CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Terrorism is a security problem that has plagued the world for centuries, states like USA just took a different softer approach towards it till it took a gruesome turn in the 20th century. Although attention to terrorism has increased sharply in recent years, it is by no means a new phenomenon. For decades terrorists have carried out attacks against non-combatant targets causing massive destruction by means of vicious assaults.
The war on terror was the United S tates response to the events that is popularly referred to as
the 9/11 attack which made ter rorism a top priority for the US governmen t. The 9/11 events
ushered in a new type of military action for US. The global war on terror is one of the main
combatants of the US new strategy by the government to ensure America’s right to self
defence and world’s obligation to the defence of freedom.
On September 11th, 2001, the strategic landscape of the world was altered instantly. The
radical Islamic group, Al Qaeda , challenged the global hegemon , the United States of
America, by striking targets in New York City and Washington D.C., symbolizing t he
hegemon ’s economic and military power. The shock and impact of that day on the U.S.
foreign policy and strategy are often compared to those caused by the Pearl Harbour attacks
of 1941. The difference is that the terrorist attacks struck at the heartland o f the United States,
and was broadcasted live across the entire world through the television and internet channels.
It also caused the deaths of almost three thousand people, mostly civilians and billions of
dollars of damage. However, the most unprecedent ed aspect of the challenge was that it
stemmed not from another state, but from a non state actor. The scale and ambition of the
U.S. response are equally formidable. President George W. Bush declared a war which came
to be known as the “global war on terr orism”: the enemy was identified, the allies were
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mobilised, hesitant parties were warned, ideological parameters were established, police, and
mobilised, hesitant parties were warned, ideological parameters were established, police, and surveillance functions of the state were strengthened, the defence budget was substantially surveillance functions of the state were strengthened, the defence budget was substantially increased and militaincreased and military action was launched.ry action was launched.
Osama bin Laden, Al
Osama bin Laden, Al–Qaeda’s leader, had proved that it is sufficient to mix a dose of religious Qaeda’s leader, had proved that it is sufficient to mix a dose of religious extremism and zeal, good planning, imagination, a few hundred thousand dollars with the extremism and zeal, good planning, imagination, a few hundred thousand dollars with the right political, social and strategic context inright political, social and strategic context in order to provoke a new global conflict. Almost order to provoke a new global conflict. Almost everyone is in agreement that, this new conflict is different from the previous ones, just as the everyone is in agreement that, this new conflict is different from the previous ones, just as the Cold War was different from the two world wars. Discussions regarding its nature still Cold War was different from the two world wars. Discussions regarding its nature still continuecontinue
The official report of the 9/11 Commission describes the attacks of 11 September 2001, resulting in the death of nearly 3,000 civilians as ‗a day of unprecedented shock and suffering in the history of the United States. On 12 September 2001, President Bush met with senior officials, as he said, ‗to assign tasks for the first wave of the war against terrorism. It starts today. A week later he explained, ‗Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated. The 9/11 Commission considered the fatwa issued by the so-called ‗World Islamic Front‘ at the request of Osama Bin Ladin and Ayman al Zawahiri, calling for every Muslim who can to murder any American anywhere, to be a ‗declaration of war. The concept of a ‗war on terrorism‘ or ‗war on terror‘ has thus been taken literally rather than metaphorically in the sense of opposition to an idea, such as the war against fascism or the war on drugs.
Two weeks after the attacks of 9/11, the Security Council unanimously adopted anti-terrorism resolution 1373 (2001) on 28 September 2001, which reaffirmed the Council‘s unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist acts of 11 September and obligated all Member States to criminalize the wilful provision or collection of funds for terrorist acts and to freeze any financial assets and economic resources of those who commit or attempt to commit terrorist
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acts or participate in or facilitate the commission of terrorist acts and of persons and entities acting on behalf of terrorists. Moreover, all States must refrain from providing any form of support to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts and prevent terrorism by denying safe
haven to those who finance, plan, support, commit terrorist acts and provide safe havens as well. They must prosecute anyone who has participated in the financing, planning, preparation or perpetration of terrorist acts or in supporting terrorist acts and should also ensure that terrorist acts are established as serious criminal offences in domestic law and seriously punished. They also must intensify and accelerate the exchange of information regarding terrorist actions or movements, forged or falsified documents, traffic in arms and sensitive material, use of communications and technologies by terrorist groups, and the threat posed by the possession of weapons of mass destruction. Before granting refugee status, all States should take appropriate measures to ensure that the asylum seekers have not planned, facilitated or participated in terrorist acts. The Security Council also established a 15-member Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) to monitor the resolution‘s implementation, revitalized in 2004 to provide expert advice on all areas covered by resolution 1373, to facilitate technical assistance, and to promote closer cooperation and coordination with regional and intergovernmental bodies. Terrorism in the twentieth century tended to accompany political conflicts centred on nation-states, in struggles for national independence or liberation from oppression or occupation. In recent years international terrorism has taken new directions through the linkage between struggles in different places and the rise of groups motivated by transnational religious ideologies. As the Bishops‘ Working Group pointed out (Countering Terrorism, p. 5), Al-Qa‘eda has both highly specific aims (US withdrawal from Saudi Arabia and the destruction of Israel) and more generalised ones (the removal of Western influence in Islamic lands and the establishment of an international Muslim caliphate). This requires the maintenance of a state of enmity between authentic Islam, as understood in Osama bin
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Laden‘s purist strand of Wahhabism, and the United States and its allies throughout the world.
