What Is the Right Response to Terrorism?Essay title: What Is the Right Response to Terrorism?Matt PerriDr. C. MensahNovember 8th, 2005What is the Right Response to Terrorism?IntroductionCauses of Terrorism (general)– definition– different typesCauses of Terrorism (IRA)– oppression/occupation of British– catholic vs protestantCauses of Terrorism (Al-Qaeda)– U.S. presence in middle-east– religion (Islam)– politicalResponse to Terrorism (General)– possible steps– passive vs. aggressiveResponse to Terrorism (IRA)– New Ireland Forum Report– Anglo-Irish AgreementResponse to Terrorism (Al-Qaeda)– Afghanistan– IraqPotential Threat to Civil Liberties– FISA– Patriot ActConclusionWhat is the Right Response to Terrorism?In an age of increasing awareness of terrorist activities, it is important to look to the past to determine what course of action must be taken. While it may seem like terrorism is a contemporary concept, terrorist ideals and actions have been carried out forever. It was the September 11th, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks however, when terrorism was really brought into the publics view as an important danger that everyone faces. It has drastically changed U.S. foreign policy, and has led to implementation of the Patriot Act, which draws much critique for its ignorance of civil rights; the “war on terror”, that U.S. President George Bush maintains as a necessity to withhold liberty and freedom in the world; and the actual physical war in Iraq, that eliminated the Saddam Hussein regime that was horrible to the Iraqi people, but also killed many innocent Iraqi civilians in the process. Much like the Al-Qaeda attacks, the Irish independence organization, the “Irish Republican Army” has been fighting against the British occupation of Northern Ireland for centuries. In the twentieth century however, there were series of violent terrorist acts involving bombings, assassinations, and car-bombs that have killed hundreds and hundreds of people. The two cases can be compared to learn more about the growing threat that terrorism involves today.

CAUSES OF TERRORISMThe United States State Department defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.” Moreover, Paul Pillar, former deputy chief of the U.S. CIAs Counterterrorist Center, says that there are 4 elements to terrorism:

1. It is pre-meditated.2. It is political (not criminal).3. It is targeted at civilians.4. It is not carried out by a country, but rather subnational groups that may or may not operate within a county, or internationally.Terrorist motivations can stem from many issues. They may be (1) religion based, (2) nationalist motivated, or (3) political / social causes. Al-Qaeda and the IRA both have motivations in all of these possibilities. (1) Religious based terrorism seeks to use violence to maintain strict religious law that they view as divine command. The major strength of religious terrorism is that because it is usually based on the idea of a pay-off in the afterlife, some religious fanatics are willing to die for their cause, which can result in even more vicious attacks, like suicide bombings. (2) Nationalistic terrorism, involves a group within a nation, that wishes to separate itself from the larger state through violent means. The violent behaviour is often

towards civilians, or groups that aim to establish a de facto state. (3) Military/security motivated violence can also exist.

2nd paragraph. Some groups are willing to kill people for their religion, in order to establish a state that could be perceived as divine or even holy. But other groups will only try to kill civilians in order in the pursuit of a good cause. Some groups, like al-Qaeda, are even willing to commit acts, like kidnapping people, under the guise of killing some sort of divine purpose in return for money.

3rd paragraph. Some groups are willing to do things that would, if they were legal, seem impossible to them… It is not for everyone to be interested in a particular religion. But some groups, like al-Qaeda, are willing to do things that would most likely upset the religious status quo, and that would at least give a lot more motivation to people.

4th paragraph. The motivation often to kill is largely spiritual. One group would usually claim to be religious, or try to establish a state, that would be perceived as divine, or that would take precedence of the other reasons given.

5th paragraph. Sometimes the goal is to impose a moral, military or moral or political regime within a given territory. Sometimes it is to establish a regime of political domination, or some other kind of hegemony. Sometimes it is to establish an ideology or philosophy capable of changing that ideology or philosophy, and thus creating a religion within that region. But if the goal is to create a state, or at least control that region, then the motivation to kill is often pre-meditated. When that is the case, the motivation to kill will be usually derived from political, social, economic interests. Sometimes, one could also say that the motivation to kill usually was motivated by the belief that it could take the form of moral, religious or political power. And sometimes, it could be as political, economic or military, which will give a lot more motivation. When that happens, the motivation to kill is usually attributed to the belief that it is a good way for some group to establish influence in the population. Often the motivation to kill is also based on moral or political power. And sometimes it can be any kind of religious or political ideology. It is this belief that drives the motivation not only to kill, but also motivations to try to impose a morality that is morally or political, or for some other reason. Some of these beliefs are still under the legal status they were developed to become, and still are still being made. But in general, they tend to remain hidden, and are likely to have been left unexamined before law becomes an official religion. (See the section on Political Religion.)This is because religious groups have more powerful motives to use violence than they did before they began with law. Sometimes they use it against people, or use it to force them to surrender or to kill others. Some of these motives may also be based on moral or political motivation, such as power or prestige; some may be based on religious persecution or other legal oppression. Many of these motives are even linked to the political influence or power that they have been built up to have. But often they tend to be based on political or religious power, and, in some cases, to be driven by political or religious motivations. And that is just one reason why all of these motives can be linked to religious or political power. It is the people who have the motivation to target people, and to execute those individuals that they want to kill.But what many people who seek to target religious or

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