Big Question: How do you fight a war on Terror??

Principles of Just War Theory

∆ War must be a Last Resort– Non-violence options

exhausted

∆ Waged by Legitimate authority

∆ Fought to right a wrong– “right intentions”

∆ Fought with reasonable chance of success– Wrongful deaths are not

just

Principles of Just War Theory

∆ Ultimate goal: Reestablish Peace

∆ Weapons must separate between “combatants and non-combatants”– a.k.a. Military v

Civilian

What is Radical Islam?

∆ Conflict between modernism, traditionalism– Modernism: western

industrialization, commercialism

– Traditionalism: return to “glory days” of world dominated by Islam

– Radical Islamists believe that people who intro western ways are evil or the enemy (infection of Islam)

∆ Muslim governments may be the enemy, too if they adopt Western ways

Asymmetric Warfare: The Rise of Islamist Terrorism

∆ Problem: Confronting the West

∆ Question: How could the Islamists hope to challenge the military strength of the Americans (and, for a while, Soviets)?

Answer: Asymmetric Warfare

∆ Two sides in conflict that have vastly different capabilities

∆ Weaker side resorts to novel strategies to “even the odds”

∆ One strategy = terrorism

Terrorism

∆ Systematic use of fear, especially as a means of coercion, against non-combatants (civilians) to achieve an ideological goal

Why is Terrorism so Effective?

∆ “Uncivilized” way of fighting

∆ Targets civilians∆ Incomprehensible to

West (cultural differences)– Value of human life– Relative importance of

religion

Notable Terrorist Attacks

∆ Lebanon, 1982: Bombing of US marines barracks in Beirut (242)

∆ Lockerbie, Scotland, 1988: Midair bombing / destruction of Pan Am flight 103 (259)

Notable Terrorist Attacks

∆ New York City, 1993: Bombing of WTC, killing 6 / injuring 1000

∆ Yemen, 2000: USS Cole attack (37 sailors)

Notable Terrorist Attacks

∆ World Trade Center– 1993 Bombing

• 1,500 lbs of explosive un parking garage

• 6 people killed

– 9/11/01• Attack against the

Principles of the United States

Rise of Al-Qaeda

∆ Founded in 1988 at end of Soviet invasion

∆ Umbrella group that coordinated, funded different Islamist terrorist groups

∆ Est. training camps in Afghanistan (guerrilla tactics, bomb making)

Rise of Al-Qaeda

∆ Goals of Al-Qaeda1. Overthrow secular

Muslim gov’ts (esp Saudi Arabian gov’t)

2. Support radical Islamist movements around world

3. Encourage rise of worldwide Islamic Caliphate

Osama bin Laden

∆ Son of Saudi Arabian millionaire

∆ Educated as civil engineer or public admin, in Saudi Arabia

∆ Fought with terrorists in Afghanistan

∆ Funded training camps in Afghanistan for terrorists

∆ Helped supply radical Islamist groups around world

∆ Leader of Al-Qaeda since 1998