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Description
of terrorism
Q:
What is terrorism?
A: Terrorism is the use of force or
violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws
of the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom.
- Terrorism
involves criminal activity or actions. It is not simply a belief.
- Terrorism
has political or social objectives.
- Terrorists
bypass established institutions (such as courts), using violence against
citizens to force changes in society and force governments to change
policies toward their cause.
Q:
If I feel strongly about something, and I am outspoken about my opinion,
does this make me a terrorist?
A: No, having a strong opinion about
something does not mean you are a terrorist. As Americans, we have the
right to our own opinions under the U.S. Constitution – even if those
opinions are unusual or unpopular. For example, some people don't
believe in abortion or maybe they don't believe humans should consume
animals for food. They have the right to express that opinion non-violently.
However, when opinion is expressed by actions that violate the law and
meet other characteristics of violence and coercion then that individual
is a terrorist, and his actions constitute terrorism.
Q:
What do terrorists look like?
A: Terrorists don't have any
specific appearance. It is nearsighted to associate terrorism with any
single group. Any organization can use terrorist means to achieve its
political or social agendas. The most important thing that separates a
terrorist organization from any legitimate organization is criminal actions.
Q:
Where will terrorists strike?
A: Terrorists usually look for targets
in locations where they can easily avoid detection before or after an
attack, such as:
- International
airports
- Large
cities
- Major
international events
- Resorts
- Landmarks
Q:
Is there more than one type of terrorism?
A: Terrorism is divided into two main
categories – domestic and international.
Domestic
Terrorism:
- Domestic
groups are based and operate entirely within the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
These are groups that do not have any foreign entity or government direction,
and whose acts are aimed at the U.S. government or its citizens.
- A well-known
example of a domestic terrorist act is the Oklahoma City bombing in
April 1995.
International
Terrorism:
- International
terrorism is always foreign-based and is directed against the U.S. by
countries or groups outside the U.S.
- The Sept.
11, 2001, bombings of the World Trade Center in New York City and the
Pentagon in Arlington, Va., are examples of international terrorism.
Another example of international terrorism was the bombing of U.S. embassies
in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.
Methods
Q:
What weapons do terrorists use?
A: Terrorists may use weapons of
mass destruction. Weapons of mass destruction include toxic or poisonous
chemicals, disease organisms, dangerous radiation, explosive incendiary
or poison gas bombs, grenades, rockets or missiles, mines or similar devices.
Terrorists
often use threats to create fear among the public -- to try to convince
citizens that their government is powerless to prevent terrorism, and
to get immediate publicity for their causes. This could include threats
of mass destruction using weapons of mass destruction or more traditional
kidnappings and airplane hijackings where hostages are held in exchange
for money or some other demand.
Terrorists
also use traditional weapons such as automatic guns or grenades in armed
attacks on targets.
Q:
Who has weapons of mass destruction?
A: The Department of Defense estimates
that about two dozen nations may possess chemical agents and/or weapons.
Additional nations are also seeking to develop them. The Central Intelligence
Agency reports that at least 10 countries are believed to have, or to
be conducting, research on biological agents for weaponization.
Impact
Q:
What could it be like following a terrorist attack?
A: Depending on the severity and type
of the attack, many things could happen in your community:
- There
could be many casualties.
- There
could be significant damage to buildings and the infrastructure.
- Health
and mental health resources in the affected communities could be strained
to the limits, maybe even overwhelmed.
- There
could be heavy law enforcement involvement at local, state and federal
levels due to the event's criminal nature.
- An area
may have to be evacuated.
- Workplaces
and schools may be closed, and there may be restrictions on domestic
and international travel.
- Cleanup
may take months.
- Public
fear could continue for a prolonged period.
Threats
Q:
I've heard that terrorists can poison my drinking water. Can they?
A: The nation's drinking water
supply is considered relatively safe because:
- Most
contaminants need to be used in very large quantities to contaminate
a large public water system.
- Many
public water systems, particularly those serving large towns and cities,
have treatment processes already in place that can deactivate many contaminants.
- The US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works in partnership with state
and local governments to protect the nation's drinking water supply
from terrorist attack. Drinking water utilities across the nation increased
security and augmented surveillance and protection measures following
the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Q:
What can terrorists do to affect the water I drink?
A: The primary terrorist threat to
the nation's drinking water supplies is contamination by chemical,
biological or radiological agents. Additional threats to the water supply
are damage, destruction or sabotage of a water system's physical
infrastructure and disruption to its computer system. Safeguards are in
place to protect against these actions.
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Preparing for terrorism >>
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