Terrorism

Terrorism

     Terrorism has been around for many centuries.  The threat of worldwide terrorism has increased by 12 times and the death rate increased by 8 times since 2002.  Terrorism threatens or uses illegal forces of violence to acquire economic, religious, political or social goals conquered through fear, heinous acts of violence, intimidation or coercion.  Al-Qaeda and IS has made it clear that violence alone is not enough for terrorism.  Violence has to be forced upon, enough to terrorize, change people's mind and persuade irrational fear by sending messages to their supporters and enemies.  These violent acts can manipulate fear into people or Governments that it will influence them to do or not to do whatever the terrorists wants.

     After four orchestrated terrorist's attacks by Al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, it gave the United States and other nations of the world a new meaning of terrorism.  Since then, the world has been rapidly absorbed by terrorism.  Other countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nigeria have been attacked by terrorism the hardest.

     Modern technology is an essential element for terrorism.  The internet has been used by terrorists to empower individuals to connect, communicate and plan terrorist operations around the world by providing virtual training on-line.  Google Maps provides data to help terrorists see the layouts of cities and discover security points which will help them to develop escape routes.  Phone apps, like Whats App, Signal, Telegram and other programs allows people to communicate without knowing they are being noticed due to mobile encryption.  Social media has helped terrorists organizations recruit members through Facebook and Twitter.

     Terrorist organizations have been on the rise to expand technology possibilities on weapons that can be used more effectively.  The typical weapons terrorist's uses are bombs, guns, rifles, semi-automatic weapons, trucks and cars.  Devices like drones are crucial to terrorists, they are cheaper, easy to purchase, operate pilotless and can remain anonymous.  They are becoming the most favored to use by terrorists.  It is a critical tool used for intelligence work.  Terrorists uses drones for different reasons, to inspect a territory by hovering over a certain area for a long period of time while collecting intelligence data and bombs are planted on them which can be detonated and then be picked up.

     Terrorism has been on the decline since 2014.  Terrorist's attacks goes up and then down in waves.  The years between 2014 and 2017 have been the largest three year decline in attacks.  Five countries were responsible for 57.2 percent of terrorist's attacks and they are Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Ukraine.  Out of these five countries, three of them drastically declined in terrorist attacks, Iraq by 53.6 percent, Pakistan by 55.4 percent, and Ukraine by 97.1 percent.

     Even though terrorism has been on a decline, it still exists and is constantly coming up with ways to generate new strategies and ideas to create terrorism.