DEFINITIONS OF TERRORISM

Terrorism has been described as both a tactic and strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable action. Definition may depend on whose point of view is being represented. Terrorism has often been an effective tactic for the weaker side in a conflict. As an asymmetric form of conflict, terrorism projects coercive power with many of the advantages of military force at a fraction of the cost to the terrorist. Terrorism is a means -- a method -to an objective.

Terrorism.The calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological. (U.S. Department of Defense) Terrorism constitutes the illegitimate use of force to achieve a political objective when innocent people are targeted. (Walter Laqueur) Terrorism is defined here as the recurrent use or threatened use of politically motivated and clandestinely organized violence, by a group whose aim is to influence a psychological target in order to make it behave in a way which the group desires. (C. J. M. Drake) The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political

CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM
Some commentators on terrorism appears to agree that the roots of contemporary terrorism lie in the swell of student unrest during the 1960s when there was a global trend towards dissatisfaction with the establishment. The campus riots of that the time enabled the truly minorities to operate with a degree of impunity. The use of violence to make a point, to prick the social conscience, became increasingly popular. It became an accepted form of expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo.

This new terrorist, as it has been called has been influenced by a number of factors:
The media 2. Communication 3. Potential for super-violence
1.

ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT
Levels of Commitment
Typically, different levels of commitment exist within an organization. One way of display is four levels of commitment consisting of passive supporters, active supporters, cadre, and leaders.

Figure 3-2. Typical Levels of Organization

Leaders Operational Cadre

Active Supporters Passive Supporters

Leaders
provide direction and policy; approve goals and objectives; and provide overarching guidance for operations. Cadres are the active members of the terrorist organization. Active Supporters are active in the political, fundraising, and information activities of the group. Active supporters are fully aware of their relationship to the terrorist group but do not normally commit violent acts. Passive Supporters are typically individuals or groups that are sympathetic to the announced goals and intentions of an overarching agenda, but are not committed enough to take an active role in terrorism.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Cellular Foundation
The cell is the smallest element at the tactical level of terrorist organization. Individuals, usually three to ten people, comprise a cell and act as the basic tactical component for a terrorist organization. One of the primary reasons for a cellular configuration is security.

Two basic methods define organizational structure of a terrorist group:

Hierarchical Structure
Hierarchical structure organizations are those that have a welldefined vertical chain of command, control, and responsibility. Hierarchical organizations feature greater specialization of functions in their subordinate cells such as support, operations, intelligence.

Networked Structure
The effectiveness of a networked organization is dependent on several considerations. The network achieves long-term organizational effectiveness when cells share a unifying ideology, common goals or mutual interests. A difficulty for network organizations not sharing a unifying ideology is cells can pursue objectives or take actions that do not meet the goals of the organization, or are counterproductive. In this instance, the independence of cells fails to develop synergy between their activities and limits their contribution to common objectives.

TYPES OF STRUCTURE Chain Networks

Each cell links to the node next in sequence. Communication between the nodes is by passing information along the line.

Hub and Star

A variation of the hub is a wheel design where the outer nodes communicate with one or two other outer cells in addition to the hub. A wheel configuration is a common feature of a financial or economic network.

All-Channel
All nodes are connected to each other. The network is organizationally flat indicating there is no hierarchical command structure above it. Command and control is distributed within the network. A transnational terrorist organization might use chain networks for its money-laundering activities, tied to a wheel network handling financial matters, tied in turn to an all-channel leadership network to direct the use of the funds into the operational.

THREE GROUPS OF TERRORISTS

NATIONAL TERRORISTS
This is terrorist who operates and aspires to win political power within a single nation.

TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST
This terrorist who operates across national borders, whose actions and political aspirations may affect individuals of more than one nationality.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST
A terrorist who is controlled by, and whose actions represent, the interests of a sovereign state. .

TERRORIST MOTIVATIONS AND GROUP CLASSIFICATION

Motivation categories describe terrorist groups in terms of their goals or objectives.

