The following post was originally written as response to a classroom assignment:
| Title | Assignment 2 – Terrorist Threats in Historical Perspective |
|---|---|
| Due | Oct 14, 2012 11:55 pm |
| Number of resubmissions allowed | Unlimited |
| Accept Resubmission Until | Feb 14, 2013 11:55 pm |
| Status | Submitted Nov 7, 2012 5:00 pm – late |
| Grade Scale | Points (max 100.0) |
| Modified by instructor | Oct 22, 2012 9:54 am |
| Instructions:
Writers such as Walter Laqueur and Agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Department of State all have defined the term “Terrorism”. As you read of the different groups do you see similarities in these groups’ definitions? Research the definitions of terrorism as outlined by Laqueur, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of State, etc. After reading the various definitions in our reading for this week, provide the respective definitions and discuss the similarities and differences between them.
Your work should be a minimum of 500 words and should utilize APA formatting.
Save your work as a Microsoft Word or WordPerfect document entitled:
“CMT2 YourLastName.doc” (i.e., CMT2-Jones.doc) and upload as your Week 2 written assignment.
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Week 2 Assignment
Jeremiah Palmer (4145412)
AmericanPublicUniversity
EDMG249
Christian Kazmierczak
11/07/2012
“There are more than a hundred definitions [for terrorism]; but none is wholly satisfactory,” states Walter Laqueur, historian, commentator and author of numerous works on culture, terrorism and warfare.
“No all-embracing definition will ever be found for the simple reason that there is not one terrorism, but there have been many terrorisms, greatly differing in time and space, in motivation, and in manifestations and aims.” (Laqueur, 2009)
The FBI seems to agree with Laqueur, stating “There is no single, universally accepted, definition of terrorism” (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2012). However the bureau continues in stating that it sees terrorism as “Terrorism is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (28 CFR 0.85).
Elsewhere in US codes and law, terrorism has been defined as:
- violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or of any State; intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping (31 CFR 561.312; 31 CFR 594.311; 18 USC § 2331).
- premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents (22 USC § 2656f).
Further definition is given to terrorist groups, international terrorism and domestic terrorism have also been given as:
- the term “terrorist group” means any group practicing, or which has significant subgroups which practice, international terrorism (22 USC § 2656f).
- the term “international terrorism” means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country (22 USC § 2656f).
- the term “domestic terrorism” means activities that involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States (18 USC § 2331).
Each of these definitions vary slightly, yet commonly, we can see that terrorism is defined as some means of violent or forceful demonstration or action against a certain population; frequently the acts are carried to exact influence or coercion. As is noted in the U.S. definitions having a basis in criminal activity, these acts are typically illegal, as they usually violate federal or state-level laws. Differences in the definitions are slight, with regard to whether the acts are “premeditated”—though arguably, many would be—and whether the acts are politically motivated. Arguing whether an act would be politically motivated or carried out in the name of religion or other concept is moot, as all are simply schools of thought.
References
Act of international terrorism, 31 CFR 561.312
Crimes and Criminal Procedure: Terrorism, 18 USC § 2331
Department of State: Annual Country Reports on Terrorism, 22 USC § 2656f
Federal Bureau of Investigation (2012). Terrorism: 2002-2005. Retrieved November 7, 2012 from: http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/terrorism-2002-2005
Federal Bureau of Investigation: General Functions, 28 CFR 0.85
Laqueur, W. (2009). Terrorism: A Brief History. Web. Retrieved November 7, 2012 from: https://web.archive.org/web/20210428105107/http://www.laqueur.net/index2.php?r=2&id=71
Terrorism, 31 CFR 594.311
“EDMG340 Assignment 2” was originally published on J. Palmer
J. Palmer 