Implementing measures to control the spread of global terrorism networks

Transcription

1 Forum: Issue: The Security Council Implementing measures to control the spread of global terrorism networks Student Officer: Yashvardhan Mehra Bardoloi Position: President Introduction The spectre of terrorism today looms large across the globe. The self-styled Islamic State continues to hold significant tracts of land in Iraq and Syria, continuing its reign of terror. Perhaps more frighteningly, the radical ideology espoused by IS has found recruits around the world. Terrorism is not, by any means, a new problem facing the world. As a concept, terrorism has been around for thousands of years, and even within the past century terrorism has remained pervasive. However, what makes the current wave of terrorism particularly concerning is that it is being carried out on a ruthless, global scale through a mixture of well-organized plots and brazen individual attacks. The ease and security of communication technologies has meant that terrorist networks have spread around the world in a way never seen before. The current wave of terrorism largely takes the form of Islamic extremism, with targets encompassing all from rival Islamic sects to the citizens of major Western powers. Although media attention tends to focus on attacks carried out in the West, deaths as a result of terrorism tend to occur more in the Middle-East. The Middle Eastern and European refugee crisis triggered largely by the Syrian Civil War has created further complications in the fight against global terrorist networks. In some instances, terrorists have entered the continent under the guise of refugees. In others, disenfranchised refugees have fallen prey to terrorist recruiters. In addition, the alienation and demonization of refugee populations by rightwing politicians in many European countries has further fuelled the narrative being peddled by terrorist organizations that violent jihad against the West is an imperative. It is important to note that the refugees and terrorists are not directly linked it would be incredibly incorrect to equate the two but rather that the refugee crisis has worsened the threat created by global terrorism. Regional terrorist networks such as Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are Research Report Page 1 of 11

2 severe threats that must be tackled decisively. However, despite their importance in the discussion regarding terrorism, this chair report and this committee will not focus on such regional terrorist networks. Instead, for the purposes of this committee session, we will concentrate our efforts on measures to tackle those terrorist networks with consistent global reach. Definition of Key Terms Terrorism The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. Terrorism has been used for political purposes for centuries. ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State A Salafi jihadist unrecognised self-declared state and militant group that follows a fundamentalist, doctrine of Sunni Islam and seeks to create terror. Jihad A struggle or fight against the enemies of Islam. In Islam, this fight can be a spiritual one, but in the context of this chair report and discussions of terrorism, jihad refers to violent extremism. Refugee A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. Radicalization The action or process of causing someone to adopt radical positions on political or social issues. In this chair report, the process by which individuals are converted to extremist interpretations of Islam. Religious fundamentalism A usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism. Sunni Islam One of the two main branches of Islam. Sunnis are the overwhelming majority in the Islamic Research Report Page 2 of 11

3 world and the dominant faith in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. End-to-end encryption A system of communication where only the communicating users can read the messages. In principle, it prevents potential eavesdroppers from being able to access the cryptographic keys needed to decrypt the conversation. Background Information The history of terrorism, terrorism today Terrorism, as noted in the introduction, is scarcely a new concept. This section hopes to shed light on the concept of terrorism by informing on how it has evolved in execution and intent over the two centuries that it has been prevalent. State violence In its first iterations, terrorism was a method of state violence against civilians. This is perhaps best demonstrated in the French Revolution s Reign of Terror, when the regime used mass violence and execution to intimidate the public and silence opposition. This is essentially a repressive and arbitrarily murderous regime. Terrorism took this form until the 19th century. Anarchism Anarchistic groups and nationalist groups were the dominant proponents of terrorism in the 19th and 20th centuries. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which triggered the First World War, and the killing of the Russian Tsar s family are both examples of terrorist acts by anarchists seeking to overthrow government. Terrorism today: religious extremism Modern terrorism is dominated by religious extremism, typically some variety of radical Islam. This brand of terrorism has been prevalent since around the 1980s, with notable examples including suicide attacks in Lebanon and the Lockerbie bombing. At the turn of the 21st century, organizations like Al-Qaeda carried out organized and well-planned attacks on Western soil and against Western targets. Some of these attacks in the modern wave of terrorism were motivated by the creation of a fundamentalist Islamic state and others for the broader goal of damaging Western liberal ideals. Extremists have always been an infinitesimally small minority of the worldwide Muslim population, but they continue to pose a grave threat to the stability of societies around the world. Research Report Page 3 of 11

