NCJ Number
191294
Date Published
1998
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This chapter focuses on Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism.
Abstract
As the world’s sole remaining superpower, the United States is often held accountable by many for a variety of international problems. Since 1979, an Islamic revolutionary movement has emerged in the Middle East -– a movement that supports terrorism more dangerous than the terrorism that flourished during the Cold War. The new terrorist emerged during the Islamic revival sparked by Ayatollah Khomeini’s inspirational role in the Iranian Revolution. The doctrines of Islam are not agendas or blueprints for terrorism. Those committed to extremist solutions find in these dogmas some ideas and cling to them, twisting them into rationales that justify violent actions. If the psychology of the religious fanatic were probed deeply, one would find a personality prone to violence and a sense of alienation and despair. For the fundamentalist, the assumption is that people cannot govern themselves and must rely on the authority of the State. The United States is an attractive target of terrorists because the terrorists realize that they can get unlimited publicity. Any free society has some exposure to terrorism. The problem of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism is a security issue. Security technology is only part of the response to terrorism. Apart from state-sponsored terrorism, serious attention must be paid to radical dissident movements in countries where the United States has friendly relations or is involved in alliances. Commitments must be weighed and relationships reevaluated in terms of the possible violent consequences. The question of more reliable counterterrorism security should be preceded by questions concerning political alliances and how these may make the United States and its citizens potential targets.