Terrorism is not a new challenge to international order, although the influence of the United States has resulted in significant rethinking of the international law and politics of terrorism since the attacks on the US of 11 September 2001, which has had ramifications in all regions, including the Asia Pacific. The “Global War on Terror” came to dominate US foreign policy The ―Global War on Terror‖ came to dominate US foreign policy in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The effort served as a guiding light for how the United States in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The effort served as a guiding light for how the United States interacted withinteracted with friends, allies, and adversaries and deeply influenced US priorities around the friends, allies, and adversaries and deeply influenced US priorities around the globe, in general, and in the wider Middle East, in particular. While it will likely never be globe, in general, and in the wider Middle East, in particular. While it will likely never be announced as concluded, the Global War on Terror is effectively over, due to fourannounced as concluded, the Global War on Terror is effectively over, due to four separate separate but related reasons: the killing of Osama bin Laden, the perceived failure of but related reasons: the killing of Osama bin Laden, the perceived failure of counterinsurgency as an effective policy instrument, the significant costs of the ecounterinsurgency as an effective policy instrument, the significant costs of the effort, and the ffort, and the Arab Awakening, tArab Awakening, this does not mean, however, that the United States wihis does not mean, however, that the United States will no longer pursue ll no longer pursue counter terrorists. Drones and Special Forces have emerged as the key tools in US counter terrorists. Drones and Special Forces have emerged as the key tools in US counterterrorism, and the United States is likely to continue pursuing terrorist cells and highcounterterrorism, and the United States is likely to continue pursuing terrorist cells and high–value targets aggressively across the globe for decades tovalue targets aggressively across the globe for decades to come using these means. However, come using these means. However, this practice should be viewed as one of many defence efforts that the United States carries this practice should be viewed as one of many defence efforts that the United States carries out on a regular basis in order to guard the full range of US interests. Elements of the out on a regular basis in order to guard the full range of US interests. Elements of the emerging US counterterrorism effort remaemerging US counterterrorism effort remain problematic, but the end of the Global War on in problematic, but the end of the Global War on Terror nevertheless presents Washington with a window of opportunity to reorder its relations Terror nevertheless presents Washington with a window of opportunity to reorder its relations with the nations and peoples of the Middle East and North Africa and frees up resources for with the nations and peoples of the Middle East and North Africa and frees up resources for the United States to the United States to tackle other emerging strategic priorities, such as the shift of global tackle other emerging strategic priorities, such as the shift of global power to the Pacific, the revival of the US economy, and security challenges such as energy power to the Pacific, the revival of the US economy, and security challenges such as energy security and cyber defence.security and cyber defence.
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1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Terrorism has formed a large part
Terrorism has formed a large part of history and the of history and the United StUnited States has had its share. Dates has had its share. Due to ue to the effects of the 9/11 attack, terrorism and establishthe effects of the 9/11 attack, terrorism and establishing counter terrorism attacks areing counter terrorism attacks are now a now a major priority of the United States. The United States has since experienced series of terrorist major priority of the United States. The United States has since experienced series of terrorist attacks that has threatened the security in this region.attacks that has threatened the security in this region.