4 Image #1: Aftermath of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie. Potential root causes of modern terrorism The root causes of modern terrorism have remained terribly elusive. There are a number of theories regarding what causes terrorism, and these theories themselves have evolved over time. All of these theories remain contentious and unproven, but it remains essential to understand them. Anger at social and political injustices The swelling of rage at social and political injustice in repressive, unrepresentative, and frequently authoritarian states is today recognized as one of the leading contributors toward terrorist recruitment. Often, groups of people feel marginalized and discriminated against by their governments. In addition, they may face endemic corruption and violence at the hands of government force. These injustices, and many more, ignite intense anger, but there is typically little scope for legal protests, the redressal of grievances or the increasing of representation in government. Thus, many feel drawn to the violent extremism and retribution promised by terrorist organizations like the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and ISIL. A further source of such anger can be the perceived injustice of Western military intervention. This is particularly notable in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, where American forces were viewed as occupiers inflicting severe damage upon civilian populations. Adverse economic circumstances There are many who argue that terrorism is often driven by an inability, particularly among young men, to achieve upward socioeconomic mobility in already unstable countries. As a result of global interconnectedness, these youths are more able than ever to perceive the differences in opportunity between themselves and those in other countries. Essentially, the argument runs that Research Report Page 4 of 11

5 this lack of mobility breeds the frustration, desperation and boredom that pushes people toward terrorism. This view is increasingly falling out of favor with scholars of terrorism, who contend that it does not often hold water empirically especially so as it pertains to more senior members of terrorist organizations. Those from less economically developed countries who are drawn to terrorism tend to be of higher social and educational status than the populace at large. Some conjecture that this is because understanding the ideological underpinnings of terrorism and even having the time to contemplate the fundamental philosophy behind terrorist action are largely vestiges of those with more education and economic power. That said, the ISIL model of striving to provide wellpaid fighting jobs to economically disadvantaged youth does lend credence to the theory that adverse economic circumstances can play an important role in drawing people to terrorism. Religious fundamentalism Although it would be a grievous mistake to pin the blame for modern terrorism on the Islamic faith, there is little doubt that religious fundamentalism has an important role to play in encouraging terrorism. Osama bin Laden formed Al-Qaeda because of his anger at the influence of what he saw as immoral Western powers over historically Muslim heartlands in the Middle East. The establishment of an American military base in Saudi Arabia was a particularly potent trigger. With ISIL, it is the goal of establishing an Islamic caliphate harkening back to the peak of Arab power in the 12th century that the leadership is pursue. It is important to note, however, that although extremist interpretations of the Quran may motivate those at the top, many footsoldiers and lower level operatives in terrorist organizations like ISIL do not possess the same level of religiosity and often fail to adhere to the same religious interpretations. Key Issues The radicalization of youth in Western countries An increasingly pressing in the concern in the West is the radicalization of young people by recruiters for extremist groups such as the Islamic State. These often vulnerable youth are either as soldiers in Syria and Iraq or are encourage to carry out lone-wolf attacks against civilian populations in their home countries. Disenfranchisement of youth from vulnerable minority communities There is an increasing trend of youth disenfranchisement among minority communities in Research Report Page 5 of 11

