12th grade
Americans will always remember the morning of September 11, 2001, when national security was shattered on our home soil after six decades of peace. Imagine not one but two 110-story buildings which cost $700,000,000 to build come crashing to the ground below on screaming, helpless victims. Only a few months ago it would have seemed like a nightmare, but it came true on this day of terror. A question may have gone through millions of Americans minds: “Who would do such a horrific act and why?” The answer is terrorists who have ulterior motives. Terrorism can be defined and stopped. By analyzing the motivation of terrorists and terrorists’ acts, the people who commit terrorism and those who are targeted are revealed, defining terrorism. Stopping terrorism involves vigilance, better law enforcement efforts, and eliminating the terrorists.
Terrorism is not only defined by analyzing several factors, but in literal definitions which have been made in the past. In 1937 the League of Nations Convention stated that terrorism consisted of “all criminal acts directed against a State and intended or calculated to create a state of terror in the minds of particular persons or a group of persons or the general public”. According to this definition, terrorism must be a criminal act against another group. The short legal definition proposed by A. P. Schmid to the United Nations Crime Branch in 1992 states: “Act of Terrorism = Peacetime Equivalent of War Crime.” So, in essence, terrorism is an act of war, except for the fact war hasn’t been declared. Lastly, in 1999 UN Resolution language “strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed.” This international affairs group exemplifies the opinion of the world toward terrorism, showing why it is an unworthy cause. After observing the literal definitions, terrorism is defined more by analyzing the motivation and acts of terrorists; its examples show who commits the acts and who is targeted.
Motivation of terrorists includes reasons that are religious, political, racial, and environmental. Religious acts are the oldest known motivational reasons, which date back to the first century when the Zealots, a Jewish religious sect, fought against Roman occupation of what is now Israel. Also, in the twelfth century in Iran, the Assassins, a group of Ismailis (Shiite Muslims), performed terrorists acts against religious and political leaders of Sunni Islam. Even today, the best example of religious motivation is the September 11’s attacks. Osama bin Laden, who is held responsible for these attacks, issued a fatwah, or an explicit religious order, meaning if his followers died in attempt to destroy us, they are guaranteed a place in heaven. Clearly, these three examples show how terrorists’ beliefs motivate them to do acts. The motivation of an anarchist, or someone who opposes all forms of government, is political terrorism. From 1865 to 1905 a number of kings, presidents, prime ministers, and other government officials were killed by anarchists’ guns or bombs. The bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City and destruction of the Pentagon are specific examples of political motivation as well. Throughout the twentieth century, racial motivations were shown through the Ku Klux Klan, who used violence and intimidation to keep African Americans segregated and to promote white supremacy. The infamous Unabomber mailed homemade bombs to people who promote industrialization, which exemplified environmental motivation. Motivation, no matter what kind, is always behind terrorism.
Acts of terrorism may be either chemical or biological. Chemical agents are poisonous gases, liquids or solids that have toxic effects on people, animals or plants. Biological Agents are organisms or toxins that have illness-producing effects on people, livestock and crops. One example of a biological “unprecedented and uncivilized act” is anthrax being sent through the mail, which more than likely results in death. Bombs may be used in several ways. They can be planted bombs like those in the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Suicide bombers strap themselves with explosives and wound or kill those around them. An example of this is in 1983 when the Shiite Muslim suicide bombers attacked the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, and on the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut. Terrorists may kidnap and murder someone of political influence, for example, former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro. On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked 4 airplanes and crashed into the Pentagon and World Trade Centers. As seen here, they used a country's resources to commit an act of terrorism.
As said before, examples from the motivation and acts of terrorism reveal who commits terrorism and who is targeted. Terrorists are those who use acts of terror to stress their religious, political, racial, or environmental ideals. President Bush states they want to “destroy our freedom.” Terrorists cannot be geographically identified or be fought on a limited basis. They have leaders who ask them questions such as “how come those infidels [the United States] all have two cars and a VCR?” This question causes them to be jealous of our economic status. President Bush sums it up in seven words: “Your either with us or against us.”
Citizens’ vigilance is involved in stopping terrorism. Naturally when planes crashed in the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon, we panicked. Instead, we should take the example of the Israelis and not “live with terrorism and fear but to channel [our] fears productively and, finally, to transcend them.” The editorial “What It Will take to Win” goes on to say that “83 percent” of Americans expects a terrorist attack in the upcoming months. We must know what is expected of us and be vigilant. President Bush suggests we “volunteer by making a commitment to serving in our own communities.” When a crisis does occur, citizens must respond “at every level, giving blood, giving money, cheering our forces,” as Americans did after September 11, 2001. When citizens travel abroad President Bush asks us to be “ambassadors of American values.” To be vigilant, citizens have new responsibilities such as “inspecting our mail,” staying “informed on public health matters,” not giving in to “exaggerated fears or passing rumors,” caring “for those who have lost loved ones,” and give “comfort” to those who may feel afraid.
