State-Sponsored Terrorism - Research Paper Example

Sponsored Terrorism Introduction sponsored terrorism is governmental acts that support terrorist organizations and actions despite ensuring there is tight security in countries. These governmental acts, which support terrorist, include funding, weapons, training camps, media outlets, sanctuary, and smuggling assistance. There are so many debates on whether there is a variation between terrorism and employment of specific tactics, which cause fear to human beings and terror by government authorities, which normally refers to legitimate (Hoffman 40). States and nations often use violent acts to influence part of the countries’ population, or depend on coercive features of the nation institutions. Just like the notion of equating the actions of the military forces with terror mentioned above, somepeople liken any governmental powers and authorities over a certain population as similar to terrorism. This view toooutlines what is terrorism and what is not terrorism, as it raises results over intentions. Suppression of violence by personnel of law enforcement may in fact make some of the groups (rioters) into fear and violence, other than the intention of protecting the larger civil law (Hoffman 41). On the other hand, the privilege of legitimized riots’ abuse of governmental authorizes refers to a crime. However, there are situations when state government becomes involved and associated with terrorism, or even use terror approach to achieve the goals of individual or government rulers (Hoffman 205). Most frequently, terrorism relatesto groups or “non-state actors”, which take no part in a sovereign regime. However, nation’s internal security forces sometime use terror for repressing disagreements, and military or intelligence organizations carry out actions of terror intended to further a nation’s diplomatic or policy efforts abroad (Hoffman 234). A government that belongs to the United States sometimes may apply terror actions and terrorism while trying to increase the rate of their engagement of American forces. Oppression through terrorism over the indigenous groups in countries may take place against internal insurrection and dissent that America might exploit (Sharma 180). Armed forces special operations tools and nations intelligence operatives might carry on terrorist actions against United States interests in theater and in abroad countries as far as their capabilities can allow. Finally, violence against the United States homeland might be under control of state sponsored terrorism groups or even funded domestic proxies (Sharma 357).Three varying ways that a state can involve in the use of terror attacks include State or government terror, nation engaging in terror, and nation sponsorship of terrorist groups. State or governmental terrorism sometimes refers to “terrorism from above”, whereby a certain state government terrorizes its own citizens to repress or control them.The government may decide to implement some policies that citizens disagree by force an act that people refer to as government or state terrorism (Sharma 191). These terror actions normally comprise acknowledgement of government’s policies, and involves the use of government institutions such as police, judiciary, military, and some other governmental agencies. Amendments of legal permits, torture, killing, property destruction in recreation of government policiesleads to terrorism. After assumingsupremacy, Nazi policy aimed at destructing the state's enemies and the consequential intimidation among the rest of the country’s population. The 1930s Stalin’s “purges” are examples showing the use of the state’s machinery to terrorize populations (Sharma 182). The methods Stalin used to comprise such terror actions as pushing family members or friends of any suspect enemies who were against the regime, fixed show trials for all opponents, and extra use of military or police force against the opposing population. Saddam Hussein is one of the politicians who used chemical weapons to fight against his country’s Kurdish population with no particular intervention or expansion of police bodies regarding his use of extra force against his own people. Saddam Hussein used these chemical weapons in a governmental terror act believed to be a means of accomplishing his goals (Sharma 228). State involvement in terror These refer to activities whereby a government official carries out an operation using terror actions. Such activities aid in fighting against another nation’s interest, private group, its own population, or individual viewed as a threat to the nation (Byman 209). In most cases, such activities remain to be terrorism conducted by government official sanction, though such sanctionis rarely approved openly. Such government officials promote terrorism activities despite the claim that they tighten security in thecountries. These governmental officials fail to understand that terrorism activity lead to lose lives of many innocent people (Byman 107). The government normally has the responsibility of compensating those who lose their loved one during such terror activities since terrorism groups cannot take the role of doing such compensations. Historical State sponsored terrorism include Iranian and Soviet assassination campaigns, which were against rebels who had fled overseas, and North Korean and Libyan intelligence functioning downing airliners on worldwide flights (Byman 