some place or other in the world that it has become imperative to study its incidence just as in the case of any other menace. It is all the more important for the military professionals who are supposed or trained to be more concerned with traditional warfare to know about machinations of terrorism now that it has become a regular feature of proxy war. The main difference known to a layman between warfare and terrorism is that the former takes place at the borders among the militia and the latter among the civilians.

After the 9/11 attack, the world woke up to reality and the nations are in a permanent State of emergency. This situation is worse than the State of war which would take place only and mostly after declaration by warring nations who would follow treaty protocols during the warfare. Terrorism is in its nascent stages so to say that at present lawlessness prevails without any warning most of the time. To say that the already unbearable and devastating terrorism of the present magnitude is in its nascent stages goes beyond the human imagination of what would be the scenario of full-blown terrorism. Needless to say, military professionals are the most competitive deal with terrorism. This research, therefore, aims to study what terrorism is.

Terrorism has been difficult to understand even in the aftermath of an attack as it defies rational analysis But analysis is necessary to fight against terrorism that is indefinitely hanging over as the sword of Damocles. Though at times it appears rational, it often goes off common sense only to be termed unjustifiable, atrocious, mad, or mindless. Prior to 9/11, terrorism had been relegated to “everyday dangers”. and people and politicians failed to see it in perspective.