The report of the UN HighThe report of the UN High–level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change said in 2004 that level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change said in 2004 that terrterrorism ‘attacks the values that lie at the heart of the Charter of the United Nations: respect orism ‗attacks the values that lie at the heart of the Charter of the United Nations: respect for human rights; the rule of law; rules of war that protect civilians; tolerance among peoples for human rights; the rule of law; rules of war that protect civilians; tolerance among peoples and nations; and the peaceful resolution of conflict. It also alluand nations; and the peaceful resolution of conflict. It also alluded to the fact that ‘terrorism ded to the fact that ‗terrorism flourishes in environments of despair, humiliation, poverty, political oppression, extremism flourishes in environments of despair, humiliation, poverty, political oppression, extremism and human rights abuse; it also flourishes in contexts of regional conflict and foreign and human rights abuse; it also flourishes in contexts of regional conflict and foreign occupation; and it profits from weak State occupation; and it profits from weak State capacity to maintain law and order. Terrorism is capacity to maintain law and order. Terrorism is normally understood to refer to ‘…criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of normally understood to refer to ‗…criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes …’ terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes …‘ It is the objIt is the object of 13 multilateral and 7 regional treaties, which define and provide for ect of 13 multilateral and 7 regional treaties, which define and provide for criminalization of specific acts relating to such behaviour as hijacking, bombing, financing of criminalization of specific acts relating to such behaviour as hijacking, bombing, financing of teterrorism and nuclear terrorism. Trrorism and nuclear terrorism. Terrorism has been said to have been caused by so errorism has been said to have been caused by so many many reasons ranging from religious causes to just selfish need of individual nonreasons ranging from religious causes to just selfish need of individual non–state actors but state actors but none of the world’s responses to terror has been as effective as the war on terror. none of the world’s responses to terror has been as effective as the war on terror.
Terrorism has proven to be hard to eradicate as long as these non state
Terrorism has proven to be hard to eradicate as long as these non state actors have the actors have the resources, even cutting of the head has no effect since they just grow another. However, these resources, even cutting of the head has no effect since they just grow another. However, these attacks can be minimized and managed to a certain level. This study seeks to examine the role attacks can be minimized and managed to a certain level. This study seeks to examine the role United States play in if not eradicating completelyUnited States play in if not eradicating completely the terrorists but minimizing their the terrorists but minimizing their damages, and also try to establish and investigate the following problems:damages, and also try to establish and investigate the following problems:
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I. What are the causes and impacts of the terror acts that are scarring the world?
II. Is there a significant influence of United States towards this terror crisis?
III. What are the achievements and contributions of the United States in the war against global terror?
IV. What is the outcome of the United States and UN intervention in eradicating global terrorism?
1.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this research project is to analyze the reasonis research project is to analyze the reasonss behind America’s behind America’s creation of the War on Terror.creation of the War on Terror.
The following listed objectives are to be achieved from this study;
The following listed objectives are to be achieved from this study;
I. To examine the causes and impacts of the terror acts that are scarring the world
II. To identify the influence of the United States towards the terror crisis
III. To identify the achievements and contributions of the United States in the war against global terror
IV. To identify and analyze the outcome of the United States and UN intervention in eradicating global terrorism
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
From the above objectives the following are the relevant research questions to be used for this study:this study:
I. What are the causes and effects of Terrorism?
II. What are the strategies employed by United States towards Global Terror?
III. Did the Global War on Terror have any achievements?
IV. Has the Global War on Terror succeeded in completely eradicating Terrorism?
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1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
HO1: Religion was a major cause of terrorism.Religion was a major cause of terrorism.
HO2
HO2: Religion was not a major cause of terrorism.: Religion was not a major cause of terrorism.
HO1:
HO1: War on terror has been a success.War on terror has been a success.
HO2:
HO2: War on terror has not been a success.War on terror has not been a success.
HO1:
HO1: Hegemonic power was a major influence for the creation of GWOT.Hegemonic power was a major influence for the creation of GWOT.
HO2:
HO2: Hegemonic power was not a major influence to creation of GWOT.Hegemonic power was not a major influence to creation of GWOT.
1.6 BASIC ASSUMPTIONS
This research study shall be based on the following assumptions:ch study shall be based on the following assumptions:
I. Terrorism has taken a global turn and has become an international problem thus making it an important part of international relations. It is basically another concept that develops interdependency and inter relations in the international system
II. Although there have been other attempts to fight terrorism besides the Global War on Terror, it is the most popular pre-emptive strategy against terrorism,
III. The hegemonic power of the USA played an important role in the establishment of the Global War on Terror.
IV. GWOT might have been creative for positive achievements but in the course of its action it was also met with some criticism.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The world has had series of terror crisis for a long time. These crises have been studied g time. These crises have been studied extensively by social scientists, political analysts and other scholars. In many of these studies, extensively by social scientists, political analysts and other scholars. In many of these studies,
the analysts have focused mostly on the intervening roles of groups and organizations, such such as the UNas the UN. What this study. What this study found missing, however, is an infound missing, however, is an in–depth analysis of the role/s of depth analysis of the role/s of individual member states, such as the United States. The researcher hopes to portray the individual member states, such as the United States. The researcher hopes to portray the dynamics of terrorism and the extent of the United States roles.dynamics of terrorism and the extent of the United States roles.
