Final Exam Critical Legal Issues in Terrorism

Fully explain why religious-based terrorism is so dangerous (in relation to secular terrorism . Also , provide some counterterrorism measures that are more likely than others to be effective in combating this type of terrorism . What implications might this have for U .S . foreign policy abroad ? Also , explain how these implications might apply to Muslim citizens in the United States

Religion based terrorism is more dangerous than other types of terrorism , because it is more extreme in its operations . The strategies of religious terrorism are fundamentally aimed at seeking revenge against the perceived

oppression and unfairness caused to them by other religious leaders and people . Religious vendetta is the chief characteristic of this brand of terrorism . The significant feature of religious terrorism is that the strategies and tactics are designed to make a first strike against the opponent who is planning to attack Thus , they can be called as preemptive attacks . Leaders of religion terrorism create a high level of propaganda about probable attacks from enemy among their followers . They create a fear psychosis amongst the followers of their movement by exaggerating the actual degree of threat posed by the enemy . This psychotic fever whips up emotions and the members become ready to willing to indulge in acts of terrorism . That is why religious terrorism is more extreme and dangerous . These terrorists are willing to die while carrying out their attacks . Religious terrorists are driven by fanaticism and do not understand the gravity of the threat being posed by their enemies . They mainly depend on the interpretations of the Holy Scriptures in these matters (O 'Connor 2006

In religion - based terrorism , the terrorist leaders picture their enemies as the most unwanted and devilish breed of people to fight against . To promote this concept , they use religion to infuriate the members of their group , because religious sentiments provoke these fanatics and cause them to participate in the terrorist movement . Thus religion is used as a mask to promote and develop terrorism . Leaders of terrorist groups justify their cruelties and atrocities , by stating that these deeds are committed for a virtuous cause . Suicide terrorism and the killing innocent people are justified by stating that their religion requires such acts to be performed . This justification encourages additional fundamentalist fanatics to join the ranks of terrorists . In addition , it attracts the psychopaths and the criminally insane to join terrorist groups , in to satisfy their thirst for blood Furthermore , it is difficult to mobilize people for political or other such movements , but it is very easy to do so for a religious cause . This is the fundamental reason , which makes the present religion - based terrorism extremely dangerous in comparison to the other types of terrorist movements or activities . Even the nationalist - based terrorism that prevailed fifty years ago was not as dangerous as the present day 's religion - based terrorism (Tremblay , 2006

Advocates of religious ideology encourage the violent tendencies of people through their rabid teachings , which provoke the people to join groups that promote religious...