Non-Conventional Terrorism, Essay Example

In the age of non-conventional terrorism, there are considerable changes in the way that terrorists carry out their terrorist activities. The most defining characteristic of non-conventional terrorism is their choice of weapons and targets of their attacks. Contrary to the use of normal warfare weapons, non-conventional terrorism involves use of highly unconventional weapons to perpetrate their attacks. They also aim at causing major damage to property and also causing loss of life in large numbers. The most feared worst case scenario for a non-conventional terrorist attack is its ability to render a place inhabitable by human or any other form of life for a long time after an attack.

Today, the most known forms of non-conventional terrorism attack threats that the world face are nuclear and chemical weapon attacks (Das & Kratcoski, 2003). They are the most known weapons of mass destruction capable of causing mega damages to the targeted area. Should any terrorist organization today gain access to any of this weaponry, their attacks can be of immense magnitude.

When assessing the possibility of non conventional terrorist attacks happening, the most important aspect to consider is the type of the attack, and the type of weapon that is going to be used in the attack. This then boils down to access to the material that can used in the attack. Some materials are easily accessible and others very inaccessible. Of all the given non-conventional terrorist attacks, nuclear attacks are rare to happen.

Nuclear terrorism involves the use of nuclear weapon to cause destruction of property and loss of life. It also involves the use of any radioactive material through terrorists attacking nuclear power plants to cause environmental damage to render a place inhabitable. This means that for a terrorist attack using nuclear weapons to occur, terrorist should be able to obtain the nuclear power and also the necessary technology that is required for the attack to be perpetrated. Given the security and the other protection that the world (through governments, intergovernmental agencies and other bodies) restricts access to such material (nuclear material) to non responsible individuals, there is very small possibility that a non-conventional terrorist attack using nuclear power can happen.

When compared with chemical weapon attacks, there is great possibility that a chemical attack can be easily carried out. First, there is no limited restriction to access to the material that can be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons. Unlike, nuclear attacks where precise planning in development and deployment of weapon have to be undertaken, chemical attacks only requires simple manufacturing and deployment procedures (Delpech, 2007). Access to chemical weapons by terrorists is very simple as the materials for manufacturing and also the procedures for preparing a weapon are very simple.

First, all the material that can be used for a chemical attack can be sold in local shops or drug stores. They can also be simply manufactured or processed using simple technologies. A simple university student can prepare a deadly chemical weapon (Lia, 2008). Also unlike nuclear weapons which require special equipments and materials, such as vehicles and rockets, to deploy, a chemical weapon can be deployed in the target area by simply dropping a jar containing the deadly chemical in the target area. This reduces the attention from security agencies and also curious onlookers.

Many countries today have put in place security measures that would help them detect attacks from their enemies and also terrorists (Hoffman 2006). Many of these measures concentrate mainly on major known forms of attacks such as nuclear attacks. Chemical attacks can easily happen as they can be easily deployed in busy neighborhoods or the target location without any indication of an attack until consequences of the attack have been highlighted.

References

Das, D. K. & Kratcoski, P. C. (2003). Meeting the challenges of global terrorism: prevention, Control and recovery. New York: Lexington Books.

Delpech, T. (2007). Savage century: back to barbarism. Michigan: The University of Michigan.

Hoffman, B. (2006). Inside terrorism. New York: Columbia University Press

Lia, B. (2008). Globalization and the future of terrorism: patterns and predictions. New York: Routledge.