Radical Islamic Revivalism And Nuclear Terrorism
Uploaded by bdogg on Apr 25, 2007
Radical Islamic Revivalism And Nuclear Terrorism
On September 11th, 2001, the world was shocked and appalled to learn of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A terrorist attack of such precision and magnitude was unheard of. In the wake of those attacks, individuals and nations alike have been forced to re-evaluate their perception of terrorism, especially the fanatical and seemingly amoral terrorism originating from the Middle East. Commonly referred to as Islamic fundamentalists, this group of radical theologians has been pushed from the shadows into the world spotlight.
Even though September 11th was unique in its magnitude, it was not unique in its kind. Terrorist attacks linked to radical Islamic groups have seen an exponential rise not only in number, but also in casualties. This upward surge of violence is starkly represented in the events of the last decade alone. The 1990s saw the bombings of multiple Israeli embassies and organizations, the World Trade Center, the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and several other locations around the world. Planes have been hijacked and crashed adding hundreds more to the death toll. If nothing else, a situation that once could be brushed off as a purely regional conflict has become an issue of global concern.
The first key to understanding this growing global threat is to discard the commonly held stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding it. We must be able to recognize and target the people responsible while keeping them apart from the cultural backdrop of the area in which they live. Also, we must recognize this cultural backdrop as a complex mix of political, religious, and economic conditions that has evolved from a long and tattered history. By understanding this history, and the nature of the Islamic religion, we can recognize that we stand upon a precipice. Radical Muslim groups stand poised to seize increasing amount of power as the traditional barriers against them wither and crumble. This power will not only come in the form of political influence and control, but also an increase in non-governmental groups and organizations, including ones with terrorist and revolutionary ideals.
This increase in power comes at a very precarious time when access to the very worst tools of terror is reaching high tide. Weapons of mass destruction, and the details of how to build them,...