Terrorism Basics

Terrorism is nothing new, but emerging militant religious movements differ from traditional terrorist groups in terms of methods and mentality.

What is terrorism? What does it involve? In my mind, terrorism is, "evil, horror, and violence. It is the cruelty of killing mass numbers of people for illogical reasons." The Encyclopedia of Britannica describes terrorism as, "the systematic use of terror or unpredictable violence against governments, publics, or individuals, to attain a political objective." The FBI further describes it as either being, "domestic or international terrorism; domestic terrorism being the illegal or threatened use of violence within the United-states or without foreign direction in furtherance of political or social objectives; and international terrorism being violent acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United-States, or any state." Clear, precise, and factual; yes. But emotionally correct, no.

Terrorism has struck all through history and around the world. Even in ancient Roman times, emperors such as Tiberius and Caligula dealt with terrorism by using banishment, and execution towards those who opposed their rule. Later in the 1860's a terrorist group called the Ku Klux Klan was formed by Southerners to terrify former slaves and prevent them from voting or run for office. In the 19th century, Western Europeans, Russians, and Americans adopted terrorism, and believed that the best way to get what they wanted was to assassinate people holding high positions of power.

In the 20th century, terrorism went through some great changes. The use of new technology such as automatic weapons and electrically bursting explosives encouraged terrorists to act violently and provided them with an easier way of attacking. At the time, attacks were mainly from groups trying to undermine or overthrow existing political institutions. However, today terrorism exists with different causes and purposes in mind. It has been used in anti-colonial conflicts such as in Ireland, Britain, Algeria and France. It is used when settling conflicts between different groups in possession of homeland such as Palestine & Israel. It is also used in religious disagreements in the case of the Catholics & Protestants in Northern Ireland and in internal conflicts between revolutionary forces and established governments, for example: Malaysia, Argentina, Iran, and Nicaragua.

The Effects of Terrorism

Terrorism has occurred throughout history, but today the world is experiencing a global rebirth of attacks. Today it no longer affects only small societies, such as isolated third world countries who fell victim to regular terrorist attacks, but the whole world is becoming more familiar with Arab and Muslim names. The terrorist violence that is on the rise today has informed citizen all over the world about different types of terrorism. Also with the resurgence the world is experiencing of terrorism, the Nation's have been to do what they can to eliminate terrorism.

Many actions against the terrorism is already place in priority and shorthand phrase “war on terrorism” is the word that can describe the United States’ response to the terrorist attacks. The war they proposed is just like the previous wars can be won by simply killing all their enemies and probably the potential enemies. But still, this war is a different kind of war; the enemies are immeasurable, meaning nobody knows the real enemy in the line of the suspects. And there are chances that the military force is outnumbered. Therefore, the word strategic approach is the main requirement to manage the catastrophe (2004).

There are many reports about the alliances and partnerships of the Al Qaeda with the indigenous Pakistani terrorist groups that implicated both attacks on the West and somewhere in India. Still, many advocates and concern groups against the terrorism have grown hopes saying that the success in the struggle against the global terrorism will likely be decided.

On the other hand, the Pakistan government is part of setting an end on the terrorism and like what is expected, many raised their questions about the government’s determination, sincerity and effectiveness of their efforts. As widely known, Pakistan became the center of terrorism issues and doubts are hauled by the Western experts. Those doubts are mixed with concerns about the implications of maintaining the present policies implemented by the U.S. and the efficacy of their latest strategy.

The implemented latest strategy came from Islamabad which appears to seek reconciliation with the pro-Taliban militants. If the people really want to end the war then, there should be no doubts in the anti-terrorism policies and the so-called “war on terrorism” should be emphasized through uplifting the socioeconomic and resolution of outstanding disputes in Muslim world (2007). Even the election process on the Pakistan is under the crisis in which relatively caused by the terrorism attacks. The issues about the self-interest of the politicians are considered as another symptom of the birth of the terrorism ( 2003; 2006).

The Consequences of the Action

There are measured consequences in the campaign of against the war. First, usually the captured terrorists or terrorist suspects are not all member of Al Qaeda in which there is no hard evidence if they are related to the group in some ways. In this situation, the people will transfer in the United States. Second, it will force the senior Al Qaeda operatives to leave simply by no means. The less ideologically congenial surroundings and the need of the terrorists to the communication increase the chances of susceptibility to detection and arrest. And thirdly, the dramatic irruption of the Pakistani estate and their connection to the Al Qaeda emphasizes the issue of doubt on their sincerity. Other that that, the population is violently pro-Taliban, and the presence of the Pakistan Army is thin, has inadvertently made the task be more difficult (2007; 2008). A strategy for the war on terrorism must consist of three elements: homeland security, dismantling Al Qaeda forces, and a foreign policy that does not needlessly create new terrorists (2004).

Is There a Failure?

Is there a present failure on the ways of the Pakistan in battle against the terrorism? There are many requirements that the Pakistan government should consider before bringing the democracy in their nation. For the other countries, sovereignty can help them achieve the stability, strength and power not because of the contributions of few individuals but because of the strong institution, stable systems, and well-rooted traditions – all are part of the evolution. It may be part of the political process and democracy in Pakistan had failed and will fail again if they did not bring the stability to the country. However, the answer is not in giving up on the democracy or democratic process but to adhere it seriously and closely (2006).

Conclusion

There is still hope for Pakistan. There are still other strategies and approaches available for the country to be introduced as a country that breathes peace. The terrorism of their past will hunt them down if they continued their practice. The efforts to set the war on the terrorism should be entitled with full focus and sincerity, if the rulers really want to promote the “terrorism-free land”.