DATE=8/28/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41257
TITLE=TERRORISM'S MANY FACES
BYLINE= ED WARNER
DATELINE= WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE MANY KINDS OF TERRORISM AND THE MANY KINDS OF
TERRORIST WERE DISCUSSED AT A RECENT (TODAY, FRIDAY) WASHINGTON
PRESS BRIEFING HELD BY THE POTOMAC INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES.
PARTICIPANTS SAID THAT LIKE CANCER, TERRORISM REQUIRES A VARIETY
OF TREATMENTS, AND MANY OF THESE ARE IN THE EXPERIMENTAL STAGE.
BUT A CURE IS NOT IN SIGHT. V-O-A'S ED WARNER REPORTS.
TEXT: IN HIS EXPLANATION OF THE U-S STRIKES AGAINST SUSPECTED
TERRORIST FACILITIES IN AFGHANISTAN AND SUDAN, PRESIDENT CLINTON
SAID THEY WERE NOT ATTACKS ON ISLAM, BASICALLY A RELIGION OF
PEACE.
THAT DISTINCTION IS CRUCIAL, SAID DAVID LITTLE, A SENIOR SCHOLAR
AT THE THE U-S INSTITUTE OF PEACE. MR. LITTLE STRESSED THAT
VIOLENT RADICALS FROM THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY ARE NOT ACTING ON
BEHALF OF ISLAM BUT IN DEFIANCE OF ITS CHIEF TENETS. HE ADDED
THAT OTHER RELIGIONS, INCLUDING CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM, HAVE
EQUALLY RADICAL ELEMENTS.
MR. LITTLE MADE ANOTHER DISTINCTION. HE SAID "APOCALYPTIC"
TERRORISTS GLORIFY VIOLENCE AS AN END IN ITSELF THAT IN THEIR
VIEW, WILL USHER IN A NEW AGE. WHAT HE CALLS "DEFENSIVE" OR
"REACTIVE" TERRORISTS ARE FAR MORE COMMON. THEY ARE RESPONDING TO
A PERCEIVED THREAT AND BEHAVE MORE RATIONALLY WITH SPECIFIC
POLITICAL OBJECTIVES IN MIND.
MR. LITTLE SAID THE RESPONSE TO TERRORISM SHOULD DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN THESE TWO TYPES. HE CITED THE SETTLEMENT IN NORTHERN
IRELAND AS A WAY OF DEALING WITH THE DEFENSIVE TERRORISTS. HE
BELIEVES SUCH AN APPROACH WOULD BE BETTER SUITED TO THE MIDDLE
EAST THAN MILITARY ACTION:
// LITTLE ACT //
WHATEVER ONE MAY THINK OF THE STRIKES AGAINST SUDAN
AND AFGHANISTAN, A SUSTAINED POLICY OF THAT SORT
SEEMS TO ME HIGHLY INADVISABLE AND HIGHLY UNLIKELY.
ONE REASON WHY THAT IS NOT AN ADVISABLE POLICY IS THE
DANGER OF EFFACING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN
DISCRIMINATE AND INDISCRIMINATE ATTACKS. AND THE U-S
GOVERNMENT WAS VERY, VERY EAGER TO SHOW THAT THE
RECENT STRIKES WERE NOT INDISCRIMINATE IN CHARACTER.
// END ACT //
ALAN SHAW, A FORMER DIRECTOR AT THE U-S OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY
ASSESSMENT, SAID ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY ARE GIVING TERRORISTS NEW
WAYS OF OPERATING AND MAKING THEM HARDER TO CATCH:
// SHAW ACT //
THERE IS GOOD EVIDENCE THAT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
PARTICULARLY VIA THE INTERNET AND OTHER MEANS OF
COMMUNICATION, HAS CERTAINLY DOMESTICALLY AND PROBABLY
INTERNATIONALLY, PROVIDED A WAY FOR GROUPS THAT THINK
SOMEWHAT ALIKE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, TO GET
TOGETHER, TO EXCHANGE IDEAS - IF YOU WANT TO CALL THEM
IDEAS - EVEN TO STIMULATE EACH OTHER.
// END ACT //
WHILE TERRORISTS ARE DRAWING CLOSER, SAID MR. SHAW, COUNTER
TERRORISM REMAINS DIVIDED AMONG MANY DIFFERENT U-S AGENCIES AND
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THE QUESTION IS HOW TO PULL ALL THESE
TOGETHER IN A COHERENT STRATEGY.
MICHELLE VAN CLEAVE, A STAFF DIRECTOR ON TECHNOLOGY AND TERRORISM
IN THE U-S SENATE, SAID A LEGAL APPROACH MAY BE USEFUL, AS IT
HAS PROVED WITH THE ARREST OF THE TWO SUSPECTS IN THE BOMBING OF
THE U-S EMBASSY IN KENYA:
// VAN CLEAVE ACT //
THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITEE IS VERY INTERESTED IN
EXPLORING THE USE OF LEGAL INTRUMENTS AS PART OF A
COUNTER TERRORISM STRATEGY - MEANING HOW DO WE COOPERATE
WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE RENDERING UP
OF THESE SUSPECTS? WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH
EXTRADITION MIGHT BE GRANTED OR EXTRA TERRITORIAL
RENDITIONS (ACTIONS) OF OTHER KINDS MIGHT BE
APPROPRIATE?
// END ACT //
THESE ARE COMPLEX QUESTIONS, SAID MICHELLE VAN CLEAVE, BECAUSE
SLOW MOVING LEGAL PROCEDURES MAY ALLOW TERRORISTS TO GET AWAY AND
DO MORE DAMAGE. IN THAT CASE, MORE DIRECT ACTION MAY BE NEEDED.
SHE NOTED A BASIC DILEMMA IS WHEN DO YOU WAIT AND WHEN DO YOU
ACT?
MS VAN CLEAVE SAID THE U-S SENATE WILL WRESTLE WITH THESE ISSUES
AS IT TRIES TO DEVELOP NOT ONLY A DEFENSE AGAINST TERRORISM BUT
AN OFFENSIVE STRATEGY THAT TAKES THE BATTLE TO THE ENEMY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PT
28-Aug-98 9:04 PM EDT (0104 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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