Terrorists and Terrorism

THE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM THREAT IS CHANGING

Who are the international terrorists? What are their motives and how do they get their support? How do they operate? How can we stop them? Consequences of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear attack. The answers to these questions are continually changing. International terrorist incidents were fewer in the mid-eighties, but since September 11, 2001 they have been more frequent and more deadly. The terrorist tactics are also changing in ways that make it more dangerous and difficult to counter. Attacks are becoming more lethal. Most terrorist organizations active in the 1970s and 1980s had clear political objectives. They tried to calibrate their attacks to produce just enough death and destruction to get attention for their cause, but not so much as to alienate international support. Now, the majority of terrorist attacks are designed to kill as many people as possible. This trend toward higher casualties reflects, in part, the changing motivation of today's terrorists. Religiously motivated terrorist groups represent a growing trend globally. Other terrorist groups are driven by visions of a post-apocalyptic future or by ethnic hatred. Such groups may lack a concrete political goal, other than to punish their enemies by killing as many of them as possible, seemingly without concern about alienating sympathizers. Increasingly, attacks are less likely to be followed by claims of responsibility or lists of political demands. This shift in terrorist motives has contributed to a change in the way some international terrorist groups are structured. Because groups based on ideological or religious motives may lack a specific political or nationalistic agenda, they have less need for a hierarchical structure. Instead, they can rely on loose affiliations with like-minded groups from a variety of countries to support their common cause. Al-Qaida is the best-known transnational terrorist organization. In addition to pursuing its own terrorist campaign, it calls on numerous militant groups that share some of its ideological beliefs to support its violent campaign. But neither al-Qaida's extremist politico-religious beliefs nor its leader, Usama bin Ladin, is unique. New terrorist threats can suddenly emerge from isolated conspiracies or obscure cults with no previous history of violence. These more loosely affiliated, transnational terrorist networks are difficult to predict, track, and penetrate. They rely on a variety of sources for funding and logistical support, including self-financing criminal activities such as kidnapping, narcotics, and petty crimes. Their networks of support include both front organizations and legitimate business and non-government organizations. They use the Internet as an effective communications channel. Weapons and conventional explosives have so far remained the weapons of choice for most terrorist groups. These weapons can cause multiple casualties and are relatively easy to acquire and use. But some terrorist groups are now showing an interest in acquiring the capability to use chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) materials. While it is difficult to predict the likelihood of a CBRN attack most experts agree that today's terrorists are seeking the ability to use such agents in order to cause mass casualties. What makes a terrorist? Some come to it by chance, some by design. The ranks of the terrorist groups include many types, idealists, criminals, psychopaths and yet despite their differences all terrorists have a common heritage, they have all come under the influence of those thinkers who preach that violence is essential to make the world a better place "for the masses". One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. This is a slick argument often used by defenders of violence. But while it may be true when applied to national movements fighting against tyranny when no other means are available, it is more difficult to sustain when applied to those terrorists movements which cut across recognized national and ideological boundaries and which use the weapon of terrorism against the civilian populations. The accomplished terrorist will know something of the mechanics of bomb making, telephones, and electronics and should be able to make maps, plans, and first aid, weapon training and explosives. So where will he get this training? There are numerous countries around the world that will provide this training. Having been thoroughly trained you basically have a well-trained soldier with terrorist ideals. Where soldiers usually conduct themselves to a set of rules, the terrorist does not have these constraints placed upon him and he can kill, maim and injure how and where he sees fit. Today's terrorists rely less on direct state sponsorship and more on private financial and logistical support. Many terrorist groups secretly exploit the resources of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), companies, and wealthy individuals. A terrorist attack using a biological agent, deadly chemicals, or nuclear or radiological material, even if only partially successful, would profoundly affect a significant area, as would a series of conventional attacks or a single bombing that caused thousands of deaths. Given the trend toward more deadly terrorist attacks and indications that mass casualties are an objective of many of today's terrorists, it is essential that countries be fully prepared to prevent and respond to this kind of catastrophic terrorism. Terrorists, without serious risk of detection, could obtain pathogens from domestic natural sources, steal them, or import them into any country. Most pathogens are tightly controlled, but regulation of laboratories as well as of dangerous agents during transport are designed to prevent accidents, not theft. Moreover, these controls are not as rigorous as controls over nuclear material. Creating pathogens small and sturdy enough to disperse broadly over a target population for an effective period of time remains a complex process. Regulating the sophisticated equipment required to turn pathogens into weapons could hamper terrorist efforts to acquire this capability. Recent events have drawn attention to the issue of terrorism and its many implications and effects on governments globally. It has never been a more important time that organizations, corporations and individuals understand the world that faces them. Learning about the new terrorist threat may become a vital and necessary addition to many organizations and businesses. Terrorism is arguably the most urgent issue facing companies, organizations and individuals globally. With new threats ever increasing, protecting the vast range of critical infrastructure against terrorist activities is a daunting task. The Globe Risk Holdings series of workshops on Contemporary Terrorism examines the scope and range of terrorist options, identifies terrorist groups, determines how these groups operate, suggests how to combat this threat and what companies, organizations and individuals can do to mitigate this growing threat to their way of life. Since September 11th, the threat level globally has increased significantly and will continue to do so in the nearest foreseeable future. World events could well provoke significantly increased levels for a terrorist attack. Companies, organizations and individuals will demand answers to questions relating to the many different terrorist groups and their specific motivations and goals. Currently, the majority of companies, organizations and individuals must source their information primarily from the TV networks and other media. With world events moving into unknown areas and into unpredictable times, providing an insight into Terrorists and Terrorism gives companies, organizations and individuals an offering that is modern, current and relevant to today's changing world, keeping it on the cutting edge of information and knowledge. Contemporary Workshop Objectives Gain a global perspective of the growing threat of terrorism Define pro-active strategies to reduce risk and respond effectively to the threat of terrorism Discuss how terrorist groups operate and plan their devastating attacks Examine critical infrastructure and each sector's vulnerabilities Review global responses to terrorism There are wide ranges of topics included in these workshops curriculum, some of which include: History of Terrorism Terrorists and Terrorism Terrorist Groups and Tactics Consequences of Global Terrorism Solutions for combating Terrorism Force Protection and Counter-Terrorism in a New Era of Threat Global Perspective on the War on Terrorism International Cooperation in Fighting Terrorism The Effects of Terrorism on International Business Interests Terrorism and the Media - How is the media helping the terrorist cause? Terrorism vs. Intelligence There are very few organizations that can deliver such a course, drawing from years of first hand experience. Globe Risk Holdings consultants have spent decades working with International Special Forces and have participated in counter terrorist operations worldwide. They can offer a first-hand, unique and interesting perspective on the subject of terrorists and terrorism. A number of Globe Risk Holdings consultants are used as professional resources on terrorism and are called upon to comment on terrorist and international security related events by the international media (TV, radio, newspaper, magazines) and regularly appear on North American T.V. networks.