270). Another type of state sponsored terrorism is “war veterans” or “death squads” These are unofficial acts carried out by functionaries of official of a certain regime. Such officials include members of police bodies or intelligence institutions. These operations aid on intimidating or repressing members of populations within their country (Griset, Pamala, and Sue 52). While such police official or any other governmental agencies will fail to claim these activities, and cover up their participation, it is frequently set clear that such official are acting for state’s matters such as security. Keeping such actions, which are unofficial, enables the authorities deniability hence avoiding the necessity of amending judicial and legal processes to justify such oppression (Griset, Pamala, and Sue 152). This differs from “pro-state” terrorism, conducted by persons or s group of people who are not governmental officials and who has no official encouragement. Although pro-state terror sometimes results to positive results for the authorities, their criminal employment approach and official standing lack can result in punishment and disavowal of the terrorist, in depended on the morality of the government in question (Griset, Pamala, and Sue 111). State sponsorship of terrorism State sponsorship of terrorism also refers to “state supported” terrorism. This type of terrorism occurs when government bodies provide training, supplies, and other types of support to terrorist or “non-state” terrorist organizations (Maitra 17). One the main type of governmental support of terrorism is the provision of physical basing or safe havenfor terrorist organizations.Another crucial type of support service is false information, not for individual identification such as passport and personal identification documents, but also for weapons purchase and financial transactions (Maitra 90).Anothertype of state support of terrorism isa failure of government to deny terrorists’ access to training institutions and expertise not available to such groups with no extensive resources. Finally, the expansion of diplomatic services and protection, such as diplomatic passport, immunity from extradition, the use of protected groups and embassies, and diplomatic bags for transporting harmful weapons and explosive devices are effective for some terrorist groups (Maitra 52). An example of state sponsored terrorism is in Syrian regime’s support of Hizballah and Hamas in Lebanon. Syrian protection and resources influence large training establishments in the valley of Bek’aa. On a smaller and highly circumspect scale, the eastern part of German Stasi highly provides support for terrorism and safe-haven to Red Army Faction members (RAF) and neo-fascist organizations whose operations took place in West Germany. The most wanted members of the group were later found to be East Germany residents after the Berlin Wall fall in the year 1989 (Maitra 114). Countries with terrorism presence Terrorism has for long period found refuge in many nations and most cases such terrorist groups work hand in hand with the country’s government official who support these terror operations (Maitra 143). Currently, many nations continue with the attractions of terrorist for conspiring their actions and training. These countries, which support terrorism actions do not attempt to disassociate fully from terrorism ties established, in some times continue with the provision of tactical support to the terrorists, and often use terror groups to achieve broader objectives and goals. Discussed below are examples of countries, which support terrorism (Maitra 144). Afghanistan- Afghanistan was the center of Islamic terrorism groups in the year 1990. Under control of the radical Taliban regime, several Islamic terrorist groups such as Sunni used Afghanistan as their appropriate operational and training base (Griset, Pamala, and Sue 52). Al Qaeda was the most famous terrorism organization, which could recruit terrorists from Pakistan, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and others around the globe, training them in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some of the current terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan include Al Qaeda, Lashkar-I-jhangvi, Al-jihad, Islamic Group, Harkat-UL-Mujahideen, Armed Islamic Group, and the Movement of Uzbekistan (Griset, Pamala, and Sue 340). All these terrorism groups persist in Afghanistan since the country’s government supports terrorism in one or the other. Terrorist actions in Afghanistan remain to be nightmares for many residents hence increasing the rate of deaths due to terror attacks. Iran- Iran’s regime is another government that supports the actions of terrorists in the country and abroad. The country’s government has been of long duration a sponsor of Islamic terrorism groups including claims that the country also supports subversive activities in the country. Islamic RGC (Revolutionary Guard Corps), and intelligence and security ministry involved themselves in the support and planning for terrorist events and continued to use several groups of terrorists to achieve their goals and objectives (Byman 108). Many terrorist groups such as HAMAS, Lebanese, Ahmad Jibril’s PELP-GC, and Palestine Islamic Jihad have been putting efforts in funding, training, safe haven, and weapons in Iran. Iraq-Since the leadership of the United States to the invasion of Iraq, the nations have been a victim of terror