Terrorism Analysis and Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project: The Missing Element

ABSTRACT

The decision in the case of Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project raised important issues about civil liberties in the United States (2010), including freedom of speech and freedom of association, in relation to U.S. foreign policy actions. While the decision has the potential to infringe on certain liberties, the decision itself was based on very limited information on the nature of terrorism, the foreign terrorist organizations involved, and the processes by which terrorist groups can be induced to peacefully re-enter domestic political systems. There are also concerns about what can be the arbitrary designation of groups as foreign terrorist organizations. These issues raise serious questions about the role of the Supreme Court in the overall political system and judgments in cases involving terrorism and foreign policy.     

“What a Relief”: When the Press Prefers Celebration to Scandal

Performing the citizen's role in an enlightened manner requires information and interpretation that are not dependent on government sources. Therefore, the major role assigned to the press by democratic theory is to provide such alternative views of reality. This task becomes particularly difficult in what is defined as a security crisis, where journalists must decide on giving voice to the establishment in the national interest; satisfying the public, which may prefer not to know; or providing oppositional readings. Analysis of television and press coverage of a failed terrorist attack on an Israeli beach shows how evidence of chaos and sheer luck can be discerned in a narrative of ostensible planning and purposiveness. Five framing mechanisms are deconstructed: prioritizing the army's version of the event; moving the spotlight from the tactical to the strategic; ignoring the critical potential of naive witnesses, who authenticate hegemonic framing; resorting to the myth of existential danger to Israel; and turning a miracle for the army into a miracle for the lews.     

恐怖犯罪案件法律适用的几个问题

《刑法修正案（三）》对我国现行刑法典有关恐怖犯罪的规定进行了修改和补充,主要体现在：取消了三个罪名、扩充了两个罪名、增加了三个新罪名。该修正案的颁布也引起了以危险方法危害公共安全罪内涵及外延的变化,新旧罪名、罪刑关系的变化,同时,修正案本身也存在某些缺陷和疏漏,这些问题需要在法律适用中引起注意。     

我国反恐怖爆炸防控机制的建构

当前我国诱发恐怖爆炸的国际国内因素广泛存在,袭击目标向涉及国计民生的重点要害单位及重要交通枢纽转移,已经严重威胁我国的安全和稳定。我国应建立反恐怖爆炸的紧急处置机制,加强爆炸物的监管,建立健全反恐怖爆炸的情报信息研判机制,加强内部基础防范建设,构建全方位的反恐防控体系。     

媒体因素在恐怖事件中的地位和作用

恐怖组织内在地需要媒体,需要宣传,在恐怖事件中,媒体是一把双刃剑,如果极尽渲染追逐,则为祸苍生;如果明辨是非,理性引导,则造福社会,要从维护社会稳定,提升执政能力视角认识媒体的重要作用。     

谈恐怖组织犯罪的经济来源问题

恐怖组织发动恐怖袭击需要大量的资金支持,其筹措资金的渠道一是靠在公开的经济领域内投资;二是通过走私、贩毒、倒卖军火、洗钱等非法的经济活动;三是依靠外来的资助。研究恐怖组织犯罪的经济来源问题,对切断恐怖组织的财路,打击恐怖犯罪,具有重要的现实意义。     

恐怖主义犯罪相关问题探析

恐怖主义的界定存在诸多争议,目前尚无定论。恐怖主义犯罪的形态可以从发动攻击者、背景根源、活动范围、动机、攻击目标等方面区分为不同的形态,每种形态均呈现其自身的特点。恐怖主义犯罪与一般暴力犯罪在犯罪形态、犯罪目的、犯罪地域、犯罪资金来源及犯罪手段上均有区别,是一种特殊的暴力犯罪。其本质特点在于恐怖性、暴力性、政治性、宣扬性和刑事违法性等几方面。     

新疆公安边防部队营区防范恐怖袭击探要

近几年,新疆边境地区恐怖势力日益猖獗,对公安边防部队驻地进行恐怖袭击的事件时有发生。恐怖分子袭击营区特点鲜明,手段、方式灵活多样,应对这一情况,我们要加强情报研判,主动清剿搜查;完善装备设施,搞好防护建设;建立整体防护部署,组织巡逻检查;健全各类预案,强化反袭击训练;以有效防范恐怖袭击,维护新疆边境地区的安全稳定。     

现场处置较大规模暴恐案件行动方法探究

现场处置较大规模暴恐案件的行动方法,广义上也称之为战法。不同的暴恐案件,现场处置所采用的行动方法自然也有所不同。在总结以往相似案件处置行动成功经验和借鉴国内外理论著述观点的基础上,把现场处置较大规模暴恐案件的行动归纳为包围封控、侦察判断、攻心劝降、突击抓捕、救生救援等五种方法。     

Choose Your Weapon: The Impact of Strategic Considerations and Resource Constraints on Terrorist Group Weapon Selection

ABSTRACT

Historians of terrorism note that modern terrorists rely almost exclusively on two weapon types: the gun and the bomb. However, the comparative use of these weapons differs from one terrorist group to the next. We exploit this variation to examine how the tactical decisions of terrorists respond to both strategic aspirations and resource constraints. We argue that a group’s goals (a strategic consideration) and size (a resource constraint) provide a parsimonious explanation for weapon selection. Because firearms inherently expose the shooter to higher risk, are more precise, and must be used if a group aspires to maintain social order, they are unlikely to be used by groups with limited recruits in a campaign of violence. We test this theory using data on over 350 terrorist organizations. Our analysis shows that strategic considerations and resource constraints both impact tactical choices, although groups with the most expansive goals, those which transcend national borders, as well as militias, are two interesting exceptions to our theory. Our research has implications for the use of disaggregated tactical data and in furthering our understanding of the rationality of terrorism.