TABLE OF CONTENTS Defining Terrorism Is Difficult 4 Risk of Death Is Low 6 Terrorism Is Not New to the World 8 Terrorism Has Unpredictable Effects 10 Terrorism Affects the Whole World 12 Bombings Are a Common Tool 14 Terror Attacks Still Happen in the United States 16 Terrorists Are a Diverse Group of People 18 Governments Can Be Involved in Terrorism 20 Governments Also Work to Prevent Terrorism 22 Law Enforcement Is Improving 24 The Internet Is Terrorism’s New Frontier 26 Fact Sheet 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32 About the Author 32
1 DEFINING TERRORISM IS DIFFICULT Terrorism is hard to define It usually centers on a violent act or the threat of violence Terrorism is about more than just violence though Terrorists want to frighten people to achieve a political goal Not all violent acts that hurt people can be called terrorism The attacks of September 11 2001 are considered terrorism But the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14 2012 is not The terrorists on 9 11 wanted the United States to change its policies in the Middle East The individual attacker at Sandy Hook did not seek any policy changes All People flee from the terrorist attacks on September 11 2001 4
11th of September 2001 The date of the worst terrorist attack on US soil Terrorism is difficult to define Terrorists use fear to achieve a political goal Terrorist acts can lead to change if citizens put pressure on their leaders terrorist acts have something in common fear Attackers try to use fear to force a change in how people behave Leaders might not change policies because might not change policies because of terror attacks But if large groups of terror attacks But if large groups of citizens become fearful they of citizens become fearful they might ask leaders for change This might ask leaders for change This TWO SIDES TO THE STORY What one person calls terrorism might not be called the same by another person Some attackers think their violent actions are justified Imagine two insurgents plant a road side bomb in Afghanistan The bomb injures or kills US troops Americans might call it a terrorist act But the insurgents would say they were defending their home from invaders makes terrorism popular among groups without power Terrorists g cannot fight back against stronger cannot fight back against stronger opponents But they can cause opponents But they can cause chaos and create fear by attacking chaos and create fear by attacking innocent people innocent people A US soldier and a bomb-sniffing dog search for roadside bombs in Afghanistan in 2009 5
