How Terrorists Exploit New Information Technologies

68 Pages·2010·3.14 MB·English

per
C
oncordiam
Journal of European Security and Defense Issues
 SUICIDE BOMBERS  AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION
What motivates the “martyrs?” International effort pays off
 NARCO-FINANCING PluS
Terror’s links to drug traffi cking
European economic reform
 CONDEMNING TERROR Stopping passport forgery
European Islam’s moderate voices Updating Central Asia strategy
How Terrorists
Exploit New
Information
Technologies
perConcordiam 1
table of contents
features
ON THE COVER
Al-Qaida is taking advantage of new weapons
in its arsenal: Information technology. In a
search for recruits, terrorists have turned
to the mass media and the Internet to
broadcast messages to Muslims worldwide.
The international community must strive
to counter this strategic threat with media 20 Narcotics & terrorism
messages of their own. terrorist organizations around
the globe finance themselves
10
through the manufacture and
sale of illegal drugs.
p.
28 Suicide terrorism
Terrorists exploit islamic suicide bombers
information technologies usually come from the ranks
of the socially and politically
Al-Qaida manipulates the media and internet to disenchanted.
draw recruits from the worldwide Muslim diaspora.
Per ConCorDiaM IlluStRAtIoN
28
p.
departments
4 Director’s Letter
5 Contributors
6 In This Issue
7 Letters to the Editor
8 Viewpoint
64 Book Review
66 Calendar
50
p.
cooPERaTIon sEcURITY PoLIcY
36 Strong EU economy 46 Muslim scholars 56 Shattered dreams
promotes strong criticize terrorism Moldovan émigrés suffer from
security islamic clerics preach an anti- human trafficking.
eurozone joins forces to reform terror message.
financial system. 60 EU reinforces Central
50 “Mara’s” ride Asian strategy
immigration wave
40 Joining forces to eU policies promote good
into Spain governance in central Asia.
rebuild Afghanistan
europe raises alarm about Latin
international collaboration
American gangs.
rebuilds Afghan provinces.
54 One person,
44 A work in progress
one passport
central Asian governments
europe adopts new passports to
smooth out conflicts.
thwart counterfeiters.
36
p.
56
p.
Director's Letter
Welcome to per Concordiam
i am excited to present the third issue of per Concordiam, the quarterly
journal of the George c. Marshall european center for security
studies. this issue continues our tradition of providing readers with
a quality journal that addresses the defense, policy and security issues
that confront europe and eurasia.
Given the world we live and work in, few serious periodicals avoid
the topics of terrorism and counterterrorism, and per Concordiam can
be no different. our initial two issues carried sketches of spanish-
Mexican bilateral cooperation and training, the european Union’s
special fingerprint database, al-Qaida’s threat to Germany and other
important concerns.
But this issue is dominated by terrorism and counterterrorism
themes. We are offering brief reports and several in-depth articles that
follow per Concordiam’s path of informing and challenging the reader. Dr. John P. Rose
Features include the increasing phenomenon of suicide terrorism, Director, George C. Marshall Center
terrorists’ use of strategic communications to expand membership and
the long-developing nexus of terrorism and illegal narcotics dealing. John P. Rose is the director of
the problems of terrorism and counterterrorism are global, on the George C. Marshall European
the one hand, and, on the other, a challenge to the european and Center for Security Studies
eurasian regions, for Marshall center graduates and others working in Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
in law enforcement, intelligence, defense and related fields. our region Germany. A retired U.S. Army
is concerned, and properly so. We formally surveyed our students brigadier general, he has 34
and graduates in 2009 and 2010, and followed the surveys with a
years of international, operational,
conference of distinguished alumni serving in positions of leadership
academic, business and strategic
within their respective countries. our results revealed that combating
planning expertise. He holds
terrorism is one of the four leading future security challenges.
master’s and doctorate degrees
i expect this theme to generate a great deal of discussion within the
from the University of Southern
magazine’s audience, and i encourage all who have personal knowledge
California, Los Angeles, and
or experience in dealing with terrorism issues to add to this discourse.
As with every issue of per Concordiam, our editorial board welcomes attended the Harvard University
your contributions, constructive suggestions and observations — in part John F. Kennedy School of
so that the readership can be presented with opposing viewpoints in Government in Cambridge, Mass.
the next issue. i hope you enjoy this issue of per Concordiam, and i look His published works include The
forward to the ensuing discussion. Evolution of U.S. Army Nuclear
Doctrine, 1945-1980 and
10 journal articles on nuclear
sincerely, strategy, military doctrine and
long-range planning.
