Revised Terror Essay: Strategic Violence

Hattie Pipes

Professor Shirk

Global Politics of Terror

May 5, 2017

Strategic Terror

In, Terror as a Tactic, I argued that terrorism is complex but that terrorists employ strategic violence. The essay discussed modern terror (1980s forward), and noted that most terrorist organizations employ strategic violence to further a political ideology. Taking this course challenged my belief that terrorists are inherently evil and forced me to realize that terror is a tool. Al Qaeda and HAMAS are terrorist groups because they employ strategic violence to promote fear and instability. The tactics employed by terrorist groups vary but often include establishing a target, employing violence against that target, and then recruiting others by instigating discontent and advertising violence. This essay will focus on Osama Bin Laden’s, Messages to the World, and HAMAS Charter to illustrate the strategic violence both groups employ to promote instability and fear.

Primary Case Study: Messages to the World

Terrorists can use IEDs, arsonage, and steal supplies and weapons, but unless they target a specific nation, race, or industry their efforts will not be concentrated and their chance of defeating the enemy is negligible. When comparing al Qaeda and ISIS strategies al Qaeda’s goal to establish a global caliphate is less concrete and more difficult to achieve. ISIS is easier to target and defeat militarily as they claim and conquer territory. Ideologically it is more challenging to refute al Qaeda’s tactics, however, their strategy for action is weaker than ISIS’.

In, Messages to the World, Bin Laden praises Sheikh Hamud bin Abdallah bin Uqla al-Shu’aybi for emphasizing “the duty of fighting the Americans and fighting the Israelis in Palestine, making [attacks] on their blood and wealth permissible.” (Messages to the World, 13). Al Qaeda often justifies action by pointing to the wrongs committed by the New World Order, supposedly led by America. Bin Laden calls upon the umma in Palestine to combat the Crusaders. “It is no secret to you, my brothers, that the people of Islam have been afflicted with oppression, hostility, and injustice by the Judeo-Christian alliance and its supporters” (4). Bin Laden calls for Muslims to act and condemns those who do not adhere to Islamic precepts. It is not a suggestion but a duty of the umma to confront the New World Order and anyone who supports that order. Disagreeing with Bin Laden meant being ostracized at best and dead at worst. By identifying the enemy Bin Laden forces Muslims to choose: they are either for al Qaeda or for the Judeo-Christian alliance.

In the past al Qaeda has spurred on discontent by videotaping executions of Westerners. By advertising violence and promoting terror in the region the group asserts its ability and willingness to fight Western ideals. Al Qaeda has carried out six major attacks, including two in America. Four of the six attacks were aimed at refuting American authority. On August 7, 1998, al Qaeda attacked two United States Embassies in Africa, one in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and the other in Nairobi, Kenya. The bombings killed over 200 people and injured more than 4,000 ("Al-Qaida timeline”). On October 12, 2000 al Qaeda bombed the USS Cole, killing seventeen American soldiers and injuring 39 (“Casualties”). September 11th, 2001 is an infamous day in American history when al Qaeda attacked the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. These attacks electrified radicals within the Muslim community and challenged the United States authority. Al Qaeda also supports insurgents who fight U.S.-backed regimes. Ultimately, terror spurs on instability and fear through violence; al Qaeda employs brutal tactics like executions and bombings to instigate confusion.

In order to rally support, Bin Laden ideologically isolates Islam as the one true religion. This also promotes fear among non-Muslims in the Middle East. Establishing a target justifies action. This stark differentiation between the enemy and the hero is evident when examining the Holocaust as Christopher Browning notes in his book, Ordinary Men, “The Jews stood outside [the] circle of human obligation and responsibility. Such a polarization between ‘us’ and ‘them’ between one’s comrades and the enemy, is of course standard in war” (Browning, 73). Browning’s quote alludes that it is not just terrorist groups who harbor animosity towards the perceived enemy, after all, the United States declared the “War on Terror”.

It is doubtful that Bin Laden is overly concerned with the Palestinian people or establishing a Palestinian state, yet he recognizes in Messages to the World that including their grievances can instigate violence. Bin Laden claims their struggle is related to al Qaeda’s goal of establishing Shar’ia law. “Bin Laden’s vision was to create a vanguard of elite fighters who could lead the global jihad project and bring together the hundreds of small jihadist groups struggling, often feebly, against their own regimes under a single umbrella” (Byman). Bin Laden aimed to unite and empower radical groups in the Middle East and silence anyone who opposed them. He justified this by labeling the Western Crusaders as evil. Just as Bin Laden views Islam as the true religion so too does the Islamic Resistance Movement.

Secondary Case Study: HAMAS Charter

HAMAS or the Islamic Resistance Movement was founded in 1987. The group claims that, “In the absence of Islam, conflict arises, oppression reigns, corruption is rampant and struggles and wars prevail” (Hamas Charter, Article 6). Similar to the Palestinian Liberation Organization, they aim to establish a Palestinian state and are adamantly opposed to Zionism. Just like al Qaeda and the PLO, HAMAS sees violence as a tool to achieve their ends. The group believes armed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine. The PLO and HAMAS charters emphasize a willingness to do whatever it takes to reclaim the arab homeland-even resort to violent tactics. By incorporating the acceptance of violence in their charter they suggest violence is a legitimate tool.