Also, the study seeks to capture the extent to which the United States has restored security extent to which the United States has restored security and economic development to these terror battered states and to the entire region. It will also and economic development to these terror battered states and to the entire region. It will also help to explore the mechanism established to strengthen war against terror and the challenges help to explore the mechanism established to strengthen war against terror and the challenges encounterencountered in their operations. The study is also expected to add to existing body of ed in their operations. The study is also expected to add to existing body of knowledge on the subject of terrorism as it relates to the United States and hopefully knowledge on the subject of terrorism as it relates to the United States and hopefully contribute to answer some critical questions as relates to the subject matter. contribute to answer some critical questions as relates to the subject matter.
1.8 LIMITATION AND SCOPE OF THE STUDYATION AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research study is to cover USA’s approach to fighting terrorism. the time frame of the study would therefore focus on the period right before the creation of the Gstudy would therefore focus on the period right before the creation of the GWOT for better WOT for better understanding ofunderstanding of the reason behind its creatthe reason behind its creation. other areas to be covered include other ion. other areas to be covered include other international participation. The study would focus mainly on the United States of America’s international participation. The study would focus mainly on the United States of America’s involvement with GWOT and not every aspect of terrorism.involvement with GWOT and not every aspect of terrorism.
1.9 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY
This study will be divided into five chapters for easy clarification. Chapter one is the five chapters for easy clarification. Chapter one is the introduction and background of the study which covers the statement of problem, objective of introduction and background of the study which covers the statement of problem, objective of the study, significance of the study, amongst others.the study, significance of the study, amongst others.
Chapter two covers literature review and theoretical framework. Attempts would be made to l framework. Attempts would be made to review scholarly literatures on the nature of activities of the United States towards global review scholarly literatures on the nature of activities of the United States towards global terrorism. Emphasis would also be made on the Nature of America’s policy and the terrorism. Emphasis would also be made on the Nature of America‘s policy and the establishment of the war on terror. The study would also make use of a theory suitable to this dy would also make use of a theory suitable to this study to further buttress this work.study to further buttress this work.
Chapter three would focus on the methodology used for data collection. For the purpose of
Chapter three would focus on the methodology used for data collection. For the purpose of this study, the researcher would employ secondary data as its research methodthis study, the researcher would employ secondary data as its research methodology. ology. Secondary data would include publications, books, articles, magazines and internet sources. Secondary data would include publications, books, articles, magazines and internet sources. The researcher visited the AfeThe researcher visited the Afe–Babalola university libBabalola university library and online libraries in ordrary and online libraries in order to er to source and gather available data.source and gather available data.
Chapter four would be devoted to the role, contribution and achievemento the role, contribution and achievements of the United s of the United States towardsStates towards the terror acts that broke out in the world and then outcome of the intervention the terror acts that broke out in the world and then outcome of the intervention as an analysis of the study. as an analysis of the study.
Chapter five concludes the study by summarizing the entire work and making
Chapter five concludes the study by summarizing the entire work and making some some recommendations based on the findings of the study.recommendations based on the findings of the study.
1.10 DEFINITION OF TERMS
It is necessary to attempt a definition of some of the key concepts of this study. These concepts are defined as follows;concepts are defined as follows;
Terrorism
UN Security Council Resolution 1566 (2004) gives a definition: criminal acts, including against civilians, committed with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or taking of hostages, with the purpose to provoke a state of terror in the general public or in a group of persons or particular persons, intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or to abstain from doing any act. A UN panel, on March 17, 2005, described terrorism as any act “intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a
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government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act.‖
European Union
The European Union defines terrorism for legal/official purposes in Article1 of the
Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism (2002). This provides that terrorist offences are certain criminal offences set out in a list comprised largely of serious offences against persons and property which: given their nature or context, may seriously damage a country or an international organization where committed with the aim of: seriously intimidating a population; or unduly compelling a Government or international organization to perform or abstain from performing any act; or seriously destabilizing or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a country or an international organization.