Motivational Categories

Separatist. Separatist groups reach for a goal of separation from

existing entities through independence, political autonomy, or religious freedom or domination.

Ethnocentric. Ethnocentric groups see race as the defining characteristic of a

society and a basis of cohesion.

Nationalistic. The loyalty and devotion to a nation and the national

consciousness place one nations culture and interests above those of other nations or groups is the motivating factor behind these groups.

Revolutionary. These groups are dedicated to the overthrow of an established

order and replacing governance with a new political or social structure.

IDEOLOGY INFLUENCE
Groups with secular ideologies and nonreligious goals will often attempt highly selective and discriminate acts of violence to achieve a specific political aim. For terrorist groups professing secular political, religious, or social motivations, their targets are often highly symbolic of authority: government offices, banks, national airlines, and multinational corporations with direct relation to the established order. Likewise, they may conduct attacks on representative individuals whom they associate with economic exploitation, social injustice, or political repression. While extremist religious groups also use much of this symbolism, there appears to be a trend to connect attacks to greater physical devastation and suffering.

Ideological Categories

Political

Political ideologies are concerned with the structure and organization of the forms of government and communities. Right Wing. These groups are associated with the reactionary or conservative side of the political spectrum, and often are associated with fascism or neo-Nazism. Left Wing. These groups are usually associated with revolutionary socialism or variants of communism such as Maoist or MarxistLeninist. Anarchist. Anarchist groups are anti-authority or anti-government, and strongly support individual liberty and voluntary association of cooperative groups.

Religious

Religiously inspired terrorism is on the rise. This is not a new phenomenon. Religious extremism couches terrorism with distorted interpretation of theological dogma and can mask secular objectives as holy writ, infallible guidance, and nonnegotiable responsibility. One commentary states, of terrorist organizations. Furthermore, religiously-oriented organizations account for a disproportionately high percentage of attacks and casualties.

Social

Often particular social policies or issues will be so contentious among individuals or groups that beliefs incite extremist behavior and terrorism. This form of social terrorism is often referred to as single issue or special interest terrorism.

Phase of a Terrorist Incident

During this phase, the terrorists plan the event, normally based on their intentions, short-ranger objectives and long-term strategy and on information and experience. During this phase, secrecy and operations security are of utmost important for success.

Pre-incident phase

It is the point of no return. It is the event that marks the beginning of the operation: it is marked by movement of the objective, followed by perhaps the detonation of a bomb in an ambush or the physical taking of hostages.

Initiation phase

It may well follow the initiation phases as in a single bomb incident, or may last for days or weeks as in a live hostage situation. The climax marks the end of the incident.

Climax phase

It is as important to the terrorist as the pre-incident phase. It is the time when the terrorists regroup and engage in self-criticism.

Post-incident phase

Common Tactics of the Terrorist

The terrorist uses a wide array of tactics and techniques in conducting terror. Tactics are as broad and diverse as the resources of the terrorist cell and the imagination of the group leader. The terrorist will utilize tactics, forces, and weapons specifically tailored to a particular mission. Terrorist operations are individualistic in that each is planned for a specific target and effect. A terrorist relies upon prior planning and reconnaissance to counter and overmatch the target. If changes to the target or unexpected conditions render success unlikely, the terrorist may cancel the operation and return later or choose a different target and continue his planning and attack process.

FORMS OF TERRORISM
Threat or Hoax
A terrorist cell can use threats to coerce or preclude actions by a targeted individual or population. Threats and hoaxes can dull the effectiveness of preventive or countermeasures when a targeted individual or population loses situational awareness of an actual terrorist target or disperses finite assets against many possible threats.

Arson
Arson uses fire to damage, sabotage, or destroy property. Arson is most often used for symbolic attacks and economic effects.

