Transcript Terrorism and Islamic extremism

Introduction to Terrorism
And Islamic Extremism
Learning Objectives:
1. Terrorist distortions of Islam
2. Osama bin Laden
3. What do they want?
4. Networks and how they operate
5. Changes in our military + society
Attack on the USA: video clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh28XcnpzX4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mz0_x7313I
Terrorist Distortions of Islam
Terrorist use the Quran as basis to legitimize their activities, but there a several problems with that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1zCb731a1Q
Peaceful Islam
A religion of peace
Be fair and just
Respect other religions (Christianity, Judiaism)
Terrorist ideology
Killing infidels brings favor from Allah
Hatred against a nation is ok (America)
Hatred against the western Christians is ok
Becoming a martyr is a huge reward
Civilians, including women and children
are legitimate targets of jihad.
“Allahu Akbar!!”
Suicide bombers – justified or not?
www.thereligionofpeace.com
Question:
Are suicide bombings justified or condemned under Islam?
Answer:
Suicide is against Islam. Martyrdom is not.
“Suicide bomber is a derogatory term invented in the West to try and describe
what in Islam is known as a Fedayeen or Shahid... a martyr. The point of the
bomber isn't suicide - it is to kill infidels in battle. This is not just permitted by
Muhammad, but encouraged with liberal promises of earthy rewards in heaven,
including food and sex.”
Respected Muslim scholars have condemned suicide bombings
as terrorism that is prohibited in Islam with the perpetrators being
destined to hell.
So which is it????
Suicide bombers – are they crazy?
“In most cases, evidence of what we would consider individual insanity or
mental illness is not a feature of suicide bombers' profiles.”
www.psychologytoday.com
They are not crazy, just highly motivated by hate, reward, and martyrdom.
Martyrdom (definition): the suffering of death on account of adherence to a
cause and especially to one's religious faith.
What is their cause? Rid the world of infidels to honor Allah
Rewards for the Martyr:
1. $25,000 cash for the family
2. Martyrdom = Respect, reverence, enshrinement.
3. 72 Women of Paradise
4. He will be forgiven with the first drop of his blood that is spilt;
5. He will see his place in Paradise (at the time of death);
6. He will be saved from the ‘Great Horror’ (on the Day of Judgment):
7. A Crown of Dignity will be placed on his head
8. And, he will be allowed to intercede for seventy of his family members
(who would have otherwise gone to hell).”
Source: http://www.alminbar.com
A party is thrown for the martyr before the act to honor them,
say farewell, and begin the enshrinement process
Osama bin Laden
Founder of Al Qaeda terrorist group
-Born in Saudi Arabia but thrown out of the country for being too radical
-Came from a very wealthy family (father was in construction)
-Had a college degree in mechanical engineering
-Masterminded the attack on the NYC twin towers, Pentagon (involving hijacked aircraft).
-Operated a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan (Taliban gov’t was friendly to terrorists).
-Trained and funded the individuals who hijacked the planes.
-Wrote the “Al Qaeda Training Manual” that spells out how to make bombs, etc.
-Belief that U.S. foreign policy has oppressed, killed, or harmed Muslims in the Middle East
- Believed that the restoration of Sharia law would "set things right" in the Muslim world.
Declared war on America
Taliban
Taliban was an Islamic fundamentalist political movement.
It spread into Afghanistan and formed a government.
Ruled the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from September 1996 until December 2001.
Enforced its strict interpretation of Sharia law.
The Taliban were condemned internationally for their brutal treatment of women.
Gave Al Qaeda (Osama bin Laden) freedom to run terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.
Terrorists…what do they want??
Rid the world of infidels
Hate American capitalism
Resent American worldwide presence
Like bombing targets that get huge media attention
Want to honor Allah by martyring themselves by eliminating infidels
Want the rewards in heaven promised to them from suicide bombings
Jihad: A long struggle to honor Allah
Preferred Targets
Massive media attention
Symbolic against capitalism and infidels
Borrrrring….
Symbolizes American military power
No symbolism
Symbolizes American
capitalism and wealth
Single targets
No shock factor
Women and children
(high shock factor &
Media coverage)
Terrorist Networks
Terrorists methods and practices
Definition:
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, often violent, especially as a means of coercion.
