NCJ Number
50953
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL TERRORISM ARE DEFINED AND COMPARED IN TERMS OF THEIR THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL ORDER. THE ADOPTION BY GOVERNMENTS OF POLICIES DESIGNED TO DETER TERRORISM IS RECOMMENDED.
Abstract
IN TRADITIONAL TERRORISM, MILITARY OPERATIONS AND MILITARY AND POLITICAL PERSONNEL ASSOCIATED WITH PERCEIVED OPPRESSION WERE TARGETED FOR SABOTAGE AND ASSASSINATION. IT IS ARGUED THAT THESE TERRORIST ACTS WERE CONDUCTED WITHIN AN ACCEPTED ETHICAL FRAMEWORK THAT DEPLORED ANY INTENTIONAL INJURY TO CIVILIANS OR PARTIES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPRESSIVE 'ENEMY' REGIME. CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS VIEWED AS OPERATING WITHOUT ANY MORAL POINTS OF REFERENCE OTHER THAN ITS OWN OBSESSIVE COMMITMENT TO NARROW EGOCENTRIC POLITICAL GOALS. FOR SUCH GROUPS, RESPECT FOR INTERNATIONAL MORALITY THAT ABHORS THE IRRELEVANT VIOLENCE AND COERCION PERPETRATED AGAINST PERSONS AND GROUPS UNINVOLVED IN A GIVEN POLITICAL CONFLICT IS CONSIDERED TOTALLY LACKING. THIS CHARACTERISTIC SEPARATES THEM FROM TRADITIONAL REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS COMMITTED TO A MORE JUST AND MORALLY SENSITIVE WAY OF LIFE. CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM IS BELIEVED TO BE MOST APTLY COMPARED TO PIRACY. CONTEMPORARY TERRORISTS CROSS NATIONAL BOUNDARIES TO HARRASS AND INJURE PERSONS INVOLVED IN CIVILIAN PURSUITS, FOR THE STATED PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING NARROWLY DEFINED POLITICAL GOALS AND ECONOMIC GAIN. IT IS ARGUED THAT TERRORISTS SHOULD BE BRANDED AS INTERNATIONAL OUTLAWS FOR SUCH ACTIONS AS WERE PIRATES YEARS AGO. THE UNITED NATIONS IS RULED OUT AS A VIABLE FORCE FOR DEALING WITH TERRORISM. UNILATERAL AND COOPERATIVE ACTION BY NATIONS OPPOSING TERRORISM AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES TO REFUSE TO NEGOTIATE WITH OR HARBOR TERRORISTS ARE RECOMMENDED. THE APPLICATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORIST ACTS IS ALSO SUGGESTED AS A DETERRENT. (RCB)