Middle East Terrorism:
Agitations and Justifications
Compare and contrast the
developmental history, structure, organization, and tactics of two or
more Middle Eastern terrorist movements. How do these groups reflect or
relate to the main sources of conflict and terrorism in the region?
White notes that there are three
primary sources of Middle Eastern Terrorism.
Israel
/ Palestine Issue - Who should control Palestine?
Sovereign
United Arab Kingdom - Who should rule the Arab World?
The
Iranian Revolution - Sunni vs. Shiites
Given that these are the main
sources in the region; I chose to review three terrorist organizations,
each principally driven by one of the distinct causes above.
Justification through Religion
Before I go on to discuss specific
organizations, I feel that it is important to understand the basic framework
of religious based terrorism:
Literalized Myth-
"History is filled with stories of people who have literalized
myths, taken sacred stories out of context, terrorized in the name
of their deity and expressed spirituality through violent actions
. . . . Unfortunately, this is part of terrorism."
(White, 2004)
Higher
Moral Authority - Religious terrorists answer only to "God"
and are not constrained by traditional social morals and rules. They
are on a mission from god.
Eschatology
- "There are people who would like to violently usher in the
new age, and an eschatological philosophy is tailor-made for individual
terrorists who have rejected both the material world and the norms
of social behavior." (White, 2004)
Demonization
- "In Religious wars, enemies do not simply represent people
with opposing views. They represent the spawn of the devil . . . .
It is difficult to kill other human beings regardless of cause, but
in a religious war, one does not destroy human beings. One destroys
evil." (White, 2004)
Violent Terrorism is Non-Denominational
- "Violent extremism can become Islamic, Jewish or Christian
Terrorism . . . . this is the reason terrorist analysts use terms
like Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu , and Buddhist terrorism."
Church and State-
It is key to remember that there is no separation between church and
state in Islamic countries."Once Islam is attacked, each Muslim
knows his personal duty is to fight. He needs no one else's authority,
not even his parents."
(Scheurer, 2004)
Purity
- Religious fundamentalists of all persuasions tend to oppose the
existing social order in the name of religious or racial purity.
Religion is the primary flash
point for virtually all terrorism in the Middle East. The themes mentioned
above represent recurring themes that help to incite, justify and perpetuate
the terror and conflict in the Middle East.
Overview of Sample Terrorist
Organizations
Type
Jewish Fundamentalism
Name
Kach and Kahane Chai
Description
"Militant Judaism is based on the
biblical notion that the Hebrew God has promised to restore the state
of Israel. The theology is racist, eschatological, and linked to conquest
and possession of territory [Greater Israel]."
(White, 2004)
Tactics/
Activities
Organize protests against the Israeli Government.
Harass and threaten Palestinians in Hebron
and the West Bank.
Have threatened to attack Arabs, Palestinians,
and Israeli Government officials.
Strength
Unknown
Location
Israel and West Bank
settlements, particularly Qiryat Arba' in Hebron.
Aid/Finance
Receives support from sympathizers in the
United States and Europe.
Established by Usama Bin Ladin in the late
1980s to bring together Arabs who fought in Afghanistan against
the Soviet invasion.
Helped finance, recruit, transport, and train
Sunni Islamic extremists for the Afghan resistance.
Current goal is to establish a pan-Islamic
Caliphate throughout the world by working with allied Islamic
extremist groups to overthrow regimes it deems "non-Islamic"
and expelling Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries.
Issued statement under banner of "the
World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders"
in February 1998, saying it was the duty of all Muslims to kill
US citizens--civilian or military--and their allies everywhere.
Tactics/
Activities
Plotted to carry out terrorist operations
against US and Israeli tourists visiting Jordan for millennial
celebrations. (Jordanian authorities thwarted the planned attacks
and put 28 suspects on trial.)
Conducted the bombings in August 1998 of
the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,
that killed at least 301 persons and injured more than 5,000
others.
Claims to have shot down US helicopters and
killed US servicemen in Somalia in 1993 and to have conducted
three bombings that targeted US troops in Aden, Yemen, in December
1992.
Linked to the following plans that were not
carried out: to assassinate Pope John Paul II during his visit
to Manila in late 1994, simultaneous bombings of the US and
Israeli Embassies in Manila and other Asian capitals in late
1994, the midair bombing of a dozen US trans-Pacific flights
in 1995, and to kill President Clinton during a visit to the
Philippines in early 1995.
Continues to train, finance, and provide
logistic support to terrorist groups in support of these goals.
Strength
May have several hundred
to several thousand members. Also serves as a focal point or umbrella
organization for a worldwide network that includes many Sunni Islamic
extremist groups such as Egyptian Islamic Jihad, some members of
al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and
the Harakat ul-Mujahidin.
Location
Al-Qaida has a worldwide
reach, has cells in a number of countries, and is reinforced by
its ties to Sunni extremist networks. Bin Ladin and his key lieutenants
reside in Afghanistan, and the group maintains terrorist training
camps there.
Aid/Finance
Bin Ladin, son of a billionaire Saudi family,
is said to have inherited approximately $300 million that he
uses to finance the group.
Al-Qaida also maintains moneymaking front
organizations, solicits donations from like-minded supporters,
and illicitly siphons funds from donations to Muslim charitable
organizations.
Source of Agitation
"US Support of Israel that keeps
Palestinians in the Israeli's thralls.
US and other Western troops on the
Arabian Peninsula
US occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan
US pressure on Arab energy producers
to keep oil prices low.
US support for apostate, corrupt and
tyrannical Muslim governments."
(Scheurer, 2004)
Radical Shia group
formed in Lebanon; dedicated to increasing its political power in
Lebanon and opposing Israel and the Middle East peace negotiations.
Strongly anti-West and anti-Israel. Closely allied with, and often
directed by, Iran but may have conducted operations that were not
approved by Tehran.
Tactics/
Activities
Known or suspected to have been involved
in numerous anti-US terrorist attacks, including the suicide
truck bombing of the US Embassy and US Marine barracks in Beirut
in October 1983 and the US Embassy annex in Beirut in September
1984.
Elements of the group were responsible for
the kidnapping and detention of US and other Western hostages
in Lebanon.
The group also attacked the Israeli Embassy
in Argentina in 1992 and is a suspect in the 1994 bombing of
the Israeli cultural center in Buenos Aires.
In fall 2000, it captured three Israeli soldiers
in the Shabaa Farms and kidnapped an Israeli noncombatant whom
it may have lured to Lebanon under false pretenses.
Strength
Several thousand supporters
and a few hundred terrorist operatives.
Location
Operates in the Bekaa Valley, the southern
suburbs of Beirut, and southern Lebanon.
Has established cells in Europe, Africa,
South America, North America, and Asia.
Aid/Finance
Receives substantial
amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives, political,
diplomatic, and organizational aid from Iran and Syria.
Non-Denomiational
(e.g. Not limited to 1 Religion)
Jewish
Islamic
Islamic
Church and State
(Do not recognize separation)
Maybe
Yes
Yes
Purity
Yes
Yes
Yes
Conclusion
Regardless of the organization
and their "motivations," the sources of Middle East terrorism
are all intertwined and overlapping creating arguably the most volatile
region on earth. Almost all of these movements are significantly influenced
by the justifications for religious terrorism mentioned above. I feel
that the turmoil and terrorism in the Middle East are best understood
when compared and contrasted against the major sources of agitation and
justifications, than against any one organizations individual mission
statement or actions.