Sabotage
Sabotage is the planned destruction of the enemys equipment or infrastructure. The purpose of sabotage is to inflict both psychological and physical damage. This can result from an incident creating a large number of casualties or from a severe disruption of services for the population.

Bombing
Bombs are a favored weapon for terrorists. Bombs are highly destructive and can be easily tailored to the mission, do not require the operator to be present, and have a significant physical and psychological impact. Bombs have a significant historical record, and a particular place in early anarchist and revolutionary thought, where dynamite was viewed as the equalizing force between the state and the individual.

Kidnapping
Kidnapping is usually an action taken against a prominent individual for a specific reason. The terrorist cell conducts detailed planning, especially regarding movement of the kidnapped individual. The kidnapped victim is moved to a location controlled by the cell. The group makes demands and is often willing to hold a victim for a significant time.

Hostage Taking
Hostage taking is typically an overt seizure of people to gain publicity for a cause, gain political concessions, political asylum, release of prisoners, or ransom. Many times the terrorists will take hostages with the intent to kill them after they believe they have fully exploited the media coverage from the situation.

Hijack-Seizure
Hijacking involves the forceful commandeering of a conveyance. Although normally associated with planes, it can also include naval vessels or other craft. There are many purposes to hijacking, such as hostage taking activities, obtaining a means of escape, or as a means of suicide.

Raid or Ambush
A raid permits control of the target for the execution of some other action. The kidnapping or assassination of a target that has a security force can often require a raid to overcome the defenses. Successful conduct of these type attacks requires extensive preoperational surveillance and detailed planning. An ambush is a surprise attack characterized by violent execution and speed of action. The intended objective may be to cause mass casualties, assassinate an individual, or disrupt hostile security operations.

Assassination
An assassination is a deliberate action to kill specific individuals, usually VIPs such as political leaders, notable citizens, collaborators, particularly effective officials. The terrorist group assassinates people it cannot intimidate, people who support their enemy, or people who have some symbolic significance for the enemy or world community. Terrorist groups often refer to these killings as punishment or justice as an attempt to legitimize their actions.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Listing a category as weapons of mass destruction acknowledges a broad range of capabilities that specific terrorist groups would like to acquire. Once acquired, this capability would allow for catastrophic results through numerous delivery means. These type weapons include chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives.

Aircraft Threats
A man portable air defense system (MANPADS) is a significant threat in the hands of terrorists. There are a number of surfaceto-air weapons that terrorists can use to attack aircraft. Weapons can be as simple as a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) normally used in surface-to-surface combat or as sophisticated as a Stinger or similar Igla air defense missile.

Maritime Threats
Terrorist attacks against maritime targets are fairly rare and constitute only two percent of all international incidents over a 30 year period and entry into the twenty-first century. There is a history of maritime terrorism and maritime authorities worldwide are increasingly anxious about terrorist attacks on both ports and ships.

Suicide Tactics
Suicide tactics are particular methods of delivering a bomb or conducting an assassination. The tactic can be defined as An act of terror, employing an explosive or incendiary device that requires the death of the perpetrator for successful implementation.

TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PROFILE:

Abdurajak Janjalani Brigade (AJB)

Mother tongue Name: n/a Aliases: n/a Bases of Operation: Philippines Date Formed: January 1999 Strength: Group is inactive Classifications: Other Financial Sources: Unknown Founding Philosophy:
Named for Abdurajak Janjalani, the fallen founder and leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the Abdurajak Janjalani Brigade was a short-lived splinter of the ASG entirely comprised of ASG members. The group was led by brothers Anih and Itin Sailani, both commanders in the ASG. The exact whereabouts of the Sailani brothers is currently unknown, as both managed to escape prison in 2002. In its history, the AJB has only been responsible for one terrorist incident, a small armed attack in January 1999 that targeted two villages in Basilan province and resulted in no injuries or casualties.

