NCJ Number
46225
Date Published
1978
Length
304 pages
Annotation
THE CONTINUING ATTEMPTS OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES TO FORMULATE A RESPONSE TO HIJACKERS, GUNMEN, AND OTHER TERRORISTS ARE EXAMINED, AND THE REASONS WHY SUCH POLICY HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL EXPLORED.
Abstract
WHEN THE FIRST USE OF SYSTEMATIC TERRORISM BURST UPON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE IN THE 1960'S, IT WAS SEEN AS A SERIES OF ISOLATED INCIDENTS, AND EACH COUNTRY WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH ITS OWN PECULIAR PROBLEMS. THE U.S. CONCENTRATED ON AIRLINE HIJACKINGS TO CUBA. THE BRITISH HAD TO DEAL WITH THE IRISH. THE MIDDLE EAST WAS SEEN AS AN EXCLUSIVE PROBLEM. THE SLAUGHTER OF OLYMPIC ATHLETES AT MUNICH BROUGHT THE TRANSNATIONAL ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM TO WORLD ATTENTION, AND A SERIES OF SKYJACKINGS PRECIPITATED INTERNATIONAL TALKS. THE 1970'S SAW PROGRESS BEING MADE ON MANY FRONTS AS THE THREAT WAS FACED. SEARCHES OF AIRLINE PASSENGERS PREVENTED MANY WEAPONS FROM BEING SMUGGLED ON BOARD PLANES. GOVERNMENTS TRIED TO AGREE ON EXTRADITION TERMS. BUT EVERY TIME THERE WAS INCREASING AGREEMENT ON LEGAL MEASURES, A NEW INCIDENT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN A NEW CONTEXT, AND THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS WOULD HAVE TO BEGIN AGAIN. THE MAIN PROBLEM HAS BEEN BALANCING AN OVERREACTION THAT WOULD ERODE WESTERN LIBERTIES AGAINST AN INSUFFICIENT RESPONSE THAT WOULD ERODE PUBLIC MORALE. BY 1977, AN INCREASING NUMBER OF POLICYMAKERS HAD COME TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO SINGLE, SIMPLE SOLUTION. IN ESSENCE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE CAN BE NO SOLUTION. IN SOCIETIES IN WHICH THERE IS NO SERIOUS NATIONALITY PROBLEM AND IN WHICH A MODICUM OF JUSTICE FOR ALL IS ASSURED, OCCASIONAL TERRORISM IS ALMOST A NORMAL STATE OF EVENTS, AND A SMALL GROUP IS NOT A SERIOUS THREAT. TO THE SOCIETIES WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS, TERRORISM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. TERRORISM IN THE TYROL WAS RAMPANT UNTIL ITALY REACHED AN ACCOMODATION. THERE IS STILL ENOUGH DISSATISFACTION WITH THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT FOR TERRORIST GROUPS TO GAIN WIDE SUPPORT. THE IRISH PROBLEM WILL NEVER BE RESOLVED UNTIL A BETTER SOLUTION IS FOUND FOR THE 6-COUNTY AREA CARVED OUT AS NORTHERN IRELAND IN 1921. THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT ONLY POLITICAL BUT ALSO ECONOMIC; NO COSMETIC RESPONSE WILL SOLVE THEM. THE MAJOR PROBLEM FACING DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES IS THE EMOTIONALISM SURROUNDING TERRORIST ACTS. FAR MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND THAN HAVE BEEN KILLED BY BOMBS OR GUNFIRE. YET NO ONE FEARS AUTOMOBILES WHILE EVERY CITIZEN IS AFRAID THE NEXT BOMB WILL STRIKE THE PUB OR STORE HE OR SHE IS IN. IN MORE PEACEFUL COUNTRIES, THE CRY TO 'DO SOMETHING' IS EVEN STRONGER. AS A RESULT, IGNORING THE TERRORIST, WHICH OFTEN WOULD BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY, IS IMPOSSIBLE. IN GENERAL, WHEN DEALING WITH TERRORISTS, LESS IS MORE -- THE POLICE ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE ARMY, TRAINED CIVILIANS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE POLICE, AND THE LESS ESCALATION THAN CAN BE GIVEN AN EVENT, THE LESS BLOODSHED THERE WILL BE. 'MEDIA TERRORISTS,' THOSE WHO WISH TO DRAMATIZE A CAUSE, WANT A VIOLENT COUNTERREACTION. THE COUNTRY WHICH WISHES TO MAINTAIN ITS FREEDOM WILL RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO FIGHT TERROR WITH TERRORIST TACTICS OF ITS OWN. IT IS ONLY BY LOOKING BEHIND TERRORIST ACTIVITIES TO SEE IF A REAL PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE SOLVED, SOLVING IT, AND THEN ACTING WITH RESTRAINT AGAINST SPURIOUS GROUPS, THAT A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT CAN SURVIVE THE TERRORIST THREAT. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (GLR)