NCJ Number
64106
Journal
MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIETY Volume: 3 Issue: 5-6 Dated: (1976) Pages: 249-261
Date Published
1976
Length
13 pages
Annotation
CHARACTERISTICS OF POLITICAL TERRORISM ARE REVIEWED, AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IS URGED TO COMBAT TERRORISTS' EVER INCREASING THREAT TO SOCIETY.
Abstract
POLITICAL TERRORISM IS INCREASING IN SERIOUSNESS DUE TO THE POPULATION AND COMMUNICATION CONCENTRATIONS IN THOSE INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL COUNTRIES THAT ARE LIMITED IN THEIR REPRISALS BY DEMOCRATIC TRADITION AND HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS. MOREOVER, THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS OPERATE ON AN INTERNATIONAL SCOPE WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO SOPHISTICATED WEAPONRY AND MASS MEDIA EXPOSURE. THE CONCEPT OF TERRORIST PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE RELIES ON UNEXPECTED, RUTHLESS ATTACKS ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY OF THEIR ATROCITIES. ACTIVITIES ARE CALCULATED TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR AND INSECURITY. THE DILEMMA OF POLITICAL DEMOCRACY IS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST TERRORISTS THAT DO NOT INFRINGE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE LAW ABIDING. GUERRILLA WARS, BASED ON HIT AND RUN TACTICS, ARE DISTINCT FROM TERRORISM. GUERILLA WARFARE AND TERRORIST METHODS MAY OVERLAP, BUT THE FORMER IS USUALLY A PRECURSOR MOVEMENT TO NATIONAL WARS OF LIBERATION FROM A FOREIGN POWER. OUTSIDE THESE CATEGORIES IS THE PALESTINE LIBERATION FRONT, A CONGLOMERATE OF GROUPS SEEKING MARXIST REVOLUTION IN THE ARAB WORLD AND THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL. AMPLY FUNDED AND UNITED NATIONS-RECOGNIZED, THE PLO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO INITIATE SUSTAINED GUERRILLA WAR AGAINST ISRAEL, PARTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO ISRAEL'S POLICIES OF FIRM RESISTANCE TO TERRORIST BLACKMAIL AND ITS COMPREHENSIVE, SYSTEMATIC SECURITY MAINTENANCE. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE FREE WORLD COUNTRIES UNITE IN THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM. PREVENTIVE MEASURES AFTER THE PATTERN OF ISRAEL MUST BE IMPLEMENTED; EFFECTIVE INTELLIGENCE IS NECESSARY; AND NATIONS CANNOT USE SOVEREIGNTY AS PRETEXT FOR PROTECTION OF TERRORISTS. U.N. FAILURES TO LEGISLATE AGAINST TERRORISM AND HIJACKING RELEGATE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO STATES COMMITTED TO THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)