Terrorism - The Soviet Connection

• NCJ Number: 93780
• Author(s): R S Cline; Y Alexander
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 168 pages
• Sale Source: Crane, Russak and Co, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Published in cooperation with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Georgetown University.

Annotation

This book develops the connection between the Soviet Union's commitment to revolutionary violence to destabilize adversarial countries and create loyal governments that will permit the expansion of Soviet influence throughout the world and its use of terrorism and terrorist groups to accomplish these aims.

Abstract

An introductory chapter outlines the broad goals that the Soviet Union hopes to achieve from terrorism. They include influencing developments in neighboring countries; regaining irredentist territories in the Soviet orbit; helping to create new states in which it will have considerable influence as a result of its support of those nations' claims for self-determination; and weakening the political, economic, and military infrastructure of anti-Soviet alliances. The Soviet Union also attempts to initiate proxy operations in distant geographic locations where direct organized conventional military activities are logistically impracticable, create trouble for the United States in the highly visible region of Central America, and target the downfalls of persons considered to be influential enemies of communism and the Soviet Union. Attention is given to U.S.-Soviet exchanges regarding the fact and the extent of Soviet involvement in ideological and political violence. A congressional inquiry revealed a clear pattern of Soviet strategic responsibility for some of the most troublesome conflicts and terrorist violence affecting the peace and security of millions of people. Evidence from documents obtained in Lebanon in 1982 reveals extensive Soviet collaboration with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and the PLO's involvement in international terrorism as a Soviet proxy is detailed. A portrayal of the international infrastructure of terrorism links the Soviet Union to North Korea, groups in southern Africa, South Yemen, Libya, and Cuba. The concluding chapter considers the United States response to the wars of 'national liberation' fueled by the Soviet Union. The appendix presents a selection of PLO documents found in Lebanon in June 1982. Chapter notes, 140 bibliographic listings, and a subject index are provided.