Both as concept and practice, ‘terrorism’ is wider than ‘terror’. It is ideology, ethos, practice, planning, strategy and politics motivating the operations of terror.
Inclusive of the elements of ‘terror’ and the ‘terrorist’, making of terrorism (see diagram below) can be explained as follows:
Perfect, Fighting and Proselytising Religion/Ideology:
As Terrorism is extreme and strategic form of launching Religious Fundamentalism, it builds on the foundation a Perfect, Fighting and Proselytising Religion/Ideology. Terrorists believe in a religion (jehadi) or an ideology (Maoist or Naxalism) fanatically. They entertain the idea that God has made revelation, given commands and directions to them either directly or through some Prophet or Messenger. As such, they have to be obeyed by all persons irrespective of time and place.
All non-believers and renegades have to be brought to that faith, by all means. Everyone can attain Bliss, Grace, Heaven or Divine Favour when he himself acts on and compels others to follow these tenets. The believer is assured of all pleasures here and hereafter.
Those who do not obey are, in larger interest, liable to be punished by them. Their faith or ideology demands complete faith, total surrender and strict adherence. It requires undivided loyalty to it. It has to be accepted by all irrespective of differences of race, caste, colour, social status, language and culture. To give a concrete reality to their faith, use of force or violence is taught in various type of terrorist camps
Strong History, Large Community, and Local Support:
Usually terrorism carries a very strong past in which their forefathers have been rulers of vast territories and possessed robust cultures.’ Their number is usually over millions and millions inhabiting many states and countries/ On this basis they are able to establish links, where the terrorists commit acts of terrorism, with the local people, get support, intelligence, and information from fellow-believers. Elements of some Islamic governments and their armies also help and direct them.
Religious/Ideological Call and Training:
There must be abundance of human resources. Availability of a large number of persons, particularly young, poverty-stricken and illiterate is necessary.’ They should be willing to undergo training in terrorism. This training is imparted as part of religion or ideology. It is actually conducted under the cover of religion. Senior terrorists, actually militiamen train the youngsters in various madarsas, training camps and institutions to die for the (cause) religion or mission. Preachers train non-believers and elements hostile to their religion or ideology. Senior leaders are authorised to shoot immediately any hesitant, renegade or disobedient terrorist.
No person is permitted to seek shelter of a guru, prophet or preacher from any other different religion. If someone so dares he can be killed on the spot. Every terrorist is taught to consider it as his prime duty to kill the person raising doubt or objection in their goals, guidance and training. Overwhelmed by such feelings the terrorist unhesitatingly engages him in the job of killings. Osama bin Laden found him ordained by the Holy Quran to target even the citizens. Being the taxpayers of a particular tyrannical government he considers them as potential combatants.
Terrorism as Ultimate and Best Strategy:
Use of terror or terrorism is now the only strategy available to the religious fundamentalists. It is the only alternative available to the fundamentalist people and governments. They cannot exercise religious fundamentalism in old ways. They resort to terrorism as they find themselves to be incapable, constrained and ill equipped to launch an ‘open’ war for the cause of religion.
Extremists among them do not have big armies, heavy weapons, legitimacy to rule, and sources to engage the enemy in the battlefield. The world community, under international law does not permit them to launch fighting.
They are also constrained by their own governments if they operate for them. Such governments for various reasons and as a matter of policy avoid direct confrontation or war with the enemy, which may be a nation, state or community living in adjacent area. Supporting governments of such terrorists either lack resources or avoid using WMDs for fear of sanctions from international community. In place of conducting a full-fledged war, they find use of terrorists and terrorism much cheaper, easier, more effective and efficient in outcome.
Political Goals:
In all acts of terror, the perpetrators, also known as militants and jehadis, kill innocent persons who are totally unknown to the havoc being inflicted on them. Innocent people are killed, their public or private property destroyed, women and girls raped and buildings blasted. All these acts are considered by the political leaders and administrators as simple ‘killing’ of innocent people. But the use of term ‘terror’ for such heinous acts is deceptive as it creates confusion and deceit.
It hides the failure and irresponsibility of persons, the security force and rulers in not protecting the victims of terrorism. These terrorists, therefore, must be clearly and openly called as murderers and killers, arsonists, vandals and the like. They are criminals of the first order, and need an outright condemnation and elimination.
Their acts are not simply acts of ‘terror’ or of violence, but in fact, by proxy, are political acts and war. Theirs are ‘heinous crimes’ operated by the political leaders or their military commanders through the terrorists to realise specific goals. The terrorists kill men, women and children not out of grievance against them but to warn the attacked people or their government that they have to do what the terrorists want and demand, or leave their people, territory, and governance to them.
Through the acts of terror, they make attempt to compel enemy-governments to change policy, planning, disrupt economy, and cause communal riots and bloodshed. The ‘government’ includes local, provincial or central governments, including their security agencies, police, and military and civil officers. These terrorists are supported, prompted and helped by their governments, communities, groups, and organisations. The people who live in neighbouring and other countries, but submit to their ideology, religion and nationality give intelligence, financial, and material support to the terrorist outfits. They also get recruits from them.