Better law enforcement efforts include prosecution, intelligence sharing, and more security at public places, increasing border control, and enforcing immigration. Timothy McVeigh, a terrorist who was found guilty of murder from the bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995, was executed in 2001. Again, the actions of the United States after September 11 are the best examples when showing how to stop terrorism. The National Guard has been posted at airports and undercover air marshals have been placed on airline flights. Cockpits are being made more secure and baggage is being screened more closely. Countries across the world have joined in on intelligence sharing in order to more effectively stop terrorism. The Coast Guard has expanded their duties to protect the shores and ports. Also, the National Guard has increased in order to expand surveillance at the borders. The Senate passed an antiterrorism law that gives our law enforcement officers the necessary tools to track terrorists before they harm Americans.
By eliminating the terrorists through military strikes and resource depletion, they may be stopped. The government also needs to take on their role. Max Boot, a writer of The Weekly Standard, stated, “The most realistic response to terrorism is for the United States unambiguously to embrace its imperial role.” Attacks on terrorists, not countries, promote antiterrorism. Making governmental allies helps stop resources from getting to them. Stopping their funds stops their acts. It is that simple.
The statement “If we don’t understand what we’re up against, anything we do to combat is going to backfire” explains why we must define terrorism in order to stop it. Terrorism can be defined by analyzing the motivation of terrorists and terrorists’ acts. Thus the terrorists and their targets are revealed. Vigilance, better law enforcement efforts, and eliminating the terrorists help stop terrorism. In order to overcome this evil, we must do our part in the greater cause.
QUESTIONS
1. Why, in your opinion, was the United States attacked?
ANSWER: The reason for the attack was in order to show the United States that we are not invincible, as we think we are.
2. Why is the first question so important to resolve and agree upon?
ANSWER: It is important because we must realize our faults; only then are we able to overcome the evil.
3. What action or inaction by the United States and its allies, in the author’s opinion, increased the likelihood of chemical and biological attacks?
ANSWER: The U.S. and its allies were inactive when they did not pursue Saddam Hussein’s refusal to allow inspections of suspected Iraqi weapons manufacturing facilities.
4. Why does the author believe the United States is a popular target for terrorists?
ANSWER: They teach them that we flaunt our prosperity and power because we are devils, giving them an excuse to attack us for their cause.
5. What motivates terrorists, in the author’s opinion?
ANSWER: Because this is a religious issue to them, their leaders have declared anyone who dies in attempt to destroy us is guaranteed a place in heaven.
6. What reasons does the author give for the intense hatred of the United States by people like Osama bin Laden?
ANSWER: It is a religious issue, not political
7. How does rule by divine right preclude the reasoned debate that occurs naturally in a democracy?
ANSWER: People may be convinced of anything if you teach them young enough and make the punishments for disobedience severe.
8. What evidence does the author offer that the terrorism visited upon the United States on September 11, 2001 was based on religious rather than political fanaticism?
ANSWER: It is because we have gotten no demands and have been offered no negotiation, which otherwise would have been made known in a non-religious conflict.
9. What is a fatwah?
ANSWER: It is an explicit religious order.
10. Why does the author think new attacks are likely and how does he/she suggest we stop them?
ANSWER: The “spectacularly visible success” of September 11th’s happenings gave powerful motivation to future attackers.
11. Why does the author claim that declaring war is futile? What two historical examples does he/she give to back up this claim?
ANSWER: It is useless because we must have two conditions to declare war. One is we cannot identify the enemy geographically, for example the War on Drugs. The second is we try to fight on a limited basis, for example the Persian Gulf.
12. Complete this sentence using the author’s words: “Declaration of war implies…” ANSWER: That one side surrenders, causing the other to win.
13. What does the author suggest we do?
ANSWER: He suggests that we defend ourselves.
14. Explain the significance of the Coventry story.
ANSWER: It shows that lesser evils are better than greater ones from happening.
15. Suppose you were a general in a combat situation. Could you “consort with evil to prevent lager evil” Why or why not?
Answer: I could “consort with evil to prevent larger evil” because by looking at history’s mistakes, it is better to sacrifice something smaller for the greater cause.
16. The author says something is un-American. What is it? Do you think the author is correct? Please write out your own definition of un-American.
ANSWER: It is when we lump Muslims with terrorists. Un-American means it is not natural as humans, which our Constitution was based on: natural rights, to be prejudice and naïve to categorize all Muslims in being terrorists.
17. Do you agree that terrorism must be defined adequately in order to be stopped?
ANSWER: I agree because in any situation a definition helps understand a subject, which must be accomplished in order to stop terrorism.
18. How important do you think it is for you to research, discuss and consider the definition of terrorism? Are you willing to spend the time it takes to give your definition your very best effort? Why or why not?
ANSWER: It is extremely important to discover a definition in order to understand it, even though it is so complex. Yes, the effort of finding the definition will, in the end, be a worthwhile experience and therefore I will put all effort into it so I may understand something that effects my everyday life.
19. Were you able to define terrorism in your essay without admitting that the United
States has been guilty of terrorist acts?
ANSWER: No, I was not able to define terrorism without admitting that the United States has been guilty of terrorism because it is impossible to ignore the truth.
20. Are you optimistic about the future? Will you pledge to do your part in pursuing mutual understanding? Why or why not?
Answer: I have a positive attitude about the future because in the final end, evil will fail. I pledge mutual understanding because it is vital to the effort against terrorism.