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-Qaeda

1. 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