Justifications, the Tactics and the Targets of Terrorism - Case Study Example

What are the justifications, the tactics and the targets of EITHER ethno-nationalist, revolutionary or extreme right-wing terrorism? Illustrate your answer by reference to at least one sub-state terrorist group. Table of Contents Introduction 3 Revolutionary Terrorism 4 Objective & Target 5 The Case of Northern Ireland 7 Justification 8 Strategy 10 Conclusion 13 References 14 Introduction The violence and terror primarily occur due to quest for power. The laws are violated for the intention to create terror and are responsible for political and ideological conflicts. Religious motives often lead to intentional target that challenge the safety of civilians. The terrorist group of people or associations try to create an uneven situation in the world which hampers the safety and security of nations as well as international relations. Terror and violence can take any form threatening the lives of people and that of the government. To fulfil the terror groups’ objectives and motives, they can go to any extreme without caring the international boundaries and laws. Revolutionary Terrorism As per Martha Crenshaw Hutchinson, “Violence is not revolutions unique instrument, but it is almost always a principal one”. Terrorism is a part of revolutionary strategy. It is the method or process used by rebellions to take hold of political power from the existing government or authority. ‘Revolutionary Terrorism’ is evident in the acts of the politically and socially unaccepted violence. Due to increase in terror activities, there is a consistent pattern of their image of selection of victims. The revolutionary movements intentionally aim these terror activities to generate a psychological effect on certain explicit groups and by this means, change their political behaviour and attitudes (Hutchinson, 2008). Objective & Target The main objective of the revolutionary terrorism is to revolt against the present political authority with respect to their demands in the present situation with the motive to attain the missions or the objectives. The process basically involves terror attack in public places or victimising the general people to get their demand fulfilled. The main targets of these groups basically comprise of soft targets where there are mass population so that the effect of terror is huge and the government is forced to negotiate with them in meeting their demands as per their objectives. The FLN group in Algeria, rebelled against the French rule. In urban areas, the FLN terror groups used to explode bombs or throw grenades in the crowed places. The individual victims of this group were the members of the particular political group. The victims were also those who were associated with the French authority and also provided aid to them (Stungis & Schori, 2003). In the arena of terrorism, it is not possible to clearly state who will become the victim of the terror acts. A bomb explosion can kill many people who might not be even part of the whole plot. Sacrifice is the most common term that the terror groups use to motivate its people and terrorising others in meeting the objectives of power, authority and economical status (Stungis & Schori, 2003). The target of any particular revolutionary terrorism can not be exactly defined as they can mark anyone, any group or any country. Reports, raids and interrogations of “Quaeda al Eqyptian Jihad” found out that this group had targeted more than sixty countries. This organization worked transnational with mixture of objectives, motives and targets. Therefore, the objectives and targets are many in number and continuous attempts are taken internationally to establish their objectives and motives. Due to such world wide operations, it creates an atmosphere of terror and international relationship becomes more complicated (Stungis & Schori, 2003). Objectives and Targets of Palestinian Terrorists The objectives of the Palestinian terrorists involve getting back the area back in their authority to rule the particular geographical place as it is a holy place for them. They are in a continuous war with Israel and there have been reported many casualties due to the terror caused because of Palestine trouble. The main objective of the terror attack has been to terrorise the people of Middle East so that they leave the holy place which is ruled by the Israel authority and the power gets transferred to them. Power and authority were the main cause for the terror attacks by the Palestinian terrorists. The main target has been the areas with huge population gatherings like that of market places. The terrorists basically attack by means of bombs, car explosions, grenades and also through human bombs that are suicide in nature. By killing huge people, they want to terrorise the opponent and get success in their missions. Due to such terror attacks, there are political tensions not only in the region but also world wide and international relations are hampered among various countries. Terror attack in one place not only effects that particular region but also its consequence is felt internationally as nations have political relationships with other nations and they are also affected. The Case of Northern Ireland The formation of a united Ireland under Irish authority rather than British rule made PIRA to use terrorist tactics to protest the Unionist of Catholics in Northern Ireland. This was the main objective of PIRA group for the terror attacks. PIRA used the tactics like car