International Terrorism
1. What were the motives of Ted Kaczynski for his bombings?
Like many domestic terrorists, Ted Kaczynski articulated both a motive and a philosophy behind his acts of criminal violence and rebellion. Unlike many domestic terrorists, Kaczynski’s articulation for his motives and for the underlying philosophies which propelled his behavior are complex, studied, comprehensive, and intelligently expressed. To explain, concisely, the extensive observations, indictments, and incriminations evident in Kaczynski’s manifesto “Industrial Society and Its Future” and in his other writings and recorded comments in letters and testimony, would be a very difficult task, indeed. However, if need be, his motives could be described simply as the desire to bring about the end of industrial society. And also of human society as it presently exists: “We call ourselves anarchists because we would like, ideally, to break down all society into very small, completely autonomous units” (Gibson, 2004, p. 76). However, Kaczynski also observes that a more immediate goal is actually the only one which is achievable and therefore should be read as his motivation. That goal is “the destruction of the worldwide industrial system.
Through our bombings we hope to promote instability in industrial society, propagate anti-industrial ideas and give encouragement to those who hate the industrial system” (Gibson, 2004, p. 76). So, in brief, Kaczynski’s motivations for the bombings could be said to have been: to encourage the destruction of worldwide industrial society by setting an example which would ultimately lead to the fragmentation of human society into “small, autonomous units.”
2. Why did the Aryan Republican Army resort to bank robbery? How did they rationalize this behavior?
The Aryans believed that they required a “white homeland in the Pacific Northwest” (Atkins, 2002, p. 23) and began the string of bank robberies to finance this hoped-for homeland. Also feeding into their crime-spree which ultimately resulted in the theft of more than a quarter-million dollars, was the belief of the Aryans that by committing bank-robberies, they were striking a blow at the “Jewish-controlled banking system” (Atkins, 2002, p. 23) which of course, to the Aryan Republican Army, represented Zionist world-domination. So, by their reckoning, the robberies were a blow struck on behalf of righteousness.
3. How have domestic extremist groups used Christianity as a justification for their actions?
Most importantly, domestic extremist groups have used Christianity as a justification for their actions by injecting racism into scripture and by likewise attempting to infuse their race-based hatred with a spiritual cause. Those of note, such as the “Christian Identity views of Wesley Swift” (Atkins, 2002, p. 44) contend that “a race war is imminent with whites in a battle against blacks, Catholics, communists, and Jews.” (Atkins, 2002, p. 44) For these types of extremists, Biblical interpretations become “historical” justifications for racism and hate”The dark races, or “mud people,” are products of whites mating with animals. Nonwhites are to be tolerated like animals, but they are not to be allowed to pollute the blood of white races.” (Atkins, 2002, p. 62)
4. Do you believe the terrorist attacks of 9/11 could have been prevented with better cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies?
Most obviously, a better cooperation between state, federal, and local law enforcement could likely have prevented the tragedy of the September 11 terrorist attacks (Michael). However, such a supposition rests also on the admission that these failing were ultimately the responsibility of the executive branch of government — to set in motion precisely such a better state of cooperation — and it is equally obvious that this mission was not fulfilled by the Clinton or Bush administrations prior to 9-11. In fact, prior to 9-11, “The key feature of the Counterterrorism Security Group’s plan was a $200 million CIA program to support the enemies of bin Laden’s ally in Afghanistan, the Taliban” (Piszkiewicz, 2003, p. 125) who in fact are now regarded as allies of those who led the attacks on America.
5. What are the significant differences between international jihad groups and domestic extremist groups?
Domestic extremists are defined as those who seek to “persuade or dissuade the government or people of their home country using violent means that intend to frighten or coerce, ranging from threats to outright acts of violence such as kidnapping, beatings, or murder” (Ronczkowski, 2004, p. 31) which is very similar to the definition most people would offer of a terrorist in general, including global jihadists. However, while both jihadists and domestic extremists may resort to terrorism, only international jihadists can lay claim to state-sponsorship and global ambitions. In modern times, “terrorism is associated with large groups, such as Hizbollah, capable of working independently from a state, with members considered to be violent religious fanatics or extremists” (Ronczkowski, 2004, p. 25). meanwhile, the domestic extremist i s much more likely to work in small, less efficiently organized and less highly-funded groups which may share underlying philosophies but do not enjoy widespread cultural sympathies and state sponsorship.
References
Atkins, S. E. (2002). Encyclopedia of Modern American Extremists and Extremist Groups /.
Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Gibson, D. C. (2004). Clues from Killers: Serial Murder and Crime Scene Messages. Westport,
CT: Praeger.
Michael, G. (2003). Confronting Right Wing Extremism and Terrorism in the USA. New York:
Routledge.
Piszkiewicz, D. (2003). Terrorism’s War with America : A History /. Westport, CT: Praeger. R
Ronczkowski, M. R. (2004). Terrorism and Organized Hate Crime: Intelligence Gathering,
Analysis, and Investigations. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
