Helen+A.+,+Annalise+W.

= = =__Terrorism __=


 * __Background Information__**

Throughout history, terrorism has been extremely difficult to define because of the many different reasons and ways it is performed. Terrorism can be looked at as a crime to most people, but then a religious duty to others. Usually terrorism happens in a conflict where the weaker side feels they must do something outrageous in order to get through to the more powerful side. An example of this would be the al-Queda attacks on the United States. Many terrorists feel that their violence has a great purpose and must be done in order to prove something.

Because many different countries have different goals the definition of terrorism widely depends on who is defining it. The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as "the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological." The Defense Department feels there are three key elements in terrorism; violence, fear and intimidation. They feel that it is mostly politically motivated violence and that the terrorists typically want an audience. The United Nations feels that the "direct targets of violence are not the main targets" in acts of terrorism. They think that terrorists are actually targeting a much larger audience.

The overall strategy of terrorists has been understood to be that they want to influence and draw the attention of the world to their cause and reasoning. Terrorists plan their attacks for years at a time and target things that have the greatest symbolic influence to what they oppose. For example, in 1983, Middle Eastern terrorists bombed the Marine Battallion Landing Team Headquarters in Beruit. Although it only killed around 20 Marines, it actually impacted the American government and the American public.

There are many different categories of terrorist groups that are present today. These are separatist, ethnocentric, nationalistic, revolutionary, political, religious, social, domestic or international. The most popular of these are religious or revolutionary. All of these groups are described as "radical" because none of the acts performed are done with in the status quo of society.


 * __Interview__**

We had a written interview with a man named Michael Nacht. For a decade, he was a Professor in public policy at the University of California Berkely. He is now the assistant secretary of defense for global strategic affairs. He proved to be extremely useful in our e-mails back and forth. He basically reinstated the information that we had learned about the background information on terrorism. He specifically said that terrorism is much more than a simple criminal act. It has a deep, premeditated intention that is politically or religiously motivated, in most circumstances. Mr. Nacht said that terrorism is the most prestigious and strategious type of criminal activity that exists.

__**Links**__

-This link shows the history of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda and their attacks. -Al-Qaeda's management philosophy has been described as "centralization of decision and decentralization of execution." -The name comes from the Arabic noun //qā'idah//, which means foundation or basis and can also refer to a military base.
 * __[]__**

[] - This link focuses on the ties that Al-Qaeda shares with the U.S. and other countries. -It also shows the other terrorist organizations that Al-Qaeda is involved with.

This is the flag of Al-Qaeda. The text is called the //Shahada//, which is the sacred Islamic text. This is: "The Islamic declaration of belief in the unity of God and the prophethood of Mohammed."

__**Catholic Social Teaching**__

This theme of Catholic Social Teaching was most closely related to terrorism. Disarmament is the reduction or the abolition of the military forces and armaments of a nation, and of its capability to wage war. This relates to terrorism because this is what we as people should try to do. It is also our job to promote peace. This world of terrorism is not going to stop without peace and disarmament.
 * 8. Promotion of Peace and Disarmament**

Peacemaking is not an optional commitment. It is a requirement of our faith. We are called to be peacemakers, not by some movement of the moment, but by our Lord Jesus. The content and context of our peacemaking is set, not by some political agenda or ideological program, but by the teaching of his Church.
 * Quote:**

__**Quotes relating to Terrorism**__


 * //[]

Terrorism is one of the most brutal forms of violence traumatizing the international community today; it sows hatred, death, and an urge for revenge and reprisal//.** : terrorism has now become a shadowy network of political collusion. Terrorism has become a part of everyday life, and there are no limits or rules to the moral aspects of it.


 * //Terrorism is to be condemned in the most absolute terms//. //It shows complete contempt for human life and can never be justified, since the human person is always an end and never a means//.** : Acts of terrorism go against all rights of humanity. There is nothing legal or moral about terrorism.


 * //It is a profanation and a blasphemy to declare oneself a terrorist in God's name.//** : God, and not only man, is exploited by a person who claims to possess the totality of God's truth rather than one who seeks to be possessed by the truth.


 * //No religion may tolerate terrorism and much less preach it//.** : Instead of promoting terrorism, religions should be making peace with eachother.

__**How can we help to stop terrorism?**__

-The only way to stop terrorism is to stop using terrorism to fix this issue. Bombing methods are not going to solve anything. Instead of promoting these violent acts, we must meet in peacemaking environment and mindset and teach promote nonviolence. Violence is only going to bring about more violence, and this has to end.

-As Jesus was being dragged to his death, he said "Those who live by the sword, will die by the sword." His words exactly are explaining what is going on in our world today. People are violently killing eachother and nothing is being resolved through it.

-We must reach out to the needs of others in order to end this violent nation we have created. Promoting justice and peace is the only way this world of terrorism will end.