John P. rose, PhD
Director
4 perConcordiam
coNtriBUtors
Cmdr. Ioannis Chapsos of the Hellenic Navy is an instructor
Journal of European Security
in the security and strategy department at the Hellenic
and Defense Issues
Supreme Joint War College. He is a 1989 graduate of the
Hellenic Naval Academy and served most of his career on fast
Terrorism
patrol boats. He also served in national defense planning with
the national defense general staff and the human resources/ Volume 1, Issue 3
education department of the Hellenic Navy General Staff. He Fall 2010
earned a master’s degree in terrorism, international crime
George C. Marshall European
and global security from the United Kingdom’s Coventry
Center for Security Studies
University. He is a 2007 graduate of the Marshall Center’s
LEADERSHIP
Executive Program in Advanced Security Studies.
Dr. John P. rose
Director
Dr. Christopher C. Harmon is curricula director for the Hermann Wachter
Marshall Center’s Program on Terrorism and Security German Deputy Director
Studies, or PTSS, in the College of International and
Security Studies. An expert on terrorism and Dr. James c. MacDougall
counterterrorism, insurgency and revolutionary warfare, U.S. Deputy Director
counterinsurgency and international relations, he has
taught courses at five graduate schools. In 2000, he
MARSHALL CENTER
published Terrorism Today, which the London Times Literary
The George C. Marshall European
Supplement called “a masterly survey of the big picture of
Center for Security Studies is a German-
worldly violence.” He co-wrote the PTSS textbook Toward
American partnership founded in 1993.
Grand Strategy Against Terrorism. He graduated summa The staff of this security studies institute
cum laude from Seattle University and earned his doctorate in international furthers the vision of the post-World War
relations and government from Claremont Graduate University, Calif. II Marshall Plan into the 21st century.
The center promotes dialogue and under-
standing between European, Eurasian,
North American and other nations. The
theme of its resident courses and out-
reach events: Most 21st century security
Robert Wainwright is the director of Europol, the European
challenges require international, inter-
Union’s law enforcement agency. Mr. Wainwright began agency and interdisciplinary response
his career in the United Kingdom’s Civil Service, where he and cooperation.
held various managerial positions dealing with organized
crime, counter-terrorism and intelligence analysis. Since
CONTACT US
2000, he has worked for Europol in various capacities,
starting with the agency’s U.K. Liaison Bureau in London. Per Concordiam editors
In his last job before becoming director, he was Chief of George C. Marshall Center
the International Department of the UK Serious Organized Gernackerstrasse 2
Crime Agency and oversaw 20,000 law enforcement cases 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
each year. He earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Germany
the London School of Economics in 1989.
Per Concordiam is a professional journal
published quarterly by the George C.
Marshall European Center for Security
Lt. Col. Carsten Bockstette is the operations and German li- Studies that addresses defense and
aison officer in the Strategy, Plans and Analysis Group at the security issues in Europe and Eurasia
Marshall Center. Responsible for strategic communications, for military and security practitioners
and experts. Opinions expressed
he also is a member of the center’s Combating Terrorism
in this journal do not necessarily
Working Group and the per Concordiam magazine editorial represent the policies or points of
board. An author and editor, he has published works on me- view of this institution or of any other
dia, communication, security and defense policy, including agency of the German or United States
governments. All articles are written by
“Strategic Information and Communication Management,”
per Concordiam staff unless otherwise
“Jihadist Terrorist Use of Strategic Communication Manage-
noted. Opinions expressed in articles
ment Techniques” and “Taliban and Jihadist Terrorist Use of written by contributors represent those
Strategic Communication.” He holds a doctorate in political of the author only. The secretary of
science from the Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg. defense determined that publication of
this journal is necessary for conducting
public business as required of the U.S.
Department of Defense by law.
ppeerrCCoonnccoorrddiiaamm 5
iN tHis issUe
The first two issues of per Concordiam have generated tremendous
feedback from you, the reader. We are excited by your responses
and will continue to reach out to more defense, security and policy
experts in Europe and Eurasia to provide thought-provoking articles
for this and future issues.
the focus of this issue is combating terrorism and its impact on regional security.
each of the topics addressed has regional and international connections that
challenge defense and security experts in europe and eurasia. surveys of the students
and alumni universally indicated that terrorism is a significant concern. the ideas put
forth by our contributors present several facets of terrorism and examine possible
ways to reduce the impact of terrorist activities in the region.
in the article “suicide terrorism,” cmdr. ioannis chapsos of the Hellenic Navy
writes about the history of suicide bombing and explores the characteristics of the
bombers and the groups that recruit them. the author puts forth recommendations
on how to deal with future challenges, since it is unlikely these groups will run out of
“human bombs.”
