1. Terrorist objectives, methods, and their
psychological impact

2.  To affect political, social, economic, or religious
change through the use of fear and intimidation
◦ unable to accomplish objectives through
legitimate or democratic process
◦ unable to directly confront their opposition
militarily

3.  Terror involves inflicting fear and
anxiety on the victim(s)
 Terror can be either goal oriented
or it can be for any unnecessary
reason.

4.  PRINCIPLE: A special type of principle
followed by the group of people.
 A person does not follow terrorism, but his
path is called terrorism after the judgement
done by other third parties.

5.  It stops the developmental activities.
 Social disorder.
 Invites Violence.
 Creates Fear.
 Mass destruction.
 Affects economical.
 Death of innocent people.

6.  To instill “terror” in target audience
◦ by using the most terrifying means available, including
 kidnapping, assassination, bomb blasts, etc.
◦ by affecting many more people than directly affected by
physical actions
 media and government-response play a critical role in the
impact of terrorism

7.  Hard targets
◦ high-ranking government officials
◦ military bases
◦ fortified police stations (e.g., Northern Ireland)
 Soft targets
◦ individual civilians
◦ shopping areas
◦ schools
◦ cultural, sporting, & religious venues

8. Terrorist tactics probably work best against
democracies, where targeting civilian populations
has the greatest effect (i.e., civilians elect the
government which sets the policy the terrorists
wish to change)

9. 209
Killed
1,202
physically injured
9,000+ psychologically ‘injured’
10,000’s terrorized

10. 178
Killed
1000’s
physically injured
10000’s psychologically ‘injured’
100,000’s terrorized

11. 3,025
Killed
1,000’s
physically injured
10,000+ psychologically ‘injured’
A nation terrorized

12.  Response to terrorism is determined by social
cognition and other dynamics
◦ Madrid train bombing (11 March 2004)
 elect new government
 withdraw troops from Iraq
◦ 9/11 attack on America
 solidify government support
 Bush doctrine: hunt & kill

13.  What are the methods of terrorists? (e.g. targeting
civilian populations)
 Why do terrorists use the tactics of terrorism?
End of Part I

14. Considerations for developing effective counter-
terrorist strategies

15.  “One person’s terrorist is another person’s
freedom fighter”
◦ organized terrorism is seldom rooted in mental illness
 there is often some legitimate goal for the terrorist
organization
 there is usually a broad support base
◦ but very few terrorists are open to compromise

16.  Most terrorists seek national or regional change
 Some terrorists seek global change
◦ most have specific, tangible objectives (even if irrational)
◦ a few have apocalyptic motives

17.  Their demands usually involve radical change in
the status quo
◦ uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland in
the south
◦ formation of the state of Palestine
◦ overthrow of the secular Egyptian government
◦ establishment of an Islamic state in Iraq & removal of
Western influence

18.  The more one ‘invests’ in a cause, the stronger
that cause is psychologically defended
 The transition from activist to terrorist (and the
willingness to use violent methods) involves
psychological changes that tend to dichotomize
the ‘world’

19.  Show the terrorists to be irrational fanatics who
threaten global peace and stability
 Develop allies who have a common interest in
neutralizing the terrorist threat
 Develop a clear multinational plan for combating
terrorism

20.  Minimize social-political conditions that spawn
terrorism
 Isolate the terrorists
 Divide political factions
 Rally allies against terrorism
 Harsh and severe retaliatory action
 Temper media coverage

21.  There are many cases in the 20th Century
where terrorist tactics were effectively used
to force change or to right an injustice
◦ Republic of Ireland (although the Northern
1921 counties remain in dispute)
◦ State of Israel (although national boundaries
1948
remain in dispute)
1950s ◦ De-colonization & sovereignty of African nations
&
1960s

22.  Diplomacy when possible, but
◦ unlikely to work in most situations
◦ reinforces terrorist tactics
 Undermine terrorist support
 Direct physical confrontation
◦ hunt and kill
◦ neutralize “breeding grounds”
 Temper media coverage

23.  Conditions have changed radically
◦ national sovereignty is no longer the primary force behind
many terrorist organizations
◦ some terrorist organizations seek global changes extending
well beyond their social, political, economic, or religious
spheres of influence (e.g., a “New World Order”)

24.  Diplomacy when possible, but
◦ unlikely to work in most situations
◦ reinforces terrorist tactics
 Undermine terrorist support

25.  Diminish social-economic conditions that present
legitimate grievances
◦ food and economic aid
◦ combat social, religious, economic, and political
suppression
 Provide alternative, rational plan for resolving the
conflict

26.  Neutralize support base
◦ foreign governments
◦ popular/civilian sympathizers
◦ other terrorist organizations

27.  Exploit differences and conflicts among
individual factions of the terrorist movement
 Consider supporting factions willing to adopt a
non-terrorist approach to achieving objectives

28.  Diplomacy when possible, but
◦ unlikely to work in most situations
◦ reinforces terrorist tactics
 Undermine terrorist support
 Direct physical confrontation
◦ hunt and kill
◦ destroy or neutralize “breeding grounds”

29.  Minimize social-political conditions that spawn
terrorism (first priority from list of responses)
 Covert operations when feasible
 Direct military action when appropriate (e.g. Bush
doctrine)

30.  Diplomacy when possible, but
◦ unlikely to work in most situations
◦ reinforces terrorist tactics
 Undermine terrorist support
 Direct physical confrontation
◦ hunt and kill
◦ neutralize “breeding grounds”
 Temper media coverage

31.  The media are (mostly unwilling) allies of the
terrorists
 The media need to self-censor coverage and not
just push the most sensationalistic story
◦ confirm story & factual information
◦ present clear & balanced perspective
◦ consider impact of coverage

32.  Terrorism is a global problem that is not going
away without direct action
◦ terrorism affects many people far removed from the
terrorist activity
◦ terrorists seldom compromise
 An effective response to terrorism requires
decisive and often harsh action, uncharacteristic
of the traditional American Psyche

33.  What terrorist groups were active in previous
generations? Did they achieve their goals?
 What are some of the major terrorist groups active
today? Which are the most serious threat
worldwide?