Explaination of Terrorism
After browsing through Stephen E. Atkins book Terrorism, I soon learned many interesting things regarding the history of terrorism. It seems this form of protest has been around since Biblical times. Also, the main goal of a terrorist is not to do damage to one particular person or place, but to gain publicity for an idea they support. (page 1) Evidence of this can be found by looking at the recent past of the United States. The Oklahoma bombing was one man's way of expressing his dislike of the government. The exact definition of terrorism is not a solid line; it is a very wide line that isn't defined. The general definition of terrorism is an attack of some sort against a person or place that involves violence and/or destruction of property and is usually politically motivated. (Terrorism 3)Our fight against terrorism became something the terrorists might fear in 1970, at the Hague Convention. This United Nations convention basically defined hijacking as a crime and required contracting states either to allow the extradition of hijackers to their country of origin, or to prosecute them in the state where they were arrested. (The Terrorists 146) Atkins states that one of the reasons it
Terrorist groups have also become very good plots for moviemakers. The movie Delta Force is based solely on a terrorist taking over an airplane. There has also been a movie made recently which shows the Islamic Jihad group of Iran and their attack in 1983 against Marines in Beirut. (Terrorism 118) Another movie that mentions the Islamic Jihad is "Executive Decision" This is just another example of how the media loves dramatic stories, and why not, it sells! Terrorist form groups to make it easier to get their message across. Atkins has a very good list of modern terrorist groups. One group is the Arab National Youth Organization for the Liberation of Palestine. (ANYOLP) This group was found by the president of Libya, Qaddafi. This group isn't as active as when it started in 1972, but it was never officially disbanded by Qaddafi. (Terrorism 102) One of the most famous groups is the Black Panther Party. (BPP) This was founded in the United States in the 1960's, in Alabama. This group wasn't really a terrorist group, but more a self-defense group that pushed the lines of self-defense. Most people associate Martin Luther King Jr.'s name when they hear this group because this was a very racially oriented group. (106) One of the oldest terrorist groups is the Irish Republican Army. (IRA) It started during the 19th century when Ireland was fighting for its independence. Unlike other groups, many people respect this group because they are trying to unify the island of Ireland. This group also has a more radical splinter group called the Irish Republican Army Provisional Wing. (Terrorism 116-117) The media is a terrorist's best friend. Without the modern widespread media, ter
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Approximate Word count = 1146
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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