SRA 211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Asymmetric Warfare

• School: PSU
• Department: Security and Risk Analysis
• Course: SRA 211
• Professor: Shemanski Donald

Document Summary

Nelson mandela was once thought of as a terrorist. Ideas of what a terrorist is may change over time. Most successful terrorist groups have: cause: goal that motivates the group, commitment: dedication to the cause, camaraderie: group dynamic of strong ties among organization members. High level of unit cohesion : charismatic leader: diving force; visionary , cash: reliable and adequate source of funds. Most groups are organized in a task-oriented manner. Common tasks: command, control and communications, recruitment, weapons procurement, logistics. Equipment like transportation, safe houses, means of communication, etc: surveillance, operations. Actual strike team tasked with carrying out the attacks: finance (cid:1) Dehumanization of enemy population: also used by military. Similarities: involve criminal act, intent to commit harm/cause loss, similar demographics. Differences: terrorist crimes are generally more serious, terrorists key aim is to inflict fear, terrorists often have political agenda, terrorists seek publicity/approval, terrorists often are harder to rehabilitate . Terrorism in antiquity (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1: the assassins.