Non-state Actors: Beyond the Purview of UN:
Mostly the terrorists are non-state actors spread over in different parts of the world. Before the world community the governments sheltering, guiding and protecting them refuse to accept the responsibility for their heinous acts, even their presence or residence in their territory. Links or connections with them are kept secret. Funds, material, weapons, etc. are made available to them through covert agencies. The terrorists make use of the most sophisticated weapons.
In fact, they are in search of nuclear bombs and WMDs. Some of the governments like Iran are on the verge of making them, and the other like Pakistan, is already in possession of them with mindset to use them. Obviously, no people or their army can fight against this type of terror: the human bomb. Timing, place, mode of attack and type of weapons being used are not known beforehand. One cannot prepare oneself in advance. Islamic diehards residing almost everywhere render sympathy, shelter, and help to them.
Guidance from Fraternal Governmen
t, Intelligence Agencies and the Army:
The terrorists are supported, guided and protected by the ambitious political leaders and military rulers. The latter operate the wires of terrorism. They manage to send them to kill innocent people, set their houses on fire, cause disturbance, spread communal tension and the like. The terrorists are asked to do so at times in the name of freedom or avenge some injustice or in the national interest.
Their government manages to dispatch them as infiltrators, human bombs, fifth columnists and terrorists. In view of the worldwide call to fight against terrorism, it is not possible for them to enter into an “open, large-scale and all out war. Islamic governments or organisations often use terrorism as a political weapon. Under international pressure, ambitious political leaders and military rulers resort to it under the cover of defending religion, seeking Justice or realising Freedom.
At home, when the mission of terrorism is realised, the terrorists are given a warm welcome and treated like heroes and martyrs. They are given blessings that they would be rewarded with entry in heaven. Verses from the Holy Books are recited to support and boost their deeds in large gatherings.
Financial Sources for Use of Sophisticated Weapons:
The terrorists are not short of funds, weapons or manpower. They get recruits from all over the world’ Terrorism is fully motivated and taught by preachers of ‘Terror’, and, practiced by the terrorists. Islamic terrorism, earlier, was financed by are three Saudi princes, seven banks and eight charitable groups. Some of the charitable groups are the International Islamic Relief Organisation, the Muslim World League, the SAAR Foundation and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth. Bin Laden has prepared an encyclopaedia for the terrorists of Al Queda to fight the holy war by spreading terrorism and use all means.
Bin Laden claims Islamic rights over Pak N-bombs also:
“We supported the Pakistani people and congratulated them when God was gracious enough to enable them to acquire the nuclear weapon. We regard this as one of our rights, our Muslim rights.” He is actively looking to pile up more nuclear weapons as well as chemical and biological weapons. His intended targets usually are the US, Britain and Israel. In fact, all states, openly or clandestinely, using Terrorism, are engaged in this venture. A few of them do not even fear or care for total annihilation, as they consider it divinely ordained. The terrorists now claim to be ready to repeat many 9/11 blasts in US, UK, and many European countries. India has been their victim several times.
Youth, Poverty and Ignorance:
After profiling more than 50 Muslim suicide bombers, serving in the Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jehad, Ariel Merari, a Tel Aviv University psychologist concluded that there is no single psychological or demographic profile of suicide terrorists. “Intense struggles produce several types of people with the potential willingness to sacrifice themselves for a cause. Their motives range from religion, patriotism, hatred of the enemy to a profound sense of victimisation.”
A BBC report states that suicide bombers are typically unmarried men in their late teens and 20s. They act on the belief that they will go straight to paradise after the deed is over. Recruits are picked from mosques, schools and religious institutions and are reassured that their families will be looked after. The mentors of Terrorism exploit utter poverty, ignorance and fanatic faith of the youth and downtrodden people of Muslim communities.
Exploitation of Public Grievances, Legal Flaws and Ineffective Judicial Process:
An another requisite and source of Terrorism is abundance of Public Grievances, Legal Flaws and ineffective, expensive and dilatory Judicial Process in the enemy country. The ordinary common laws of a country provide ample opportunity for conducting war of terrorism. It is very difficult to apprehend the terrorists, both before and after they commit the crime of terrorism. Their methods are slow, dilatory, costly and ineffective.
By the time the case is decided the terrorist may commit several fresh terrorist acts. After a few years of judicial proceedings, one terrorist might be sentenced to death. But before that happens, his accomplices would have killed hundreds of innocent men, women and children. Loopholes of ordinary law are fully exploited by the terrorist links.
September 11 bomb attacks terrorised the American mind and changed the country forever. Terrorism is able to play havoc because of weaknesses and malfunctioning of democratic governments. Countries like India often like to wait and wait, and owing to lack of courage or fear of Muslim reaction avoid taking action.
They have information and sources to deal with it but refrain from taking action in right direction. Both war against terrorism and implementation of ordinary laws and human rights as means to prevent it hardly go together. Containment of terrorism demands full or partial sacrifice of some rights, conveniences and privileges in varying degrees.
Terrorists already know the inability of some states to govern their societies, handle their security and military measures, and protect their territories from serving as sanctuary to terrorists and criminal organisations.
At the international level, even legal action becomes more difficult in view of absence of extradition treaties, sovereignty of states, administrative incapability and lack of cooperation from concerned governments. The terrorists know all these weaknesses of national and international communities, and exploit them fully.