attacks hence affecting the lives of the country’s citizens (Byman 39). The release of US troops to Iraq has attracted Islamic terrorists from around the World and Middle East. People believe that Al-Qaeda has led to the establishment of toehold in Iraq along with several splinter organizations. Other terrorist organizations in the country include Al-Faruq Brigades, Ansar, Al-Mahdi Army, Jaysh Muhammad, and many others (Byman 284). Pakistan- Pakistan for a long time has been training and planning center for Islamic terrorists, which operates in South Asia. After the establishment of Operation Enduring Freedom in Pakistan, millions of terrorists who were from Afghanistan and others killed, and those who escaped find their refuge in Pakistan (Byman 169). The Pakistan government being aware that these refugees were terrorists allowed them permission to settle in the country.This can be termed as supporting or sponsoring terrorism activities since the government could not have allowed such a thing to happen. Pakistan and its ISI for a long timehave been accused of providing training and giving funds to the terrorist groups, which operates in Mumbai and India Kashmir. The links of Pakistani and terrorist groups are clear from Pakistani terrorist groups operate openly without fear and have distinct Indian and Afghan focus (Byman 195). The massive leakage of United States intelligence data about Wiki leaks website showed Pakistani’s complexity with terror groups, which the aim of establishing a false condition of deniability.Pakistani terrorist groups align with Al-Qaeda, situated in the country and these groups have been responsible for the continued terrorism attacks taking place in Afghanistan and expanding to North America and Europe. Some of the terror groups in Pakistan include Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al-Qaeda, Jamaat, Muslim United, and many others (Byman 197). These terrorism groups in Pakistani leads to several terror violence, which lead to property destruction, killings, and as a result decreases economic growth of the country hence negatively affectingthe living standards of the residents. Syria- Syria is another country whose government supports terrorism actions in the country and internationally. Even if Syria is trying to reduce its presence from Lebanon, the country continues to fund, support, and host several terrorist groups such as Iraqi and Palestinian terrorist organizations. PIJ, HAMAS, the famous Front of Palestine-General Command Liberation, and Front of the Palestine Liberationcontinue to organize their operations in Syria (Sharma 384). Sudan- Finally, Sudan has been for a long time being a victim of terror attacks due to its government supports of terrorist organizations and activities. Sudan government has allowed the country to be a safe haven and a training hub for terroristgroups mainly international and radical Islamic terrorist groups (Sharma 124). The famous groups identified to have run from Sudan is the Party of God (Hezbollah), Abu Nidal Group, Palestine Islamic Jihad, HAMAS, and many other small terrorist groups, which operate regionally in Eritrea, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tunisia. All these countries discussed above have been supporting operations of the terrorist group indirectly or directly (Sharma 127). Conclusion According to the content of this essay, one can conclude that, many countries’governmentssupportterrorist activities through the policies they implement. A government that belongs to the United States sometimes may apply terror actions and terrorism while trying to increase the rate of their engagement of American forces (Hoffman 234). However, there are situations when state government becomes involved and associated with terrorism, or even use terror approach to achieve the goals of individual or government rulers. Most frequently, terrorism relates to groups or “non-state actors”, which take no part in a sovereign regime. However, nation’s internal security forces sometime use terror for repressing disagreements, and military or intelligence organizations carry out actions of terror intended to further a nation’s diplomatic or policy efforts abroad (Hoffman 56). Oppression through terrorism over the indigenous groups in countries may take place against internal insurrection and dissent that America might exploit. Armed forces special operations tools and nations intelligence operatives might carry on terrorist actions against United States interests in theater and in abroad countries as far as their capabilities can allow (Hoffman 57). Finally, violence against the United States homeland might be conducted by state sponsored terrorist groups or even funded domestic proxies. Three varying ways that a state can involve in the use of terror attacks include State or government terror, nation engaging in terror, and nation sponsorship of terrorist groups. Work Cited Byman, Daniel. Deadly Connections: States That Sponsor Terrorism. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2005. Print. Griset, Pamala L, and Sue Mahan.Terrorism in Perspective. Thousand Oaks [u.a.: Sage Publ, 2003. Print. Hoffman, Bruce. Inside Terrorism. New York: Columbia University Press, 2006. Internet resource. Maitra, Gautam. For Whom the Bell Tolls: America or the Jihadists?S.l.: Trafford On Demand Pub, 2009. Print. Sharma, D.P. The New Terrorism: Islamist International. New Delhi: APH Publ, 2005. Print. Read More