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30/10/2008
Methodological Issues in Studying Suicide Terrorism
Alex Mintz & David Brule
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Research on suicide terrorism is often plagued by methodological problems such as selection bias and selection effects, use of anecdotal evidence that can be contradicted with competing anecdotal evidence, small sample size, and lack of measurement validity. Whereas theoretical advancement in this field is impressive and some theoretical arguments intriguing, the empirical analysis and evidence are often problematic and do not lend confidence in the results. We are aware of the counter-argument, that it is better to conduct research based on a small sample size and anecdotal evidence than not to conduct it at all. Yet, since some results and inferences from this line of research often lead to policy recommendations adopted by governmental entities, authors who study suicide terrorism and other forms of terrorism should be much more cautious about their "findings", claims, and policy recommendations which are potentially based on invalid inferences. We illustrate these points with the Kruglanski et al. (2009) article.
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28/10/2008
The “Forest Jihad”
Jonathan Fighel
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From the beginning of September 2008, a renewed concern emanated from Western intelligence agencies to the effect that Al Qaeda terrorists were planning a “global fireball”, in a departure from its war on the West. Deliberately lighting forest fires in Europe, Russia the US and Australia, would not only stretch emergency services, but would also leave insurance companies facing multi-billion dollar claims, as the credit crunch bites.
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14/9/2008
The Palestinian Shahid: Model 21st Century Islamic Terrorist
Benjamin T. Acosta
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As both a physical and symbolic act, the suicide-homicide attack marks an effective tool of warfare, optimal method of propaganda, and additionally fulfills a culturally defined religious duty, making it a perfect weapon for Al-Qaeda. The Palestinian shahid (martyr), whose glorification in the disputed territories exceeds that of a pop star’s in America, offers the ultimate model to for Bin Laden’s grandiose jihadi design
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2/9/2008
Review Essay: Top 50 Books on Terrorism and Counterterrorism
Joshua Sinai
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To meet the great demand for academic and public policy resources on this subject, the publishing industry has been releasing a plethora of books on terrorism in general, the groups that engage in terrorist warfare, the radical religious movements that drive individuals to join terrorist groups and employ terrorist tactics on their behalf, the conflict zones where such warfare is being waged, and the types of counteraction that governments are employing in response.
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1/9/2008
Al Qaida: A reflection of Globalization?
Yael Shahar
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Almost every aspect of international terrorism—from the make-up of terror organizations, to their tactics, to their overall goals—has undergone major changes over the past two decades. A case can be made that these changes stem from the “globalization” of terrorism.
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9/8/2008
The War on Terror - War or Metaphor?
Jefferey F. Addicott
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In remarks given in November of 2007, President George W. Bush, reminded the Congress that the United States of America remained in a state of war – the so-called War on Terror: “We are at war – and we cannot win this war by wishing it away or pretending that it does not exist.”[1] Considering the fact that President Bush never wavered in this view, his remarks came as no surprise. Nevertheless, even seven years after the al-Qa’eda terror attacks of September 11, 2001, there are many who still refuse to accept the premise that the United States is in a state of war. For them, the term “War on Terror” has nothing to do with a real international armed conflict; it is merely a metaphor, similar to the Johnson era “war on poverty” or the Reagan era, “war on drugs.”
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9/8/2008
Financial Infrastructure of Islamic Extremists in the Balkans
Darko Trifunovic
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The international community is facing a major dilemma concerning the ways and means of combating Islamic extremists. One impediment is that Islamic terrorists use the very sensitive issue of religion to propagate their dark ideas. Fact is that nations that sponsor terrorism, active terrorist cells and the widespread terrorist network – whose methods and activities we have tried to describe in this study –represent a serious threat to the entire humanity. There is no cure for this kind of evil save for international cooperation, exchange of information and prevention. One remedial action could be the multilateral destruction of the Afghan poppy fields, because heroin coming from that country represents 78% of the world production, and is the main source of income to Islamic terrorists. Additionally, nations sponsoring terrorism should face international penalties.
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18/7/2008
Psycho-Strategic Analysis of the Qaedat Al-Jihad Leadership: Past, Present and Near Future
Elad Popovich
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The 'Qaedat Al Jihad' organization is currently going undergoing a change in leadership, from the leadership of Osama Bin Laden to the leadership of his deputy Ayman Al Zawahiri, a change which in effect has / will cause a transition in the organization's strategy. This transition in strategy is leading the organization back to Zawahiri's old outlook while prioritizing the immediate enemy: moving focus away from mainly attacking the United States and western countries, and prioritizing attacks on "corrupt" Muslim regimes in the area, diminishing western influences in the Middle East, and intervening in the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Lebanese conflicts (including attacks on Jews the world over).
Should the current multinational presence (and that of the United States in particular) in Iraq and Afghanistan not continue, the organization could shift from defensive to offensive and harm many American and western interests in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and even in the United States and Europe.
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5/7/2008
PLO Policy towards the Christian Community during the Civil War in Lebanon
Jonathan Fine
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Since the early beginnings of the third Lebanese civil war in 1975, all sides involved in the conflict (Palestinians, Syrians, Druze, and Christians) have taken part in an endless cycle of violence. Although relatively new to the Lebanese scene during the late 60's, it was the PLO more than any other factor who contributed to the destruction of Lebanon's fragile infrastructure from within.
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10/6/2008
The Futility of ‘Peace Deals’
G. Parthasarathy
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Ever since the American-led ouster of the Taliban regime from Kabul in 2001, pro-Taliban tribals in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have been stirred up to join their Pashtun brethren in Afghanistan, waging jihad against the Americans and the Karzai regime. These border regions are now, in fact, often referred to as the epicentre of global terrorism.
Article first published in the South Asia Intelligence Review, Volume 6, No. 47, June 2, 2008
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