bombing, assassinations and IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) to terrorise the authorities. Their targets also involved huge mass gathering, individuals from different political belonging among others. The attack had killed many of the common people and lots of people have suffered during the conflict. No matter how many people are killed or suffer due to such violent acts, the terror group focuses upon their objectives and targets in order to fulfil their motives at any cost. Due to such terror attacks, international relationship within the concerned nations also comes under the danger zone (Darby, n.d.). Justification In order to justify the revolutionary terrorism activities, their political effect and their moral consequences should be considered. Those can be justified when they use politically effective weapons in the revolutionary struggles. The violence used in the revolution should have lesser prejudice and sufferings. Terrorism engaged in unification with guerrilla warfare in a prolonged war of liberty may well establish there usefulness and therefore also can be justified, as it did in Algeria and South Vietnam (SEP, 2007). Terrorism activities that target the civilians, innocent people, individuals and cause damage to them are much more difficult to justify than the selective terrorism that attacks only those who cannot reasonably assert innocence of the injustice or oppression (SEP, 2007). Most of the people and authors believe that terrorism is absolutely wrong and under no assumptions they are to be justified. The killing of innocent people for political authority or power is completely wrong. The terror act that is prevailing in the Middle East and which is executed by the Palestine terrorists is hard to justify. They are fighting for the political power and authority over the land of religious importance to them. But at the same time there are many casualties which have been victim of such act of terror. Both civilians as well as armed forces have to suffer looses in gaining authority over the place (Simpson, n.d.). The human rights are being violated in the process and it is creating danger for the common mass. This kind of terrorism fight for the right by killing innocent people is hard to justify in different background. They might be ethically right in certain issues but that do not mean innocent lives will be sacrificed for the benefit of others. These kinds of scenario are to be dealt in a proper political manner with minimum damage (Simpson, n.d.). According to Peter Simpson, “It matters not here what grievances the terrorists may have or what accusations they level against those countries whose people they attack. An evil deed is an evil deed and nothing can make it to be a good deed” (Simpson, n.d.). What ever be the motive that drives them to terrorise is not justifiable when there are threats and an atmosphere of life danger (Simpson, n.d.). In Berlin - The Baader-Meinhof Gang known as the Red Army Friction (RAF) that tried to trigger communist revolution spread the fear in West Germany through bombings, assassinations and bank robberies. The RAF attack was against the particular communist organisations. It might be justifiable to some extent. But the process and the strategy that they used to gain their objectives can not be justified. Due to their strategy, people were in danger. The bombings caused many casualties and assassinations. The right of human were violated and many have lost their lives which cannot be justified under any circumstances (Earth Times, 2010). Terrorism in any form no matter what, is hard to justify in all aspects and grounds. It causes the security and peace of the world to get deteriorated and due to such act there are several casualties in the world as well as international relations get hampered. Strategy The most common strategy for the terrorist operations to be carried out involves bombing in areas which are hugely populated. The uses of either car bomb or human bomb in the busy areas are sufficient enough to cause casualties in huge numbers. Statistics related to victims of Palestinian terrorism violence and terrorism activities since September 2000 are demonstrated below: (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008). Bombing is the strategy they use mostly for bigger effect in convening their message to the world and to show their powers and strengths in trying to achieve their objectives. On Sept 27, 2000 in Jerusalem many people were seriously injured in a bombing near Netzarim in the Gaza Strip by Palestine terrorist. In Dec 28, 2000 - Capt. Gad Marasha of Kiryat, Arab and Border Police Sgt.-Major Yonatan Vermullen, of Ben-Shemen, were executed when they were called to neutralise a road side bomb near the Sufa passage in the Gaza Strip. A bomb was neutralised but a new bomb was present there which blew up, killing both and injuring two other soldiers. Another strategy is that of the suicide bombing operations. In such cases, people volunteer themselves to carry out the operation. They wear the bomb in the body and explode themselves in the public places causing huge casualties (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008). On July 1st of 2001, 21 people were killed and 120 people were injured when a suicide bomber blew up the external premise of disco which was near Tel Aviv’s Dolphinarium. The person (bomber) intermingled with the crowd that was comprised of teenagers. He exploded the dangerous explosives strapped to his body. The explosive enclosed a great quantity of metal