Transcript TERRORISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST

TERRORISM IN THE MIDDLE
EAST
Meaning & History
 There are many definitions of terrorism – hard to reach
a consensus.
 This matters for policy makers, citizens, and the
international community.
 From the 1960s until the late 1980s, the main motives
for terrorism were political.
 The nature of terrorism changed overtime with more
internationalization, the emergence of religious factors
in the 1990s, and the growing acceptance of suicide.
An Alarming Trend
 1968-2006
Where It’s Happening
How Big Is The Problem?
Stats from 2005
Country
Incidents
Injuries
Fatalities
Afghanistan
207
328
298
India
272
1051
398
Iraq
2336
9399
6234
Nepal
100
104
33
Pakistan
163
398
160
Russia
102
113
51
West
Bank/Gaza
479
302
74
Economic Costs
Country
Reduce Incidents per
year from
Gain in GDP (In
millions - $ US)
Egypt
5 to 4
221
India
5 to 4
1,132
France
18 to 17
1,161
Colombia
13 to 12
87
US
3 to 2
40,626
United Kingdom
18 to 17
828
World
To ZERO for the year
3,600,000
Political Costs
 Tensions between the West and the Muslim world
 Human rights concerns
 Weakening of transparency, accountability, and
democratic rules
 Ex. = Patriot Act – places limits on freedom
 Strengthening of authoritarian regimes
Short-Term Solutions
 Containment w/ control measures both
here & abroad
 Involve police, intelligence, & military
 Reduce tension between countries
 Open debate w/ experts
 Transparency & accountability within our
own gov’t
Medium & Long-Term Solutions
 Prevention
 Improve information gathering & analysis
 More diplomacy & foreign aid
 Better coordination & cooperation within the
international community
 Involve other countries in our dealings with Iraq &
Afghanistan
 UN should have more involvement
 Negotiate with and offer amnesty to some terrorists?
Who Can Make a Difference?