Question One
Examples of types of warfare terrorists generally employ to achieve their objectives and how each empowers the terrorist. They are
looking for new ways of concealing lethal weapons and favoring attacks that target the vulnerable.Terrorists are coming up with some smart tactics that get their intended targets without getting intercepted by the paramilitary units. The terrorists chose to take hostage of shoppers in shopping malls and indiscriminately shoot, leaving massive fatalities. These tactics exploit vulnerabilities and take advantage of the surprise attacks that get the police unprepared. In Mumbai, such attacks became successful when the terrorists simultaneously took hostage of several areas rendering the police to cordon off the areas awaiting paramilitary intervention (Alexander & Kraft, 2007).
The terrorists get empowered by such tactics because of the higher chances of success in their terror activities. Differentiating such terror activities with traditional disasters is not an easy task. For instance, when the World Trade Center was attacked, the response was largely for an accident at the early stages of the responses. There is a rise in concealing lethal weapons in funny places such as explosives in underwear, shoes, and bags (Alexander & Kraft, 2007). Some reports indicate that terrorists transport smaller parts of the weapons and then assemble them when all materials are availed. The authorities need to alter their screening procedures and take account of possible concealment of dangerous materials that can harm the vulnerable individuals. We hope that the authorities will be able to avert terror to save thousands of lives.
- Taking advantage of situations to cause mass fatalities
The urge to cause more death has never stopped terrorists from targeting commercial aircraft, churches, and schools. There have been reports of mass shootings in churches and schools in Australia and the USA. The September 11 attacks were a warning that future attacks would follow the same route on aircraft (Hoffman & Reinares, 2014). The terrorists are likely to access advanced weapons due to advanced technologies all over the world. The technologically advanced weapons are expected to land on terrorist hands, which will empower them to cause mass casualties.
- Islamic terrorism
The urge to establish a global Islamic Caliphate and eliminate western loving nations in the Middle East has led to the establishment of terror groups such as the Al-Qaida. The motivation to create the Islamic caliphate has created war situations in different parts of the world (“Article by Visiting fellow Joshua Sinai reviewed in security debrief,” 2013). From Boko Haram of Nigeria to Al-Shabaab of Somalia. These terror groups keep on coming up with a different manner of terror, such as attacking USA army stations in different parts of the world. Osama bin laden death may have weakened the al-Qaida, but new formations are coming up (Hoffman & Reinares, 2014).
- The rise of homegrown violent extremists
Radicalization is a great weapon of creating an enemy within a nation. There has been a considerable number of American citizens being radicalized and used by Islamic terrorists to cause terrorism. The application of homegrown terrorists to commit atrocities is an effective way by the terrorists to target fellow citizens without being noticed easily. Since 2009, more than nine homegrown attacks have been reported in the United States. The radicalized Americans are likely to be supplied remotely with resources of destruction and conduct successful and lethal attacks against fellow Americans. Some of the radicalization methods are the use of the internet and remotely recruiting disgruntled individuals (Hoffman & Reinares, 2014).
Question two
Terrorists are rational actors according to Gerstein
This is the psychological application that tries to explain the mind of the terrorist. Reports carried out from different parts of the word indicate that having a terrorist mindset can be triggered by social and psychological factors. Investing in scholarly advances in psychology could help mitigate the chances of lethal attacks by assisting in the study of terrorist mentalities. Political psychology can help in counterterrorism by understanding the origin of terrorism. Many issues motivate a terrorist to commit terror such as religion, finances, politics and hate towards authority (Sorensen, 2016). In recent times, the rise of religious extremism across several parts of the world has led to the emergence of terror groups such as the al-Qaida and ISIS. The leadership of terror groups can motivate one to admire, leading as a terrorist. The terrorist hierarchies depend on political goodwill. The use of suicide bombers and promises of huge rewards are some psychological studies on the terrorists’ minds. Poverty and low education levels influence negative attitudes towards political violence (Kruegue & Maleckova, 2002). Research done in the 1970s found that psychosocial factors such as a violent and alcoholic father, pious mother, and poor social achievement were some of the motivators of terrorism. The caliphate wants to put the world under strict Sharia law by first tactically destroying the existing policy (Ozeren et al., 2007). This is because they cannot change the existing system where they live, resulting in indiscriminate targeting and violence against civilians. The terrorists kill many people to attract word attention and anticipate a political change (Um, 2015).
In conclusion, research shows that the war that terrorists engage in has no tangible goals; they fight for the sake of fighting. The rationality makes terrorism nothing but a fear imparting entity to seek an audience. Once the world ignores the rational terrorist, they dispatch videos that show them beheading prisoners and distributing terror agenda using some global networks.
Question Three
Part One
CBRN agent threat
This was a deliberate bioterrorism attack on individuals in various eateries where Salmonella was used to contaminate salad. The attack intended to hinder voters from exercising their democratic right to participate in elections. The organizers of the campaign were unsure of a win during the polls and resorted to a biological agent attack that was cultured in the Rajneesh laboratory. The attack became the largest bioterrorism attack in the United States of America, although the perpetrators were apprehended.
Part Two
Is CBRN Still a Threat to the World?
The danger of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) is real in the current geopolitical world. The deployment of chemical weapons in vested conflict areas raises more concern about the safety of the planet. The assassinations of prominent individuals using deadly nerve agents point out a great threat to the world (Jackson, 2018). CBRN use has been documented in various parts of the world. Using chemical weapons in terror attacks leads to widespread fatalities and panic (Richardt et al., 2013). However, coming up with strategies to eliminate such weapons’ chances of falling into the wrong hands is a hard task. This is because of the dual-use of CBRN. The use of Sarin in Japan in 1994 was an indication that individuals can produce deadly weapons. Reports of the use of chemical weapons in Syria in 2013 indicate the real threat glaring at the world. From the above discussion, the threat of CBRN is there, and appropriate measures must be put in place to prevent terrorism.
Question Four
Threat Posed by 4th Generation (Novichok) Chemical Weapons
These chemical weapons are not treatable and are not detected (Books, 2010). They are the most toxic nerve agents ever developed by man. They appeal to terror groups during times of conflict. Little was known of the novichok until recently when there was an attempted assassination of a former Russian spy and her daughter. Russia has been using the deadly chemical weapon secretly since the 1980s when the former Soviet Union developed the weapon when the former president Mikhail Gorbachev signed documents authorizing the implementation of the project termed as A-232 binary weapon. This chemical weapon is so lethal than other nerve agents because there is no known antidote.
Question Five
The good chlorine purifies water and can be used in the United States to purify water essential for animals (Rea & Patel, 2014). The decontamination of water has been done in the United States since 1914 using good chlorine. The smell of chlorine can be used to get rid of odors. By studying the effects of chlorine poisoning in Syria, the United States can learn the harmful effects of chlorine on the human body. Gaseous chlorine is dangerous and a respiratory irritant. The gas can be used in industries. The chlorine gas toxicity depends on the number of doses given (Clodfelter, 2017).