Current Goals:

Since this attack (and several others known to have been perpetrated by the ASG) occurred shortly after the death of Abdurajak Janjalani at the hands of the Philippine military in December 1998, reprisal was seen to be the main motive. It is likely that the AJB was created for ASG members to honor their fallen leader and not meant to be an organized splinter faction of Abu Sayyaf. As such, the group is assumed to have disbanded after the attack and its members reabsorbed into ASG proper.

Key Leaders
n/a

Related Groups
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) -- Founding Group

New People's Army (NPA)

Mothertongue Name:
n/a

Aliases:
Bases of Operation: Date Formed: Strength: Classifications: Financial Sources:

n/a
Philippines March 29, 1969 Approximately 16,000 members Communist/Socialist Currently derives funding from contributions of supporters and extortion of local businesses and foreign companies; Procures weapons from raids on police and military; China sponsored the group from 1969 to 1976

Founding Philosophy: The New People's Army (NPA) was created as the
armed wing of the outlawed political organization, the Communist Party of the Philippines, Marxist-Leninist (CPP-ML). From 1969 to 1976, the People's Republic of China provided material support to the New People's Army. Following the cessation of China's support, the NPA went through a five-year period of weakness. By the early 1980s, NPA had found new funding sources and was rebuilding. The group remains a significant threat even today. The NPA tactic is to continue a prolonged armed conflict that will eventually overthrow the Filipino government and replace it with a communist/socialist state. Specifically, NPA employs two primary strategies. First, the group targets foreign investors and foreign-owned companies. The NPA aims to entirely drive out foreign investment with its intimidation tactics. Additionally, the NPA benefits from this tactic monetarily through the extortion of the foreign businesses. The second NPA tactic is targeted assassinations of Filipino citizens who are critical of the New People's Army.

Current Goals:

The New People's Army engaged in several rounds of government peace talks in the 1990s. The peace talks did not successfully halt the NPA's terrorist activities. Today, the group is considered a significant threat to the Filipino government.

Key Leaders
Lagman, Felimon Sison, Jose Maria

Related Groups
Free Papua Movement (OPM) -- Supported Cause Kabataang Makabayan (KM) -- Other Affiliation Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (RHB) -- Enemy

Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)

Mothertongue Name: Aliases:
al-Harakat al-Islamiyah, Bearer of the Sword Philippines 1991 Greater than 200 members Nationalist/Separatist, Religious Largely self-financed through ransom and extortion; Suspected to receive support from Islamic extremists in the Middle East and South Asia

Bases of Operation: Date Formed: Strength: Classifications: Financial Sources:

Founding Philosophy:

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), or Abu Sayyaf, is a radical Islamic terrorist group active in the Southern Philippines and Malaysia. Its stated goal is the creation of an independent Islamic state encompassing parts of Southern Thailand, the island of Borneo, the Sulu Archipelago, and Mindanao, areas where Moro Muslims, a minority ethnic group in the Philippines, make up the majority of the local population. The ASG is known to target Filipino and Western Christians in the Southern Philippines, though the group's influence is thought to have expanded to the regional level recently. The ASG was founded in 1991 by radical Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members who objected to the MNLF's negotiations with the Philippine government. Due to the ASG's predisposition toward violent tactics, which include high-profile bombings, armed attacks, assassinations, and beheadings, it is seen to be more radical than its mother group. Abu Sayyaf, which literally means "father of the sword" in Arabic, sees itself as the rightful inheritor of the legacy of armed Moro resistance in the region and the torchbearer in the struggle for the establishment of an Islamic state in Southeast Asia.

Abu Sayyaf is largely self-financed through extortion rackets and kidnapping-for-ransom schemes. Allegedly, the ASG also receives a small level of logistical and material support from other extremist groups active in the region. The ASG provides safe haven for terrorist leaders from other groups and has local infrastructure in place to funnel money to plan and support attacks. It is also known to have substantial links to Jemaah Islamiya (JI) and factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that have yet to surrender to Philippine authorities.