6 Western countries. Frequently, these young men economic migrants and refugees find themselves living in marginalized Muslim majority areas in wealthy Western European countries. They often face systemic racism and an endemic lack of economic and social opportunities. Their resentment and disillusionment make them prime targets for terrorist recruiters, whom they often meet through online jihadi forums. The allure of terrorism A number of youths in the West who have joined terrorist groups cite the thrill of fighting in battle and being part of a terrorist organization as among the most important reasons for their enlistment. Terrorism is seek an escape from the mundane and, for these often brainwashed and radicalized young people, an opportunity to fulfill some deeper religious purpose in lives that to them seem otherwise lacking any meaning. Image #2: A cartoon depicting the radicalization of youth online. Fostering of terrorism in weak states Governmental inability to control territory The Islamic State, for example, was ultimately able to derive its power from its ability to overrun territory in Iraq and Syria with near impunity and little, if any, resistance from government forces. Once they were able to gain control of this territory, they were provided with vital oil resources to fund operations and a sense of legitimacy arising from the total control of large land areas. In addition, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban were able to establish training camps in countries Pakistan and Afghanistan because national governments were unable to assert authority over the entire landmass of the state. These terrorist camps served as launchpads for extremism and terrorist activity. Research Report Page 6 of 11

7 Lack of economic and social mobility for youth In many weak and unstable Middle Eastern states, young people, particularly young men, lack promising opportunities for social and economic growth. This has been covered earlier in the report and these circumstances are indeed often considered important in the development of terrorism. Economic stagnation has come to define many countries in the Middle East that have leaned on oil revenue instead of economic modernization. Social injustice In some countries, repressive authoritarian regimes subject citizens to the kinds of conditions that breed resentment and anger, pushing people toward terrorism. As mentioned earlier, social injustice and a lack of an outlet for societal grievances are increasingly recognized as key driving factors for terrorist recruitment. Fairer and more representative states that respect civil rights and liberties are a prerequisite for a state that does not push people toward terrorism. Increasing ease of communication away from government surveillance Surveillance from national and international security organizations has always been critical to the foiling of terrorist plots. Such surveillance, now predominantly electronic, has been quite controversial in Western countries due to concerns about maintaining security. That said, this monitoring has been deeply important in the mitigation of national security threats. Rise of encrypted messaging services Recently, government efforts to monitor terrorist activities and intercept communications regarding terrorist plots has been hampered due to the rise of encrypted methods of communication. With some modes of communication, like Whatsapp, this end-to-end encryption has arisen because of fears among the public of governmental snooping or hacking. Other such services are nearly explicitly for the purpose of concealing potentially illicit communications. Major Parties Involved and Their Views Western nations Western nations have taken a particularly proactive response to terrorism since the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Those attacks were the first time that Article 5 of the Washington Treaty that established Nato was triggered the attacks were seen as an attack on all Nato members. Most Western nations view terrorism as one of the most severe threats facing them in the 21st century. Research Report Page 7 of 11

8 Countries with significant refugee populations Following the Syrian Civil War, a number of European countries faced a large influx of refugees. Greece, being a Mediterranean state, found itself with the largest number of refugees to process, but popular final destinations for migrants included countries like Germany and Sweden. Although initially welcoming, the political climate in these nations soon turned against refugees as a result of fears regarding terrorism and cultural assimilation. Concerns regarding the spread of global terrorism has been a vital factor in turning the tide of public opinion against overwhelmingly innocent and desperate refugees. Image #3: Parisians console each other outside the Bataclan theatre following the attack Middle Eastern countries Weak states in the Middle East Middle Eastern states in which the government has lost control of significant territory are breeding grounds for terrorism and frequently havens for terrorist activity. This has been covered earlier in the report, but essentially the weaker states of the Middle East Iraq, for instance have buckled under the strain of well-organized terrorist networks and require the assistance of the international community in reasserting territorial control and establishing effective states. Stronger states in the Middle East Many of the stronger states in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, declare that they see terrorism as a serious threat to be combatted, but have often taken a more secondary role in the combatting of global terrorist networks despite the hotbeds of terrorism in the region. This is not to say that there has been no anti-terrorism involvement, but simply that Research Report Page 8 of 11

