| 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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