The Issues Directly Rooted in Defining Terrorism As well as focusing on the cooperation or lack thereof between different nations, there has also been literature that debates the issues directly involved with the problem of defining terrorism (Reitan 2010; Hodgson and Tadros 2013; Leeuwen 2003). One could argue that there is no inherent reason to debate this topic, however time and time again wars are won by knowing your enemy better then they know you (Explained by every victor in every war, and seen specifically in literature; The Wars on Terrorism and Iraq: Human Rights, Unilateralism and US Foreign Policy (Crahan et al 2004). Although the theme of this paper is centered around the need for a cooperation of counterterrorism efforts, to
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Without the proper building blocks, there is no possible way the end result will prevail. Based on the works by Eric Reitan, Robert Taylor, and Harry Vanden, terrorism has previously been defined by a set of characteristics (2010; 1982). Reitan’s literature even goes as far to denounce the standing definitions of terrorism because they only base definitions on who they target, what goal they are attempting to achieve through terror, how they coerce others, what the political goal is, and how they garner public attention (2010). Basing definitions simply on what it listed above is considered foolish by the literature due to the fact that many events do not fall under it. The USS Cole attack, and attack at the Pentagon on 9/11 were done by a group labeled as terrorists but the actions listed were an act of war, yet the same group crashing a plane into the World Trade Centers was terrorism. The mislabeling or over labeling of terrorism has provided the world with an inconsistent view and fight against what we all want …show more content…
Modern literature (especially focused on ISIS and al-Qaeda) does not stop at the threats the issue poses. This literature, often the same literature as above focuses on the benefits terrorists gain when there is no active plan set to counter them (Crahan 2004; Woods 2012; Taylor and Vanden 1982). This subject can also be described as international law. Throughout literature, international law is placed in comparative analysis with terrorism (Sparks and Sulmasy 2006; Leeuwen 2003). This specific comparison becomes important when it is up to the cooperating nations to deem what is necessary to fight whoever they decide. Along with being able to fight the terrorists, who punishes the accused, who tries them in court, or can you even declare war on them? These are all questions asked and answered in the book International Law Challenges (Sparks and Sulmasy 2006). This literature covers issues such as foreign occupation, rules of engagement, limits of use of force, and treatment of detained persons. All of this requires a cooperation from every side. If there is no common definition for any of these things than there will be no
Without the proper building blocks, there is no possible way the end result will prevail. Based on the works by Eric Reitan, Robert Taylor, and Harry Vanden, terrorism has previously been defined by a set of characteristics (2010; 1982). Reitan’s literature even goes as far to denounce the standing definitions of terrorism because they only base definitions on who they target, what goal they are attempting to achieve through terror, how they coerce others, what the political goal is, and how they garner public attention (2010). Basing definitions simply on what it listed above is considered foolish by the literature due to the fact that many events do not fall under it. The USS Cole attack, and attack at the Pentagon on 9/11 were done by a group labeled as terrorists but the actions listed were an act of war, yet the same group crashing a plane into the World Trade Centers was terrorism. The mislabeling or over labeling of terrorism has provided the world with an inconsistent view and fight against what we all want …show more content…
Modern literature (especially focused on ISIS and al-Qaeda) does not stop at the threats the issue poses. This literature, often the same literature as above focuses on the benefits terrorists gain when there is no active plan set to counter them (Crahan 2004; Woods 2012; Taylor and Vanden 1982). This subject can also be described as international law. Throughout literature, international law is placed in comparative analysis with terrorism (Sparks and Sulmasy 2006; Leeuwen 2003). This specific comparison becomes important when it is up to the cooperating nations to deem what is necessary to fight whoever they decide. Along with being able to fight the terrorists, who punishes the accused, who tries them in court, or can you even declare war on them? These are all questions asked and answered in the book International Law Challenges (Sparks and Sulmasy 2006). This literature covers issues such as foreign occupation, rules of engagement, limits of use of force, and treatment of detained persons. All of this requires a cooperation from every side. If there is no common definition for any of these things than there will be no