Module Two
(The Modus Operandi
of Terrorists)
Required Readings:
1.
Understanding Terrorism (Poland)
a. Chapter Six: The Dynamics of Hostage Taking and
Negotiation
b. Chapter Seven: Terrorism and Bombing
c. Chapter Eight: Suicide Bombers: A Global Problem
2.
Terrorism (Snowden & Whitsel)
a. Chapter Six: Islamic Extremists: How do they Mobilize
Support?
b. Chapter Seven: An Analysis of Organizational
Characteristics for Groups use
Radiological Weapons of Mass Victimization
c. Chapter Eight: Steganography and Terrorism: An
Introduction to Data Hiding
and its use in Terrorist activities
d. WMD Yesterday's News: The WMD Terrorism Threat Today.
e. Leaderless Resistance: Are Terrorist Groups a Thing of
the Past?
Recommended Readings:
(Available via the
Union Institute and University electronic library)
-
Atran, S. (2003). Genesis of Suicide
Terrorism. Science, 299(5612), p1534.
-
Hoffman, B. (2003). The logic of suicide
terrorism. Atlantic Monthly, 291(5) p40.
-
Ciampi, D. (2005).
Developmental and motivational factors of transnational terrorists. The
Forensic Examiner, 4(3), p29.
(Available via the
Internet)
Terrorism in the United States
Defeating Terrorism: Strategic Issue Analyses
Assignments:
(Note: Assignment due dates are listed on the
course homepage)
Written
AssignmentsUsing the readings and
your own research, complete a 3-5 page analysis of how technology has changed
terrorism. Consider comparing and contrasting pre-1970 terrorism with post-1970
terrorism. How has technology changed the terrorists targets and methods? How
has technology changed their ability to transmit their messages to other members
and the public?
Hint::
Superior work (an A grade) will include sources from academic, peer reviewed
journals; be properly formatted and sourced in APA style.
Practical Exercise
Go to the
Air War College Gateway to Intelligence. Select
five of the hyperlinks. Follow them to their ultimate source. Write a one
paragraph description of the information you find.
Session/Semester Long Project:
Submit a one or two page bibliography demonstrating the references you have
research and intend to use for your final project. This may or may not
be your final bibliography. What we want to accomplish is make sure you
are on the right track to preparing your Session/Semester Long Project.
Participation Assignment
Go to the
Criminal Justice Degree
forum
you will find the
second threaded discussion question here.
|
Due Date Fall 2009 |
| Session I |
Session II |
Go To |
| August 31,
2009 |
October
26, 2009 |
Session Begins |
| September
11, 2009 |
November
6, 2009 |
Module One
(Defining Terrorism) |
| September
25, 2009 |
November
20, 2009 |
Module Two
(Modus Operandi of Terrorists) |
| October 9,
2009 |
December
4, 2009 |
Module Three
(Response to Terrorism) |
| October 21,
2009 |
December
16, 2009 |
Module Four (Emerging Trends) |
| October
24, 2009 |
December
19, 2009 |
Session Ends |
According to one reader of Blood and Rage: A Cultural
History of Terrorism, I enjoyed this book. It was all the better for
not making theories, or grand strategies, bit for its straightforward
description of people and events. It shows that the people involved in terrorism
are dangerous, usually on a basis of criminality or inadequacy. Giving a
criminal a "noble cause" or a "lifelong fight" gives him or her a plausible (but
utterly false) reason for acts that are utterly despicable on the basis that
they can do no good, make no relationships, and can only cause harm, destruction
and alienation.
Historical or current grudges are a fertile soil for
terrorism, but not a justification for it- because the means invalidates any end
it might claim to want to achieve. That terrorism can only cause harm is one of
the main messages of this book. Terrorists need to personify their enemies as
different, undesirable and other from them. The truth is we are all human, and
we all bleed like each other. Burleigh's point that all terrorist victims are
people merely wanting to go about their daily business and relate well to other
people is well made.
The ability of states to contort their best values (freedom
of speech, liberty of assembly, tolerance for others of different backgrounds or
opinions) to accommodate terrorists is well described. The role of some lawyers
in achieving this is well described. Law, and the uses to which it is used, and
to which it is not enforced tell us a lot about the values in our societies. In
the UK our libel laws, "Londonistan", and our reluctance to deport certain
people are our contributions to enabling terrorism.
This book is powerful, and useful reading. We are all
potentially terrorist targets, as we are all "decadent" in some way or other.
This book should encourage us that terrorism is a problem that is ultimately
sortable, and exposes well the emptiness of purported justifications of it.
