Valley Springs, Arkansas
Putting a Stop to Terrorism
By Lynzie Massey
12th Grade
What is terrorism? How can it be stopped? These are two often-asked questions. They both have many answers. It’s hard for people to agree on what terrorism truly means, but there are answers. It’s very important for a country to come together and to learn of terrorism before we act upon it or our reactions could be harmful and devastating for everyone. The main four questions asked when it comes to terrorism or any acts of violence are what, who, why, and how.
The first big question concerning terrorism is what terrorist acts are like. Terrorist acts happen every day. The attacks affect not only people but also the country and its interests in almost every part of the world. Terrorist acts are usually personal, because people we know get hurt, killed or taken hostage. Each act of terrorism is different from the others. People say terrorist acts cannot be defined. Some say that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. However, this is sort of an easy way to describe it. Another way to describe it is by saying terrorism is the unlawful use or threat of violence against persons or property to further political or social objectives. It is generally intended to intimidate or coerce a government, individuals or groups to modify their behavior or policies. When it comes down to it, terrorism has three components. Component one says terrorism is the “use or threat of violence” to promote a “political or social” goal. Component two says the aim of terrorism is to “intimidate or coerce a government, individuals or groups” to change their “behavior or policies.” Component three says that the common methods are “hostage-taking, aircraft piracy or sabotage, assassination” and other forms of violence or threats of violence. Some feel differently though. The next incident may very well take the form of chemical or biological attacks. As shown, There are many different terrorist acts.
The next question concerning terrorism is who commits terrorism. History doesn’t say when the first attack occurred, who was the first terrorist, or who was the first victim. From past experiences we can divide terrorist into two main groups: those who use terror to maintain their power, and those who use terror to seize power. Today, however, some terrorists make no effort to reveal to us what it is they are trying to accomplish. It makes it more difficult to understand when terrorists don’t give any demands. As President John F. Kennedy once said, “Terror is not a new weapon. Throughout history, it has been used by those who could not prevail either by persuasion or example.” Terror is a tool of the relatively powerless. Terrorism is a more severe problem today for several reasons: terrorists can move easily from one country to another, modern weapons are readily available to terrorist, the media allows a basis of support for these groups, terrorists in many countries work together, and several terrorists groups operate in league with states. Most terrorists groups differ widely in their make-up, their membership, their motives, goals, and the groups they oppose. However, at the same time, there are many similarities in their weapons, their methods, and the statements used to justify their acts. The attacks that we are facing today did not belong to a formal group but shared a fundamentalist ideology that called for the creation of strict religious states. Terrorists need support in order to survive. They need food, clothes, weapons, a way to communicate, and passports for traveling outside the country. In order to get all of these necessary essentials they have help from people outside the immediate group. Governments and others support some groups by private donors. Terrorists seldom tell people who they are and what they are doing. Therefore, they have no real problems succeeding in their mission. Terrorists have a variety of motivations, including nationalism and ideology.
There are many reasons why terrorists commit acts of terror. Three main reasons are to promote various causes such as a nation, a religion, or ideology, or an ethnic tradition or culture; to satisfy inner feelings and emotions; and to pursue personal drives-greed, power, desires for success, and security. People generally operate from a mixture of motives, as do terrorist. Americans should try to figure out why people don’t like us, perhaps it’s a religious issue or maybe it’s the fact that we are a very powerful country or maybe there’s a different reason; which ever one it is, Americans should figure it out or it will come back and haunt us someday. Terrorists always believe their beliefs are right, those who agree with them are friends, they don’t have to consider anyone else since they are right, and therefore they can use force or any other means to make people accept their ideas. Terrorists do what they do for a variety of reasons. Their public motives, or causes, including nationalism, religion, or ethnic and cultural identities are often interrelated. Also instrumental in determining their behavior is feelings like violence, revenge, fear, and drives for power, money, or professional status. People should always remain skeptical of what terrorists tell them about their motives since they want to portray their conduct in the most favorable possible light.
The biggest question now is how terrorism can be stopped. The first rule in dealing with terrorism is not to get tricked. The next rule is to become unpredictable. Don’t let the terrorists know exactly what do in order to win the battle. Many other ways to stop terrorism are to go to war, negotiate, and fight with evil to prevent larger evils or to learn more about the opponent, so that the chance of them attacking is not as good. If we were to go out and study other countries and know all of their moves that they might make, we could possibly stop their attacks or lessen the damage they could cause on the country. With the terrorist attacks recently on the United States, the terrorists are limited only by their capabilities, which the U.S. has now decided it has no choice but to destroy. The government tries its best to keep people safe and protected, but we as individuals also have to do our own part.
