The New Terrorism

Paper Summary:

The paper refers to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks to show how the terrorism today is characterized by increased sophistication, mainly in terms of technology and communications. The paper then discusses the counterterrorism process that likewise must involve communications and communications-related technologies as well as human resources. The paper emphasizes that by understanding the political and ideological motives behind terrorist groups and their methods, Americans can be prepared to address possible solutions and their efficacy in a wide range of scenarios.

From the Paper:

"Terrorism reached a new low the morning of September 11, 2001 when perpetrators used three hijacked commercial jets as weapons of mass destruction. Yet terrorists had been plotting against the United States and its allies long before that date and continue to plague freedom-loving citizens of the world. What the events of September 11 marked was the beginning of a new war on terror, a new definition of warfare that would rely less on traditional battlefronts and more and more on technology and advanced intelligence-gathering. The terrorist attacks of September 11 also brought to attention the severity of the threat that fundamentalist Islam had been posing for decades. Until September 11, 2001 that threat had been underestimated or at least it had been in the mainstream media. The new terrorism is characterized by increased sophistication, mainly in terms of technology and communications."

Sample of Sources Used:

• National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. 2004. Retrieved June 24, 2008 from http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/index.htm
• "Terrorism." Section in Crime in the Modern World, Chapter 10: Crimes Against Persons.

More papers on The New Terrorism:

• Comparison Essay # 117778 : "'Old' and 'New' Terrorism"
• Research Paper # 48183 : "The New Terrorism"
• Book Review # 89448 : "'The New Crusade'"

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