-Do not wear a military uniform
-Do not represent a country
-Loosely defined organization that flexes and changes rapidly as people come and go
-If one person is eliminated, typically another person can step in and perform the role (except for top leaders).
-Terrorists do not follow the rules of war as set forth by the Geneva Convention (i.e. no torture)
-Torture, terror, brutality are used to create panic and achieve their goals.
-The leaders communicate secretly with operators, and fund their efforts to make a hit on a symbolic target.
The “old way” wars were fought:
-Army vs. Army
-Navy vs. Navy in the open ocean
-Enemy was easy to find, but hard to kill
-Followed rules: i.e. no torture of prisoners
War against terrorists:
- Army vs. men hiding in caves
- Navy vs. small groups on land
- Enemy is hard to find, but once we do…easy kill.
- Torture and rape are their preferred activities
Changes forced upon our society
Airport screening (9-11 hijackers)
Shoes off (shoe bomber)
Compliments of Osama bin Laden 
Islamic State of Iraq & Syria (ISIS)
** Aka: “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)”
** The Levant: geographical term referring to a
large area in the eastern Mediterranean
** Pres Obama uses this term and not ISIS
ISIS Caliph
Caliph - a person considered a political and religious successor to the Islamic prophet
Muhammad and a leader of the entire Muslim community. The Leader.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Islamic State of Iraq & Syria (ISIS)
Caliphate: Claims religious, political and military authority over all Muslims worldwide.
As of December 2015, the group has control over vast territories in Iraq and Syria with
population estimates ranging between 2.8 million and 8 million people, where it enforced
Sharia law.
Islamic State of Iraq & Syria (ISIS)
When did they form?
After the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, ISI, under the leadership of al-Baghdadi announced the formation
of ISIS in April 2013.
Growth…
ISIL gained prominence, when in early 2014 it drove Iraqi government forces out of key cities in its
Western Iraq offensive followed by the capture of Mosul. They nearly caused a collapse of the Iraqi
government while prompting a renewal of US military action in Iraq.
Social Media & beheadings:
ISIL became notorious for its videos of beheadings of both soldiers and civilians,
including journalists and aid workers, and for the destruction of cultural heritage sites
Islamic State of Iraq & Syria (ISIS)
What do they want?
1. The entire world to be strict Muslim (caliphate)
2. Rid the world (kill) infidels.
In the eyes of ISIS infidels are:
• Non- Muslims
• Other Muslims whose faith is not strict enough
3. Enforce very strict Sharia law in a world wide caliphate.
Beheading lesson for young boys
5 paths to Islamic Radicalization
The process of transforming peaceful Muslims into terrorists
1. Religion. Often, the majority
of radicalized young men hail
from conservative societies in
which religion is deeply ingrained.
2. Homegrown Radicalization.
Typically driven by personal
dissatisfaction, grievances, and
a sense of adventure.
4. Societal and political change.
Extremists, likewise carry the deep
desire to influence change and, at
times, so feel this desire so profoundly
that they are willing to die for it.
3. social contacts and networks
play an integral role in radicalism
and in effect prop up extremist networks.
5. Poverty and unemployment.
Makes them easy prey for radicalization.
Terrorism – discussion questions
1. Do you believe that terrorists are really following Allah/Quran and will
end up in Islamic heaven?
2. Do you believe the heavenly rewards that martyrs have been promised
or do you think they have been sold a “bill of goods”?
3. The Japanese had kamikaze’s, the terrorists have suicide bombers.
How do people become so passionate about their beliefs that they
are willing to die for their cause?
Intro to Terrorism and
Islamic Extremsim
Testable material
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The people who terrorists believe need to be killed are called ______________
Suffering death because they believe so strongly in their cause makes them a _____________
T/F Women and children are desirable targets for terrorists? ______________
Name 3 rewards that a martyr gets ___________________________
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______________________________________
Who was the founder of the terrorist group Al Qaeda? _________________________
Osama bin Laden was thrown out of his home country of _________________________
The Taliban was governing ____________________ (country) and helped OBL with safe haven.
(Short answer) Describe the differences between the “old way” wars were fought versus the
“new way” against terrorists.
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