UNIPOL NEWSLETTER

SECURITY COUNTERMEASURES
www.drgonzo.org UNIPOL - Security Countermeasures December 2010

Terrorism is Criminality for Personal Gain(1):
Throughout the country and around the globe, both the
media and the government have various notions and
definitions as to what defines the term “terrorism”. Some
have said that terrorism is a form of “warfare” used by
those who cannot afford an army or traditional military
action of a nationalistic nature. Or, that it is the “poor
man’s” method of fighting an oppressive government.
Others have said that “terrorism” is more economical for
those opposing an existing government, and trying to bring
about some kind of political change.
These are fanciful notions fostered by naïve and
sympathetic representatives of the media. Terrorism is
criminal political violence that intends to destabilize a
government, in order to promote a cause. It uses violence
through various criminal acts to raise the level of fear
among those who may affect governmental decision-
making. Definitions are many here are a few, you decide
what you think:
FBI – Unlawful use of force against persons or property to
intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population,
or any segment thereof, in the furtherance of political or
social objectives. Domestic Terrorism - involving groups or
individuals whose terroristic activities are directed at
elements of our government or population without foreign
direction. International Terrorism - involves groups or
individuals whose terrorist activities are foreign-based
and/or directed by countries or groups outside the United
States; whose activities transcend national boundaries.
Department of Justice – Use of force or violence, or
threatened use of force, against persons or places for the
purpose of intimidating, or coercing a government, its
citizens, for political or social goals.
Department of State – Premeditated, politically motivated
violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by sub-
national or clandestine agents usually intended to influence
an audience. (2)
(1) Gonzalez, R. A., Law Enforcement Tactics in Response to
Terrorism, Copyright 2003, A Basic Law Enforcement Training
Publication, All Rights Reserved;
(2)-Carr, H. K., WMD – Special Hazards Emergency Response
Reference Guide, (Milford, OH: AMEC Publishing Company, 2002),
page 4 – 6;
Through mainstream media edutainment, the idea of
“political and social goals” comes up frequently. Make no
mistake; terrorism is like any other crime, it is about
criminal behavior and using any pretext to get what you
want. You can window dress it however you like by
whatever makes you feel good. By whatever definition is
chosen, it should be remembered that terrorism is a
premeditated act of criminal violence against other people.
Such actions endeavor to make the citizens more fearful
about their environment and their personal freedom. From
grenades to rockets, and poisons to chemicals, terrorists
seek to kill and scare people with their power. For instance:
Terrorist strategy is based upon the capacity to strike future
blows, no matter what. The terrorist goal is not negotiation
but capitulation by the government. One often used tactic
to obtain this goal is the taking of hostages. In counter-
terrorism parlance, the government or authority structure is
the primary victim. The secondary victim is the hostage.
Terrorists take hostages to draw attention to their cause and
to confound the authorities. (3)
The very nature of “terrorism” is what makes it a potential
potent powerful political weapon. Public conceptions of the
mere threat of terrorism raise fear levels beyond the normal
range of reason. Today, terrorists are well trained and
capable of carrying extreme measures against populations
groups throughout the world. They are capable of
achieving the element of surprise, using innovative tactics,
techniques and technology.
Terrorism is a form of violence that capitalizes on fear, as
well as the magnification of such acts through intense
media portrayal. In recent times, significant acts of
terrorism have led public officials to seek various ways to
confront such threats. Yet, public defense, or “homeland
security” countermeasures, is difficult to construct, given
the nature and capabilities of terrorist groups. Snipings,
bombings, kidnappings, hijackings, assassinations, hostage
taking, extortion, drugs and weapon smuggling present
challenges to law enforcement on a global scale. Terrorists
are well armed, trained and capable of carrying out
destructive acts against a range of targets.
(3)-Spear, R. K., and Moak, D. M., Surviving Hostage Situations,
(Leavenworth, KS: Universal Force Dynamics, 1989), page 4;

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From operational planning, to tactical To the terrorist, everyone is a combatant, as they
implementation, terrorists possess the command, operate on both foreign and domestic fronts. They
control, communications and intelligence capabilities may operate within the United States and territories,
to attack with ruthless effectiveness. They can carry with or without foreign direction.
out and execute a sustained climate of fear through an
Many definitions have evolved as to how we should
ongoing campaign of violence and destruction. Their
define “terrorism”. And, since the use of weaponry
mission is not complicated and they will associate
encompasses a wide range of possibilities, the present
with drug dealers, organized crime groups, and other
day use of terms such as “weapons of mass
sinister organizations to achieve their goals.
destruction” has become more commonplace.
Terrorism is premeditated, politically motivated
To say, “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom
violence oriented effort to advance a philosophical-
fighter” distorts the real and sinister picture of
social-political agenda for profit and power. It is
terrorism.
related to organized crime, in that it seeks power,
control and profit continuity outside the normal In the real world, perfect distinctions and definitions
channels of political interaction. Terrorism is often blur in the realty of human cruelty and
organized criminal behavior that employs “guerilla degradation. The many “experts” in the field of
warfare” tactics, either in it state or nation of terrorism have contrived many definitions of
residence, or outside such territory with state or nation terrorism. In many cases, these efforts have led to the
sponsorship. difficulty not only in understanding it, but also in
combating it as well.
They are capable of employing a range of weaponry,
Terrorism is criminal behavior and should not be
often more sophisticated than those possessed by local
associated with some fanciful notion connected to
police forces. Acts of terrorism include the use of
liberating a country from oppression. It is a brutal
biological, chemical, radiological, explosive and other
form of expression that includes non-combatants as
weapons to achieve their goals and objectives. In
easy target of prey. In the harsh reality of human
addition, they utilize technology to their advantage,
actions, terrorism remains a deliberate act of
which involves the Internet, computer systems,
aggression and hostility toward others which includes
banking structures and so forth.
harming the “civilian” population in general.
It is murder and aggravated battery, along with other
The criminals of terrorist organizations train, educate
criminal acts, designed to intimidate and otherwise
and focus themselves on the desire to advance the
frighten various population groups for mainly political
power and influence over others. They are a
purposes. Acts of terrorism must be separated from
collective threat to human freedom and democracy.
other types of politically motivated activities, such as
They are not, contrary to popular notion, “freedom
guerrilla warfare and insurrection. Guerrilla warfare
fighters”. They are simply criminals with a political
is generally concerned with attacking military targets
agenda. Their tactics involve the unlawful use, as well
and political officials in order to bring about a
as the threatened use, of violence and destruction
governmental change within a particular country.
against men, women and children.

"This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably
good place for all of us to live in." Teddy Roosevelt

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