Show A View Ie From r 0 Gaza az a. a t f By Yousef Contributing Writer Why do people resort to such violent violent violent vio vio- lent acts like bombing assassinations assassinations assassinations and hijacking How do individuals individuals individuals indi indi- and organizations justify these acts of terror These acts can be described as terrorist actions Terrorism is a growing international al problem During the last twenty years new terrorist groups have surfaced all over the world Governments have had little success success success suc suc- cess in their attempts to resolve issues in which terrorism is used A major problem in discussing discussing discussing dis dis- dis- dis cussing terrorism is establishing a generally accepted definition Terrorism can be described as the unlawful use of fear or force to achieve certain political economical cal or social aims Because it is so hard to define organizations like the United Nations have had great difficulty in drawing up policies against terrorists c Te Terrorist oris actions may be e.- e. i I- I committed by a single sIngle IndIvIdual individual certain group or even govern govern- ments Most terrorists unlike criminals claim to be dedicated to higher causes and do not believe in personal gain The methods used in terrorism include threats bombings the destruction of property property prop prop- erty kidnapping the taking of hostages executions and nations There are many reasons why political groups attempt to bring radical change through ter ter- People are often frustrated with their position in society They may in some way feel persecuted or oppressed because of their race religion or they feel exploited by bya a government Any group using terrorist actions have complex and powerful reasons to engage in such activities The use of terror to achieve goals is not a new idea in history One early terrorist group the assassins flourished in the and centuries The assassins assassins assassins assas assas- sins used murder to dispose of their enemies and the name has come corrie to be used for one who kills for political or religious reasons Government nt sponsored terrorism dates from dates from FrODi after the French revolution tion in 1789 During this period known as the Reign of Terror the revolutionaries executed thou thou- sands of citizens who were considered considered considered con con- enemies And while many groups have engaged in terrorism throughout history the anarchist political groups in the century ti are most remembered These groups were especially strong in Italy France Spain and the United States but their roots lie within the Russian people and their movement Anarchists believe by nature people are good and with the right circumstances people can live in peace They oppose the centralized states and T think they are oppressive Modern Modem terrorism retains some of the elements of terrorism At the same time it differs because it varies to a wider extent in many of its methods Today terrorism terrorism terrorism ter ter- poses a threat to innocent people and is considered a serious threat to democratic forms of gov gov- One characteristic is the practice of taking hostages in order to force their demands upon a particular government Should L. L the demands not be met the hostages then face a variety of methods even death Many people believe terrorism terrorism terrorism ter ter- ter- ter became global in the late y In 1970 over acts of terrorism were recorded world world- wide By 1979 the number of terrorist terrorist ter ter- incidents for one year increased to Politically unstable countries such as r Afghanistan or Pakistan offer frequent frequent frequent fre fre- 5 quent opportunities for terrorism Lebanon which has been torn tom by years of civil war has been the headquarters of numerous terrorist attachments In addition to terrorist groups groups governments today also engage in terrorism Countries I sometimes use terrorism as a substitute substitute substitute sub sub- for traditional warfare by providing money training and weapons to terrorist groups whose activities serve their national aims Governments may also plan to carry out terrorist actions themselves themselves themselves them them- selves although they usually lIy delegate delegate delegate dele dele- gate responsibility for the actions It is unlikely we will ever eversee see an end to terrorism Terrorists ar are not born but created as today's issues develop into the conflicts of tomorrow A 0 Yousef is a native of the Gaza 1 in the tie Strip occupied territory of Israel He has witnessed terrorism firsthand in his homeland |