Abu Sayyaf committed itself to Osama bin Laden's war against the "Jews and Crusaders" in February 1998. Later that year, Janjalani was killed by Philippine security forces and replaced by his younger brother Khadaffy Janjalani. After the death of the elder Janjalani, the group underwent a period of transition as Khadaffy Janjalani consolidated his power within the organization, battling other contenders such as Galib Andang (aka Commander Robot) and Abu Sabaya for influence.

Current Goals:

The initiation of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the MNLF (and subsequently the MILF) has served to divide the greater Moro resistance movement into those who seek a political resolution and those who use violence to achieve their objectives. The ASG has been strengthened by the addition of rogue MNLF and MILF elements dissatisfied with their respective groups' political approaches.

Despite the concurrent efforts of the Philippine government and US counterterrorism advisers, the Abu Sayyaf Group remains a very active threat in the region and one of the main obstacles to peace in the Southern Philippines.

Key Leaders
Andang, Ghalib Igasan, Yasser Janjalani, Abdulrajik Janjalani, Abubakar Khadaffy Sahiron, Radulan Sali, Jr., Jainal Antel

Related Groups
Abdurajak Janjalani Brigade (AJB) -- Splinter Group al-Qaeda -- Ally Jemaah Islamiya (JI) -- Ally (Suspected) Laskar Jihad -- Ally Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) -- Founding Group

Jemaah Islamiya (JI)

Mothertongue Name: Aliases:
n/a Islamic Community, Islamic Group

Bases of Operation:
Date Formed: Strength:

Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore

Around 1993 Greater than 300 members

Classifications:
Financial Sources:

Religious
Charities; Fundraisers; Domestic and international businesses operating as fronts for JI; alQaeda

Founding Philosophy:

Jemaah Islamiyah, which means "Islamic Community," was formed in Johor, Malaysia around 1993. While Jemaah Islamiyah did not exist as a violently brutal terrorist entity until 1993, the group's roots began to take shape years earlier. In 1973 two Muslim clerics, Abdullah Sungkar and Abu Bakar Bashir, formed a pesantren in Solo, Indonesia called Pondok Ngruki. At this time, the men were supporters of Darul Islam, a conservative Islamic movement. In addition, the two clerics had formulated the radical goal of creating an Islamic state in Indonesia.

In 1978, Sungkar and Bashir were arrested in Indonesia for subversive activities. Upon their release, the men left Indonesia for Malaysia and settled in the Indonesianexpatriate community in Johor. No longer living in Indonesia, the two men now expanded their radical goals beyond the original objective of an Islamic state in Indonesia. Sungkar and Bashir now supported the creation of an Islamic state across Southeast Asia to include Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, southern Thailand, and southern Philippines. Upon the eventual formation of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) around 1993, the group actively advocated the use of violence to attain its goals. By the late 1990s, JI was recruiting and training extremists for the purpose of terrorist actions in Southeast Asia. Jemaah Islamiyah has shown the ability and willingness to inflict significant casualties on innocent civilians (including tourists) and those they believe to be allied with "Western interests." JI was linked to several bombings in 2000. The terrorist violence, often brutal and fatal, continues to this day. On October 12, 2002, Jemaah Islamiyah inflicted the horrific Bali bombings, killing over 200 people.

Current Goals:

In August 2003, JI leader Hambali (real name: Riduan bin Isomoddin) was captured. While the arrest surely damaged the group, JI remains an active and significant terrorist threat in Southeast Asia. The group is suspected of having a role in a triple-suicide bombing which struck Bali on October 1st, 2005, killing 20.

Key Leaders
Dujana, Abu Sufaat, Yazid Zarkasih

Related Groups
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) -- Ally (Suspected) al-Qaeda -- Ally Komando Jihad (Indonesian) -- Shared Members Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) -- Ally Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) -- Ally (Suspected) Mujahideen KOMPAK -- Rival Nusantara Islamic Jihad Forces -- Shared Members