Lt. col. carsten Bockstette, the German liaison officer at the Marshall center’s
Directors Action Group, discusses the propaganda efforts and highly effective
messaging of terrorist groups in his article, “How terrorists exploit New information
technologies.” He explains their communication techniques, objectives and tactics
while presenting ways for a nation to develop a strategic countercommunication plan.
Marshall center professor Dr. christopher c. Harmon addresses the nexus
between the illegal narcotics trade and terrorist activities in his article, “Narcotics
and terrorists.” He explains why the drug business is very significant for some of
today’s terrorist groups and how narcoterrorism has become a serious transnational
problem. He explains the links between state sponsors of terrorism and states known
to facilitate narcotics trafficking.
the next issue of per Concordiam will focus on political-military partnerships.
submissions on this theme from Marshall center alumni, the organizations and
governments for whom they work, and academics and scholars with an interest in
defense and security issues in europe and eurasia will greatly assist in ensuring
relevant issues are addressed in per Concordiam. Also, look for the announcement and
rules for the first annual per concordiam essay contest, which will pose an important
question to readers: What must NAto do in the future to be successful? Your
participation is encouraged!
We encourage your feedback and look forward to your e-mails in this ongoing
dialog on important security issues. All articles in each issue are available online
on the Marshall center Web site: http://tinyurl.com/per-concordiam-magazine
— per Concordiam editorial staff
6 perConcordiam
Letters to tHe eDitor
T
he aim of per Concordiam
magazine is to address security
issues relevant to europe and
eurasia and to elicit a response
from readers. We hope that
the publication of our first two
issues did that and that it also helped stimulate
debate and an exchange of ideas. We welcome
your feedback. so please share your thoughts with
us in the form of letters to the editor that we will
publish in this section. Please keep your letters as
brief as possible, and specifically note the article,
author and magazine edition to which you are
referring. We reserve the right to edit all letters for
language, civility, accuracy, brevity and clarity.
send feedback via e-mail to:
[email protected]
tHINKStoCK
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS • Connect the dots. We’ll publish an article on a single country
if the subject is relevant to the region or the world.
The intent of per Concordiam is to be a moderated journal with the
• Do not assume a U.S. audience. The vast majority of per
best and brightest submitted articles and papers published each
Concordiam readers are from Europe and Eurasia. We’re less
quarter. We welcome articles from readers on security and defense
likely to publish articles that cater to a U.S. audience. Our mission
issues in Europe and Eurasia.
is to generate candid discussion of relevant security and defense
Here’s how to submit an article: topics, not to serve as an echo chamber for U.S. foreign policy.
• Steer clear of technical language. Not everyone is a
First, e-mail your story idea to [email protected] in an
specialist in a certain field. Ideas should be accessible
outline form or as a short description. If we like the idea, we can
to the widest audience.
offer feedback before you start writing.
• Provide original research or reporting to support your
We accept articles as original contributions. If your article or
ideas. And be prepared to document statements. We fact check
similar version is under consideration by another publication, or
everything we publish.
was published elsewhere, tell us when submitting the article to us.
• Copyrights. Contributors will retain their copyrighted work.
If you have a manuscript to submit but are not sure it’s right for
However, submitting an article or paper implies the author grants
the quarterly, e-mail us to ask if we’re interested.
license to per Concordiam to publish the work.
As you’re writing your article, • Bio/photo. When submitting your article, please include a short
please remember: biography and a high-resolution digital photo of yourself of at
least 300 dots per inch (DPI) resolution.
• Offer fresh ideas. We are looking for articles with a unique
approach from the region. We probably won’t publish articles
E-mail manuscripts as Microsoft Word
on topics already heavily covered in other security and foreign
attachments to: [email protected]
policy journals.
perConcordiam 7
vieWPoiNt
Terrorism declines in EU
Report by Europol highlights improvement in 2009
Robert Wainwright, Director of Europol
Robert Wainwright
Director of Europol
since April 2009
Europol is the European law enforcement agency. Its job is to make
Europe safer by assisting the member states of the European Union in
their fight against serious international crime and terrorism. This is a big
task. Large-scale criminal and terrorist networks pose a significant threat
to the internal security of the EU and to the safety and livelihood of its
people. The biggest security threats come from terrorism, international
drug trafficking and money laundering, organized fraud, counterfeiting of
the euro and human smuggling. But new dangers are also accumulating in
the form of cybercrime, human trafficking and other modern-day threats.
