war on terrorism?

Question

How effective is terrorism as a weapon against western society? why would someone resort to terrorism?

Answer 1

Terrorism refers to a strategy of using violence, or threat of violence to generate fear, cause disruption, and ultimately, to bring about compliance with specific political, religious, ideological, or personal demands. The targets of terrorist attacks typically are not the individuals who are killed, injured, or taken hostage, but rather the societies to which these individuals belong. Terrorism is a type of unconventional warfare designed to weaken or supplant existing political landscapes through capitulation or acquiescence, as opposed to subversion or direct military action. The broader influence of terrorism in the modern world is often attributed to the dramatic focus of mass media in amplifying feelings of intense fear and anger.

Causes

Naming/Labeling - Name is a crucial step in social definition. Persons, acts, or situations are in themselves neither good nor evil. They come to be seen and defined through everyday social life. It is not uncommon for offensive, defamatory labels to be lightly imposed on persons, acts, or situations on the basis of a loose fit. During crisis, defamatory labels are tossed around arbitrarily and may fix on anyone who gets in the way. Many of the times the labeler employs the label with the intent to destroy careers, enhance political and national causes. The naming/labeling accomplishes creating an enemy.

Legitimization - In order for the labels to adhere to the targeted party, they must be validated. This is accomplished through a formal hearing, trial, inquisition, or tribunal presided over by presumed experts. Though it can be accomplished through different ways, those that actually work must meet several conditions: The ceremonies must be held on sacred ground at sacred times, with all actors in special costumes. All actors must assume an attitude of solemn respect toward the proceedings. The accusers must show themselves to be motivated by patriotic concern. The tribal values must be made very clear in the course of the testimony. The accusers must show that nothing in the victim's life is accidental, and that they are purely evil. This action type must be rhetorically counterpoised against its opposite of self-evident virtue and dignity, which the accusers must be examples of.

Myth-Making - Mythmaking refers to the provision of accounts of defamed persons showing why it is 'inevitable, necessary, and predictable' that they act as they do. In essence, it is a 2nd way of validating the defamatory label. Many times it is done by documenting how the victim's case fits the official "scientific" theory of evil in vogue at the time.

Sedimentation - Once the label has adhered through word and myth, it can be transferred from one person to the next, and continued through generations. The experience becomes available to those who have never had it, which what is meant by sedimentation. The original act of labeling gets detached, and becomes evolved into parts of everyday "stock of knowledge" of society. What was once a label that was thrown out arbitrarily to a loose fit, becomes with each retelling common sense, or what everyone knows to be true about the enemy.

Ritual - Ritual refers to the dramatization of the myth's principal themes, which allows it to re-imprinted in one's mind continually. In its enactment the truth of the myth is reconfirmed, allowing it not to be forgotten.

I hope this will answer your question.

Answer 2

Well, considering up to the late 1800's the Boston Tea Party and the Revolutionary War was considered a terroristic act, it can be effective.

Terrorism is the breakdown of democracy or communication between tightly groups factions in society. When groups feel oppressed they will lash out. They feel there is no true leadership, hence a leader rises forth amongst them.

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Depending on who wins the battle of the wills they will get one of the two titles.

In a dark sense, I have alittle respect for what these people are doing. Consider this... they are a small band of under-trained (compared to military groups), under funded, and generally under staffed (leadership wise) men and women who will DIE for a cause that may not win out... How many Americans would do that? Europeans? What would this world be like if we had MORE people with this level passion (not the conflict, but the passion and faith in something against all odds)? I mean the world would CHANGE, maybe for the better... maybe for the worst... but it would change...

It was said "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself". America really hasn't had the fear of being taken over by physical means... Seriously, Pearl Harbor and 9/11 are the only two real attacks on U.S. soil in 100 years... we are talking 3-4 generations of Americans here... NOBODY REMEMBERS WHAT WAR IS LIKE WHEN IT'S IN YOUR BACKYARD!!!

So, you get these couple guys with a grudge and a point to make on the world, especially the idealistic and naive Americans who feel safe in their cars, homes, airplanes, subways, eating McDonald's and sipping Starbucks on the way to work... then one morning these guys get a couple planes and crash them into buildings, offices, a farmer's field... and we all get scared. Suddenly the fight IS in our backyard... OH MY GOD!!! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!!

Our response was typical and proportionate from an stereotypical American perspective.

Your question was "Does Terrorism work as a weapon against Western Society?"... I think all Americans truly know that answer...

Answer 3

The Terrorrists hate Western Civilization as well as Israel. They are very effective in rattling us. Their sole mission in life is to destroy Americans and Jews. An internal al Qaeda memo stated that the WTC was chosen because its where most of the Jews worked. Terrorrism was very effective against America. 19 men killed almost 3,000 innocents. The worst thing about the current Israeli crisis is that Israel isn't battling a nation, they're fighting a hidden group sheltered by a nation. The world condemns Israel for killing civilians, however, if the UN pressured Lebanon into making Hezbolloah turn over the captured soldiers, Israel would stop attacking anyone. While Israel's attack may have been disporportinoate, they fail to realize that Hezbollah has killed over 800 innocent Israelis over the past 10 years. Israel just wants to get its soldiers back, whereas Hezbollah wants to totally destroy Israel.

Answer 4

Well, just look at how terrorism has changed our lives. We can't travel without seeing the effects of 9/11. Everywhere we go, we have to watch what we do or say because if someone overhears us say anything about a "bomb," we can be reported to the police as a possible terror suspect. The middle-eastern immigrants have it worse than anyone else. They are constantly profiled and assumed to be terrorists. Their plan has worked. They instilled fear into our everyday lives, and that's how terrorism works.

Answer 5

Seems to be very effective at scaring us. Our government can now take our freedom. Extremists here can take over and say that anyone who opposes them is a terrorist.

Soon, the whole world will be run by religious fanatics, fulfilling Einsteins prophecy:
"I don't know how World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

Answer 6

add one part "alternate perspective" on the value of a single life

add one part "cannot engage armed forces head on due to lack of weaponry and/or manpower"

add two parts "improvised weapons and explosives"

add 10 parts "fanaticism"

voila! Terrorism.

Is it effective? Well. If your goal is killing people who had little or nothing to do with whatever religious/foreign policy you're blabbing about, sure.

Answer 7

It depends on what the act is trying to accomplish. Bin Laden wanted to have a Holy War and now he has one so it was 100% effective for him.

Answer 8

Terrorism is not in anyone's benefit. Desperation might be the reason why someone blows himself up though he knows he's going to hell.

Answer 9

The whole strategy to this kind of war is to bankrupt your enemy. America seems pretty broke to me.