Paper Summary:

This paper explains that environmental terrorism is one of the most significant terrorist tactics that not only impacts multiple nations but also serves to destroy the livelihood of the natural environment. The author relates that the Gulf War oil spill annihilated an entire shoreline and was responsible for billions of dollars in reconstruction and economic fallout. The paper emphasizes that Saddam Hussein's intent was not only a military strategy as a reactive and symbolic agent to the U.S. intervention, but was also an ideological principle rather than malice towards the environment. The author points out that, nonetheless, the Persian Gulf oil spill demonstrates strong similarities to the model of environmental terrorism developed by Daniel Schwartz and contains a number of characteristics that classify it as an act of environmental terror.

Table of Contents:
Terrorism on the Rise
Environmental Destruction as a Symbol
The Persian Gulf War
The Oil Spill: Historical Review
Terrorism Defined
Terrorism during War
Modeling Environmental Terrorism
The Justification for Environmental Terrorism
The Persian Gulf Oil Spill: Terrorism and Justification

From the Paper:

"Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 would be the introduction of the United States involvement in Middle East affairs. Hussein's stranglehold upon the citizens of Iraq was known across the world; with his intolerance to those who dissented by government or religion feeling the wrath of his punishment. Notable acts of genocide against Kurds and Shiite Muslims in the 1980's brought his notoriety to the international scene. However, the Iraqi oil reserves were not to be rivaled by many countries, and Hussein's invasion of Iraq only served to increase the country's wealth."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baumann, Paul R. "Environmental Warfare: 1991 Persian Gulf War". State University of New York. (2001) Date Accessed: 19 December, 2006. <http://employees.oneonta.edu/baumanpr/geosat2/Environmental_Warfare/ENVIRONMENTAL_WARFARE.htm>
• Hardin, Garret. "The Tragedy of the Commons," Science. 162 (1968):1243-1248.
• Johnson, T."War Within A War: Fighting the Gulf Oil Spill." Aramco World 42.3 (1991): 35-39.
• Schwartz, Daniel M. "Environmental Terrorism: Analyzing the Concept". Journal of Peace Research. 35.4(1998): 486-496.
• "The Environmental Aftermath of the Gulf War Congressional Report" U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. 1992: 74.

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