Eliminating the Terrorist Opportunity (From Morality of Terrorism: Religious and Secular Justifications, P 325-346, 1989, David C Rapoport and Yonah Alexander, eds. -- See NCJ-118920)

• NCJ Number: 118921
• Author(s): G H Quester
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Columbia University Press
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Regardless of the significance of personal motivation or physical opportunity in explaining and controlling terrorism, the trend over time may be toward the control of terrorist opportunity.

Abstract

Terrorism is defined as a countervalue campaign in terms of what is attacked and a guerrilla campaign in terms of what is defended. Bombs in market places, diplomats held for ransom, and hijacked airliners basically fall into the countervalue category. The first part of a logical response to terrorism is to simply fall back on physical measures that make kidnappings, assassinations, skyjackings, and bank robberies less possible. Police officials, negotiators, and others involved in dealing with terrorist situations should be more innovative in devising alternatives so that terrorists cannot be sure society will always want to make concessions. Managing the news media in terrorist situations is desirable but unlikely in a democratic society; however, the news media should not become a tool of terrorists. An important part of any contest of resolve between governments and terrorists depends on who bluffs most demonstrably. The issue of government obligation to keep promises made to terrorists in hostage situations poses special difficulty. If terrorists know that a government will not necessarily keep its word, they may perceive that hostage-taking is not an effective approach. The importance of international cooperation to control terrorism is discussed.