This is a multibillion-euro business, quick to adapt to new opportunities
and resilient in the face of traditional law enforcement measures.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
terrorism continues to impact the lives of contributed by eU member states from Special police escort suspected
member states’ citizens both inside and criminal investigations into terrorist of- members of the Greek terrorist
outside the eU. in 2009, seven people (five fenses. terrorism and related phenomena in group Epanastatikos Agonas, or
police officers and two soldiers) were killed the eU are summarized in terms of quantity Revolutionary Struggle, to the
prosecutor’s office in Athens in
and scores of individuals injured as a result and quality, and trends are identified for the
April 2010.
of terrorist attacks in Greece, Northern ire- period of 2007 to 2009. the report aims to
land and spain. provide law enforcement officials, policy-
the european Union terrorism situa- makers and the public with facts and figures
tion and trend report, or te-sAt, contains regarding terrorism in the eU while also
basic facts and figures regarding terrorist seeking to identify trends in the develop-
attacks, arrests and activities in the eU. the ment of this phenomenon. it is a public
te-sAt is based mainly on information document produced annually on the basis
8 perConcordiam
SE
of information provided and verified by RES
law enforcement authorities in the eU. CE-P
N
in 2009, the number of terrorist at- A
R
tacks and terrorism-related arrests in the CE F
N
eU continued to decrease. this welcome GE
A
development, however, must not be under-
stood as an invitation to lower the guard.
the overall number of terrorist attacks in
all member states in 2009, excluding the
United Kingdom, decreased by 33 percent
compared with 2008 and is almost half of
the number of attacks reported in 2007. For
2009, six member states reported a total of
294 failed, foiled or successfully perpetrated
terrorist attacks, while an additional 124 at-
tacks in Northern ireland were reported by
the U.K. thirteen member states, excluding
the U.K., arrested a total of 587 individuals 2008; they were responsible for 40 attacks. Police in Bordeaux, France,
on suspicion of offenses related to terror- in Greece, epanastatikos Agonas continued move one of four suspected
ism, a figure that marks a decrease of 22 its violent actions and claimed responsibility Basque separatist rebels
percent compared with 2008 and about 30 for an attack on police officers, causing arrested in a joint French and
percent compared with 2007. the major- serious injuries to one officer. sekta Spanish raid in May 2008.
ity of arrests were carried out on people epanastaton, a newly active organization in
suspected of membership in terrorist Greece, claimed another attack that killed a
organizations. other arrests were made for police officer.
attack-related offenses that included the Hungary reported four right-wing ter-
preparation of attacks, propaganda, financ- rorist attacks in 2009. All other member
ing of terrorism and facilitation. states reported extremism in the form of
islamist terrorism is still perceived as right-wing criminal activities. individuals
the biggest threat to most member states, motivated by extreme right-wing views who
despite the fact that only one islamist ter- act alone continue to pose a threat.
rorist attack — a bombing in italy — took two single-issue terrorist attacks were
place in the eU in 2009. islamist terrorists reported in 2009. the illegal activities
have threatened eU member states with of single-issue extremism continue to be
attacks aimed at inflicting indiscriminate dominated by animal rights extremism,
mass casualties. the threat emanating with some violent Are attacks using modi
from islamist terrorism inside the eU is operandi similar to those used by terror-
influenced, to a certain extent, by develop- ists, such as improvised explosive devices
ments in conflict zones around the world. and improvised incendiary devices.
separatist terrorism continues to affect in some cases, it is difficult to differ-
the eU the most in terms of the number entiate between criminality and acts of
of attacks carried out. this type includes terrorism or extremism. terrorism is not
Basque separatist terrorism in spain and an ideology but a set of criminal tactics
France and corsican separatist terrorism in that ignore fundamental principles of
France. in 2009, there were six fatalities in democratic societies. eU member states
the eU from 237 separatist terrorist attacks. have agreed to regard terrorist acts as
the Basque separatist terrorist organisation those that aim to intimidate populations,
euskadi ta Askatasuna, or etA, killed three compel states to comply with the perpetra-
police officers. in the U.K., irish republican tors’ demands, and/or destabilize or destroy
and Loyalist groups in Northern ireland — the fundamental political, constitutional,
principally the real irish republican Army economic or social structures of a country
and the continuity irish republican Army or an international organization. the te-
— killed two soldiers and one police officer. sAt respects the classifications made by
in 2009, the total number of left-wing eU member states. o
and anarchist terrorist attacks in the eU
the complete te-sAt 2010 report is available for download from
increased by 43 percent compared with the publications section of europol’s website: www.europol.europa.eu
perConcordiam 9
Per ConCorDiaM IlluStRAtIoN
10 perConcordiam