9 such involvement can be sporadic. There are also difficult to prove claims that regimes like those in Saudi Arabia and certainly in Iran are state sponsors of terrorism. Timeline of Relevant Resolutions, Treaties and Events Measures to combat the spread of global terrorism have been high on the policy objectives of numerous countries since the turn of the 21st century. In addition, a significant number of deadly terrorist attacks have occurred in the recent past. Thus, this timeline is not, and cannot, be comprehensive. It is simply an outline of some key events. Date Description of event September 11th attacks September 11, 2001 A number of attacks plotted by the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda take place on American soil, the most deadly being those on the Twin Towers in New York City. Over 3,000 people lose their lives in these attacks, and the attacks mark a pivotal point in the fight against radical extremism. Security Council resolution 1373 September 28, 2001 Adopted unanimously by all 15 members of the Security Council. UN member states were encouraged to share their intelligence on terrorist groups in order to assist in combating international terrorism. The resolution also calls on all states to adjust their national laws so that they can ratify all of the existing international conventions on terrorism. Security Council resolution 1624 September 14, 2005 May 2, 2011 Adopted unanimously by all 15 members of the Security Council. The Security Council called upon all states to adopt measures necessary to prohibit incitement to terrorist action and deny safe haven to suspected terrorists. Countries were asked to strengthen their borders through combatting fraudulent travel documents, enhance terrorist screening and passenger security procedures, and improve understanding among cultures. Killing of Osama bin Laden Presidents should submit all research reports, including their deputies' final reports to their respective DSGs. Presidents should use this date as the Research Report Page 9 of 11

10 approval date for the Research Report document name. Presidents may set further internal deadlines before February 6 in order to ensure the timely completion of the final draft of all research reports. ISIS capture of Mosul June 10, 2014 Islamic State militants capture the key Iraqi city of Mosul, the second-largest city in the country. They gain access to oilfields as well as to the economic resources of the city. It is at this moment that the threat of IS becomes palpable to the international community and efforts are ramped up to battle the terrorist group. Terrorist attack in Paris November 13, 2015 In one of the worst terrorist attacks in the recent past on European soil, terrorists attack the Bataclan theatre in Paris, one of the cultural centers of France. The terrorist attack devastates the nation and spooks Europe. The attack is ultimately only one many in Europe, breeding an atmosphere of fear in the continent. Evaluation of Previous Attempts to Resolve the Issue The battle against global terrorist networks has been a long and hard-fought. There have a number of previous and current attempts to resolve this issue, far more than can possibly be encompassed within this space. The prevalent method of battling the spread of global terrorist networks has always been military power and counterintelligence operations. Military force has always been controversial and remains so because of the potential for collateral damage and the possibility that a military intervention may simply provide fodder for terrorist recruiters. In addition, terrorist organizations rely more on ideology than they do on military prowess killing all the terrorists won t end terrorism. Counterintelligence operations have been effective in thwarting attacks but are far from being able to predict and prevent a number of attacks. There are also privacy concerns that come with massive government surveillance, especially if implemented in a domestic context. International cooperation on military and intelligence operations has long been the norm for anti-terrorism operations, a norm that has served the global community well. Research Report Page 10 of 11

11 Possible Solutions There are a litany of potential solutions that have been floated regarding the spread of global terrorist networks. None of them have definitively been proven to be effective; all have been attempted to some extent or another. This will be a very brief overview of some solutions; it will be delegates prerogative to investigate further solutions. Greater military intervention in countries where terrorists have taken control of territory may be an effective measure particularly when the organization is a militaristic fighting force such as ISIL. Bolstering intelligence operations and international intelligence cooperation will also be an important pillar in combatting the spread of global terrorism networks. Counterintelligence methods will have to evolve to keep pace with changing technology. In addition, it will also be necessary to implement stringent financial measures to prevent laundering of money for terroristic purposes. More effective and representative states will need to be fostered in the Middle East to ensure terrorists cannot find room to infiltrate. Aside from these more traditional approaches, the fostering of greater cross-cultural understanding and the respectful integration of minorities into will also go a long way in weakening the impact of terrorist recruiters. Bibliography Research Report Page 11 of 11