Terrorist Camps, Essay Example

Introduction

Terrorism has become a global war in which no country is immune. The IRA has waged a campaign in Britain that lasted over 125 years; the Basque Separatist movement has carried out a terrorist campaign with Spain. The Palestinian and Islamist Jihadist movements are the latest in a long line of terrorist activities. The danger is that they now have a longer reach and threaten other countries with nuclear and biological weapons. Only through a united international campaign will the threat ultimately be defeated.

Terrorist camps are mainly controlled by the extremist elements of religious fundamentalist groups. The purpose is both to train young recruits into the more extremist doctrines of religious philosophies like Islam. Pakistan is one such country that is cited as having many of these terrorist camps that are even supported and aided by the Pakistan Intelligence Agency (ISI). This has been a particular threat to both India and Afghanistan. The USA military have warned Pakistan as playing a dangerous game in terms of legitimising acts of terrorism in Pakistan. (Vimal Bhatia, 2013).

Learning Lethal Skills

Individuals learn in these training camps a variety of lethal skills. How to make improvised explosive devices (IED’s), how to fire a variety of weapons including assault rifles, the building of bombs including suicide jackets, hand to hand combat, survival skills, sniper skills. Martyrdom is taught to be the ultimate sacrifice in a Jihad. They are trained to fight in groups or as individuals.

Terrorists look for platforms that will provide them the maximum amount of media exposure in order to gain publicity for their demands. This often looks at venues where people tend to congregate in mass and as such allows them the maximum potential for damage and killing power. Past events have indicated Sporting Arenas, Olympic Games venues; Airport and Railway stations are preferred viable targets.

Conclusion

Most terrorist groups can be identified by their political background or ideology and tend to fall into one of the following groupings: (i) National separatist (ii) Religious fundamentalist (iii) New Religion or (iv) Social Revolutionary. Terrorism also arises from multiple sources that include political, economic, social and religious extremism. The psychology of brainwashing applies by certain politically motivated individuals convincing others by means of coercion and reward. The concept of martyring yourself for a religious cause and such a just cause will be rewarded by God in paradise. This really plays to the disenchanted and alienated members of society who are unhappy with their lot. This type of manipulation is used by such terrorist groups as Al Qaeda. (Rand Corporation, 2012).

References

Rand Corporation. (2012, 3 10). How Terrorist Groups End. Retrieved from Rand Corporation: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9351/index1.html

Vimal Bhatia. (2013, 3 1). ISI sets up 2 new terrorist training camps near Jaisalmer-Ganganagar areas. Retrieved from The Times of India: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-14/india/36331150_1_pakistan-intelligence-agency-isi-babbar-khalsa-ganganagar-border