26 September 2001, Copyright © Turkish Daily News

Dimensions of terrorism

Opinion by Fatih Tuna

Further to the terrorist attack directed at the World Trade Center, several comments and descriptions took place in the press for many days. However, the lack of harmony among these comments and descriptions shows us that the social events of terrorist attacks could not be explained by scientific approach, based on a single fact. The basic elements forming the terrorism component (which are composed of several sub-components), would be evaluated as social and military contents.

The criteria of socioeconomic structure, genetic formation, historical feelings, training and education developments, technological and artistic level of societies, as well as the effects of globalization, could be evaluated as sub-components within the concept of social contents.

To simplify terrorism as a civilization conflict, based on grudges and hatred, is to disregard social and military dimensions.

Terrorism not only targets a nations integrity, but also is directed to pressurize the nation economically, politically and psychologically, by means of the panic effect, which is the most powerful weapon.

Is the struggle with terrorism a war?

In order to get closer to the subject, it is necessary to define the meaning of war. Beyond the encyclopedic definitions, war is a struggle held by individuals, nations and generally states for their benefits (national aims), either with or without weapons, or directly/indirectly. Apart from the invasion of enemy land, all kinds of harm can be given to economic, morale structure and state integrity, would be the measurement of a war's success. War could either be state against state or individuals fed by ideological beliefs.

The war of a state or states is defined as Wide Ranged War or Limited War by NATO literature. Another definition called Non-War Operation, contains the operations of states for the protection of peace and manoeuvres against terrorism.

In case of Limited or Wide Ranged Wars, states are improving their own war weapons, tools and battlefield concepts. Besides, Non-War Operation concept is also an event that NATO develops and applies strategies for. Beyond that fact, there are some other strategies, derived from the experiences of nations facing terrorism. The United States, especially, has made its defence strategies, defence equipment and plans on Non-War Operations (low-density collision) with the consciousness that itself would undergo such attacks after the cold war.

It is emphasized in the essence of 21st century defence strategy from the United States that mass destruction weapons would be used by third world countries and targets would be energy sources, vital strategic positions and civilians.

Information warfare attack is to be directed at air traffic control systems and/or electronic financial systems. The countries technologically incapable of competing with super powers on the battlefield, may foresee their success in activities which can be measured as terrorism. Dual-use technologies easily obtained from commercial markets, can easily be procured by the potential threat.

The fact is that the terrorist attack realized on September 11, shows us that the five dimensions of war (land, air, sea, space and cyber-space) can be used unexpectedly and in unexpected places.

What is the planning and technological level of this attack?

The security of planning decreases geometrically, as the system complexion increases. It is the indicator that economic and physchological pressures on a target may be created with top secret planning and simple systems (bombing, suicide attacks, widely obtainable biological and chemical weapons,) instead of sophisticated weapons and plans. This political terrorist movement, not aiming at the national integrity of the United States, can be evaluated as a rebel or warning of the conscious supporting terrorists materially and ideologically (this conscious can be one or more countries,) against the creation of a single-pole world. However, what is beneath such a terrorist attack by any group?

What kind of strategies can be improved for prevention of terrorism? It is necessary to improve unconventional strategies and tactics against this threat, which is also called asymmetric threat. However, what should be emphasized is the prevention of terrorism, before it strikes.

1. The cultural and economical gap among individuals of a society is increasingly expanding the swampland that breeds terrorism. All countries should regard this sociological problem sensitively.

2. The hypocritical behaviours of the press, who do not even know the countries' borders and some other countries accepting themselves in the civilized classification, are the major agents of widespread terrorism.

3. Terrorists, not belonging to any certain countries, are the groups organizing themselves, the dynamic energies of which having located at the threshold of chaos. The entropy of these groups shall be kept at the lower stage.

4. The lack of complete independence, balance and supervision systems carry the risk of chaos. Community based management shall be adopted instead of an individual based one.

5. The support of terrorism by countries on behalf of their national benefits, shall be prevented so that democracies would not clash with democracies conscience.

6. It shall be considered that conventional powers do not have deterrence against terrorism and the centre of gravity is unstable.

7. The struggle of technology could not be a preference for terrorists. The intelligence network becoming widespread and effective is the most vital issue.

8. The struggle against drugs shall not be neglected on the swampland that breeds terrorism.

Retired Colonel Fatih Tuna, M.Sc., is a former operational researcher and project officer at the Planning and Policy Department of the Turkish Land Forces Command. He has conducted defence and scientific studies in the United States, Germany, France and Belgium. He has vast NATO experience and is now a consultant.

Fax: +90 (312) 495 06 97 E-mail: ftuna@excite.com

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