Security
Security
Security according to Buzan
Security according to Buzan (1989:236) “is taken to be about the pursuit of freedom from (1989:236) ―is taken to be about the pursuit of freedom from threat and the ability of states and societies to maintain their independent identity and their threat and the ability of states and societies to maintain their independent identity and their functional integrity against forces of change which they see as hostile”. The security of states functional integrity against forces of change which they see as hostile‖. The security of states iis therefore threatened by any change that might threaten that monopoly of violences therefore threatened by any change that might threaten that monopoly of violence—-whether whether through external invasion or internal rebellion.through external invasion or internal rebellion.
Conflicts
Conflicts
Conflict is a disagreement through which the parties involved perceive a threat to their needs,
Conflict is a disagreement through which the parties involved perceive a threat to their needs, intereinterests or concerns.sts or concerns. Uhuegbu and Aja (2001:24) see conflict as an opposition of vested Uhuegbu and Aja (2001:24) see conflict as an opposition of vested interest between states or other actors. The conflict may be in the area of trade, politics, interest between states or other actors. The conflict may be in the area of trade, politics, finance, culture or military. They went further to note that conflict may take tfinance, culture or military. They went further to note that conflict may take the form of he form of threat, war, sanction, terrorism, border dispute or severance of diplomatic ties, etc.threat, war, sanction, terrorism, border dispute or severance of diplomatic ties, etc.
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National Security
National Security
Oche [2001] described national security as a nation’s ability to protect and develop itself,
Oche [2001] described national security as a nation’s ability to protect and develop itself, promote its cherished values and legitimate inpromote its cherished values and legitimate interest, and enhance the wellterest, and enhance the well–being of its people; being of its people; it is thus the freedom from those tendencies which can undermine internal cohesion and the it is thus the freedom from those tendencies which can undermine internal cohesion and the nation’snation’s ability to maintain its vital institutions for the promotion of its core value. According ability to maintain its vital institutions for the promotion of its core value. According to Otto and Ukpeto Otto and Ukpere [2012], national security must be related to the presence of peace, safety, re [2012], national security must be related to the presence of peace, safety, happiness and protection of human and physical resources or the absence of crisis, threats to happiness and protection of human and physical resources or the absence of crisis, threats to human injury among others. It is the function of every responsible government to enhuman injury among others. It is the function of every responsible government to ensure that sure that the security of the country, its citizens and their property is maintained.the security of the country, its citizens and their property is maintained.
National Development
National Development
According to Lawal & Oluwatoyin [2011], national development can be described as the
According to Lawal & Oluwatoyin [2011], national development can be described as the overall development or overall development or collective sociocollective socio–economic, political as economic, political as well as religious advancementswell as religious advancements of country or nation, which is best achieved through development planning, which can be of country or nation, which is best achieved through development planning, which can be described as the country’s collection of strategy mapped out by the governmentdescribed as the country’s collection of strategy mapped out by the government
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping as a collective term covers a diverse range of interventions: from traditional
Peacekeeping as a collective term covers a diverse range of interventions: from traditional peacekeeping, to peace enforcement, peacemaking, peacebuilding, conflict prevention, peacekeeping, to peace enforcement, peacemaking, peacebuilding, conflict prevention, humanitarian operations, etc. humanitarian operations, etc. PeacekeepingPeacekeeping is defined by the is defined by the United NationsUnited Nations as “a unique and as ―a unique and dynamic instrument developed by the Organization as a way to help countries torn by conflict dynamic instrument developed by the Organization as a way to help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace” (UN, 2004).to create the conditions for lasting peace‖ (UN, 2004).
Peacekeeping is simp
Peacekeeping is simply defined as the preservation of peace, especially as a military mission ly defined as the preservation of peace, especially as a military mission in which troops attempt to keep formerly warring factions, including the armed forces of any in which troops attempt to keep formerly warring factions, including the armed forces of any
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country, from further fight or escalating already tensed situation
country, from further fight or escalating already tensed situation. .
Counter
Counter–TerrorismTerrorism
T
The most common definition of Counterhe most common definition of Counter–Terrorism on the internet is the practices, tactics, Terrorism on the internet is the practices, tactics, techniques and strategies that government, militaries, police departments and corporations techniques and strategies that government, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt in response to terrorist threats and/or acts both real and imputed.adopt in response to terrorist threats and/or acts both real and imputed.
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