Terrorism may not be able to be defined exactly; however, there are many ways to describe it. People will always have their own opinion, but most of the time our views end up agreeing. If we come together as a whole and use the technology and knowledge we have, we can remain powerful and fight terrorists and their attacks. To have a good explanation of terrorism, we must figure out what terrorism is, who commits terrorists acts, why they commit terrorists acts, and how we can stop there attacks from happening to us. If we can do this we can put a top to all terrorism.
QUESTIONS
1. Why, in your opinion, was the United States attacked?
ANSWER: In my opinion the United States was attacked because of our many opportunities and freedoms we have in this country.
2. Why is the first question so important to resolve and agree upon?
ANSWER: The first question is important to resolve and agree upon because the answer could possibly give the reason of these attacks against the United States.
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: When the United States and its allies backed down from Saddam Hussein’s refusal to allow inspections of suspected Iraqi weapons manufacturing facilities, was the action or inaction that increased the likelihood of chemical and biological attacks.
4. Why does the author believe the United States is a popular target for terrorists?
ANSWER: The author believes the reasons the United States is a popular target for terrorists are jealousy or how we shot down two Libyan planes in 1981, bombed Beirut in 1983-84, bombed Libya in 1986, sank an Iranian ship in 1987, shot down an Iranian passenger plane in 1988, shot down two more Libyan planes in 1989, bombed Iraq repeatedly in the 1990s and we bombed Sudan and Afghanistan in 1998. However, the author also believes we’d still be a target if none of these things had happened.
5. What motivates terrorists, in the author’s opinion?
ANSWER: The author feels the motivation of terrorists is brought on by them feeling that when they die they will have a rewarding afterlife.
6. What reasons does the author give for the intense hatred of the United States by people like Osama bin Ladn?
ANSWER: The reason given by the author to show why the United States is hated by people like Osama bin Ladn is a religious issue.
7. How does rule by divine right preclude the reasoned debate that occurs naturally in a democracy?
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: The fact that the United States hasn’t gotten any demands and have been offered no negotiation shows that the attacks of September 11, 2001 was based on religion not political fanaticism.
9. What is fatwah?
ANSWER: Fatwah 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 author believes new attacks will come because of the visible success of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The author suggests we stop them by consorting with evil to prevent larger evil.
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: The author claims declaring war is futile because they are mindlessly obedient fanatics who are not afraid to die; and because we have a great track record fighting wars; however there are two cases that our record is abysmal: the War on Drugs and Vietnam, the Persian Gulf.
12. Complete this sentence using the author’s words: “A declaration of war implies….
ANSWER: A declaration of War implies a conflict of limited duration in which
One side eventually surrenders or capitulates and the other side wins.
13. What does the author suggest we do?
ANSWER: The author suggests we consort with evil to prevent larger evil. You do nasty things.
14. Explain the significance of the Coventry story.
ANSWER: The significance of the Coventry story is to show that if you do something you think might be right, doesn’t mean it always is right. The decision Churchill mad, not to warn the people of Coventry about the attack, may very well have won the war.
14. Suppose you were a general in a combat situation. Could you “consort with evil to prevent larger evil”? Why or why not?
ANSWER: Yes, if I was a general I could “consort with evil to prevent larger evil because if it would save the people in my country or even people I knew, I would put myself on the line.
15. 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: The United States turning their anger on them because of our frustration in being unable to get at the real villains is un-American. An un-American to me is when we sink beneath our level of greatness, or when we do stuff out of anger that is unreasonable.
17. Do you agree that terrorism must be defined to adequately in order to be stopped?
ANSWER: I don’t agree that terrorism must be defined to be stopped because there are many different forms of terrorism, and you can’t stop all of them.
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 you very best effort? Why or why not?
ANSWER: I think it is very important to research the definition of terrorism. I am willing to spend the time it takes to give my definition of terrorism my best effort. I feel this way because everyone has their own opinion of terrorism, and they all have the right to share it with other people.
19. Were you able to define terrorism in your essay without admitting that the United States has been guilty of terrorist acts?
ANSWER: No, because the United States has obviously committed many terrorist acts.
20. Are you optimistic about the future? Will you pledge to do your part in pursuing mutual understanding? Why or why not?
ANSWER: I am not optimistic about the future. I will pledge to do my part in pursuing mutual understanding because we deserve to have peace in our lives.