objects premeditated to enhance the extent of injuries. On December 1, 2001 double suicide bombs operations were carried out. In these operations a total number of 11 people were killed aged in between 14 - 21 and there was a casualty of 118 people. The operation was carried out in Ben Yehuda Street; which is the pedestrian mall in the centre of Jerusalem. After twenty minutes, another attack was conducted in the form of car bomb attack. This operation was carried over by Hamas, the Palestine terrorist group (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008). On August, 2004 two bombs were exploded, one after another, killing several people and injuring many others with large number of casualties. The operation was carried out by Palestine terrorist group in Beersheba city buses, on route numbers 6 and 12. Due to this operation 16 people had lost their lives and 100 people were wounded as per the governmental report (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008). The other strategies used by the terrorists involve assassination of people who belong to particular political parties (especially against belief) or those who are against the terror group. Even they open fire in certain places to terrorise and remove people who become a barrier in the operations. On 17 October, 2001 the Palestinian terrorists assassinated Tourism Minister of Israel, Mr. Rechavam Ze’ev in Jerusalem outside his hotel room. He was murdered as he was trying to lift the travel restrictions between Israel and Palestine. This operation was carried out by Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008). In another incident on 2nd May in Jerusalem, four young Jewish children and their pregnant mother were killed by the Palestine terrorists. They were travelling in the roads that lead to Gaza settlement block of Gush Katif (Leyden, n.d.). The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group hijacked a plane in 1968, an El Al flight from Rome to Tel Aviv. In 1971, they hijacked another plane and took it to Jordan and emptied it and exploded it up. In 1972, PFLP and Japanese Red Army executed many passengers at Israeli international airport in Lod (Council on Foreign Relations, 2010). Conclusion The Revolutionary Terrorism in its various forms came into being for certain reasons like for gaining political power or authority among other issues. But due to the fighting and attacks there have been a lot of sufferings which have occurred in the lives of the general people. The act of any terrorist group of any nation creates unrest and due to this unrest, the political as well as international relationship gets hampered. It becomes tough for the authority to maintain the international relationships which get hugely affected due to such worldwide terror attacks worldwide. References Council on Foreign Relations, (2010). PFLP, DFLP, PFLP-GC, Palestinian leftists. Publications. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.cfr.org/publication/9128/pflp_dflp_pflpgc_palestinian_leftists.html Darby, J., (No Date). An intractable conflict? Northern Ireland: A need for pragmatism. United Nations University. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu12ee/uu12ee0l.htm Earth Times, (2010). Baader-Meinhof Gang incited dread in Germany for years. Legal. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/346550,incited-dread-germany-years.html Hutchinson, M. C., (2008). The Concept of Revolutionary Terrorism. Wagner College. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.wagner.edu/departments/gap/sites/wagner.edu.departments.gap/files/download/hutchinson.pdf Leyden, J., (No Date). Israel Mourns 4 Children, Mother Murdered in Terror Attack. Israel News Agency. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.israelnewsagency.com/israelpalestineterrorism127691.html Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (2008). Victims of Palestinian Violence and Terrorism since September 2000. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+since+2000/Victims+of+Palestinian+Violence+and+Terrorism+sinc.htm Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (2008). Tel-Aviv suicide bombing at the Dolphin disco - 1-Jun-2001. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/6/Tel-Aviv+suicide+bombing+at+the+Dolphin+disco+-+1-.htm Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (2008). Suicide bombing at the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall in Jerusalem - 1-Dec-2001. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/12/Suicide+bombing+at+the+Ben-Yehuda+pedestrian+mall.htm Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (2008). Double bombing of buses in Beersheba. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2004/8/Double+bombing+in+Beersheba+31-Aug-2004.htm Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (2008). The Ze-evy Assassination and Israeli Counter-Terrorist Operations - Background Briefing. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/10/The%20Ze-evy%20Assassination%20and%20Israeli%20Counter-Terro Stungis, G. E & Schori, T. R., (2003). A Terrorist Target Selection and Prioritization Model. Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://www.homelandsecurity.org/newjournal/articles/stungis.html SEP, (2007). Terrorism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/terrorism/ Simpson, P., (No Date). The War on Terrorism: its Moral Justification and Limits. The Evil of Terrorism. Retrieved Online on October 11, 2010 from http://ethics.sandiego.edu/Resources/PhilForum/Terrorism/Simpson.html Read More