While the Palestinian Liberation Organization may be likened to a Congress of Palestinian organizations HAMAS is less open to cooperating with international organizations like the United Nations. They are radicalized and emphasize that those opposed to Islam are the enemy of the movement. HAMAS is “hostile to those who are hostile towards it, or stand in its way to disturb its moves or to frustrate its efforts” (HAMAS Charter, Article 31). Strategically and psychologically it is reasonable to create cognitive distance between oneself and the enemy. The standard of war is pitting people against one another to defend an ideology, religion, governmental system or other interest. Dehumanization is a powerful tactic which is common in war. Al Qaeda aims to openly confront the West and instigate violence. Strategically the first step in instigating violence is to convince people to fight the enemy by portraying them as inherently wrong and evil.

Terrorist groups like HAMAS and al Qaeda target nations and people groups due to religious or political differences. “When the Faith wanes, there is no security/ There is no this-worldliness for those who have no faith/ Those who wish to live their life without religion/ Have made annihilation the equivalent of life” (HAMAS Charter, Article 6). After establishing their enemy should be annihilated or attacked they persuade or force others to commit to violence against that group. HAMAS views political action as a game and a gamble. This is a common theme among terror organizations and rebel groups. Peter Young, an advisor to the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) believes that all too often, “laws are not in line with morals” (“Direct Action”). Terrorist groups often take matters into their own hands to ensure that their interests will be protected. This attitude is reminiscent of a toddler yelling “gimme” when they see an adult with something they want. Their desire for decisive and quick action destabilizes the region.

There’s a reason why the Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution made it difficult to amend. They recognized that rapid change can be detrimental to long term stability within a country. A strong military can only maintain peace temporarily. Once the dictator or leader falls out of power the need for a stable governmental system is evident. Hatred and violence may unite people temporarily but long-term stability requires politics.

Terror challenges the governmental system by disrupting traditional practices of dealing with disagreement. Charles Tilly of Columbia University notes in his article, Terror, Terrorism, Terrorists, that terror deploys threats “outside the forms of political struggle routinely operating within some current regime” (Tilly, 1). Yet, this does not harm their concentrated efforts but actually strengthens them if they are able to gain the attention of the ruling party or regime. Violent action may also draw more recruits to their cause.  The primary goal of al Qaeda and HAMAS is not promoting peace in the region but: demonizing the enemy and challenging their legitimacy.

Concluding Thoughts:

There are a plethora of terrorist organizations with different goals. A terrorist group can advocate for animal rights, the establishment of a global caliphate, or freedom from colonial oppression. Even groups in similar geopolitical areas with similar goals vary, as evidenced by the PLO and HAMAS and al Qaeda and ISIS. Although, each terrorist organization possesses a unique goal they often employ similar strategies.

Terrorism is a dynamic term; however, it exhibits some constant traits. Terrorists employ violence to refute an established authority. Michael Rubin, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and former Pentagon official notes that, “In every era…weak forces utilize surprise, technology, innovative tactics, or what some might consider violations of military etiquette to challenge the strong.” Terrorist groups in the Middle East instil fear by attacking those who are not associated with Islam. They force others to adhere to their strict religious beliefs and promote instability to further their political aims. Terrorists often employ the strategic use of violence to voice their grievances and their desire for a new world order. Terrorists do not adhere to conventional warfare and are often weak actors who resort to violent tactics. Religiously motivated terrorism is commonly used by rebel groups in the Middle East to refute Western Authority. Ultimately, terror is a tool which strategically promotes fear and instability.

Bibliography

"Al-Qaida timeline: Plots and attacks – World news – Hunt for Al-Qaeda | NBC News". MSNBC. Retrieved 1 May 2017.

"Casualties: U. S. Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Wounded in Wars, Conflicts, Terrorist Acts, and Other Hostile Incidents". Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved 15 July 2012.

Byman, Daniel. “Comparing al Qaeda and ISIS: Different goals, different targets.” Brookings. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May, 2017.

"Direct Action, Prison, and Sabotage: An Interview with the Animal Liberation Front's Peter Young", Animal Voices: on Vancouver Co-op Radio, CFRO, 100.5FM. Accessed 28 April, 2017. http://animalvoices.org/2012/09/direct-action-prison-and-sabotage-an-interview-with-the-animal-liberation-fronts-peter-young/

Tilly, Charles. “Terror, Terrorism, Terrorists.” Sociological Theory 22.1 (March, 2004): p 1.

Rubin, Michael. “Asymmetrical Threat Concept and its Reflections on International Security” Presentation to the Strategic Research and Study Center (SAREM) under the Turkish General Staff Istanbul, (May 2007), p 1. Accessed 4 Feb. 2017.