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Countering Terrorism

Also Try

1. Islam
2. Middle East
3. Muslim Rage
4. Muslims Against Terrorism

Lesson Plans

1. Countering Terrorism (PBS)
   Provides a lesson plan for high school students to help them assess different approaches to taming international terrorism. 11-01
2. Third Way to Ending Terrorism (Commonway.org - Abdullah)
   Recommends a "third way" to end terrorism. The "third way" does not take either side of a conflictt but rather approaches the solution differently than either side. 12-01

Lists

1. Conventions and Charters Against Terrorism (American Society of International Law)
   Provides over a dozen sources of international conventions and charters that oppose and define terrorism. 3-02
2. Counterterrorism (Google)
   Provides sources of information, mostly at the college level. 1-02
3. Muslims Against Terrorism (University of Georgia - Godlas)
   Provides statements from Muslim scholars and celebrities. 10-01
4. Protection from Terrorism (FirstGov)
   Provides sources of information to help in protecting yourself from terrorist attacks. 12-01
5. Terrorism Background and Threat Assessments (Federation of American Scientists)
   Provides sources of information related to acts of terrorism, threats of terrorism, documents opposing terrorism, and steps to counter terrorism. 3-02
6. Terrorism and War Articles (University at Buffalo)
   Provides sources of dozens of articles to provide insight into the foundations of terrorism, war, and revolution. 1-02
7. Terrorists Hijacked Islam (Independent - Yusuf Islam)
   Provides examples from the Koran that show that the September 11th terrorists "hijacked" Islam. Also called 911, 9-11, or 9/11. 10-01

Materials

1. Afghanistan Battle Grounds Map (BBC News)
   Provides a map of Afghanistan with updated results on which group controls major cities. 11-01. Also spelled battlegrounds.

News

1. A Muslim View on Bombing Afghanistan (Chicago Tribune - Fesperman)
   Provides the views of Pakistani Muslim graduate students on bombing in Afghanistan and the USA's war on terrrorism. "The overriding emotion of the day was dismay with America's bombing campaign, and with the civilian toll it has taken in Afghanistan." One of the students summarized the meeting between American diplomats and the Pakistani students with saying, 'What has become apparent is this enormous communications gap between ordinary American citizens and ordinary Pakistani citizens.' Pakistan and the USA are allies in fighting terrorism. Editor's Note - Most Muslims in the Middle East get their news from al Jazeera. Al Jazeera has been reporting the Taliban statements on casualties, which, according to American officials, are false. 11-01
2. Bush Favors Long Term Solution (BBC News)
   Suggests that President Bush is planning to attack specific targets, while continuing to build support with other countries to solve the terrorist problem long term. Colin Powell, Dick Cheney, and Condolezza Rice are supporting this approach. The alternative approach, proposed by Paul Wolfowitz, is to fight terrorism alone with massive military strikes into several countries now. 9-01
3. Countering Terrorism (Christian Science Monitor)
   Provides in-depth news stories that cover the conflict in Afghanistan and the roots of terrorism. 10-01
4. Homeland Security News (Whitehouse - Homeland Security)
   Provides information on the level of risk for attacks by terrorists, news related to countering terrorism within the United States, and more. 3-02
5. Interpol Agrees to Support USA Fight Against Terrorism (Guardian Unlimited)
   Describes the international policing organization's position of support. 9-01
6. Muslim Countries Against Terrorism (CNN - Jones)
   Describes the reactions of key Muslim countries to proposals by the USA to fight terrorism. 9-01
7. Powell - Promote Democracy and Reduce Poverty (ABC News)
   Summarizes statements of Secretary of State Colin Powell that terrorism must be fought by removing the reasons for extremism to exist, including poverty and lack of opportunity. 11-01
8. USA Reconsiders Use of Nuclear Weapons (Los Angeles Times - Savage)
   "Responding to new threats since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration now wants to consider using nuclear weapons to respond to biological and chemical attacks, as well as nuclear strikes, on the U.S. or its allies." "Administration officials went out of their way Sunday to assert that military planners have not targeted any nation for a nuclear attack but rather are preparing for how to respond if others resort to weapons of mass destruction."
   
   "News of the Pentagon's planning was met with amazement and anger in foreign capitals, according to news reports."  3-02
   3-02

Papers

1. A Muslim View on Terrorism (MSNBC Newsweek)
   Provides a Pakistani Muslim view on terrorism. Includes results of a poll to determine Pakistani views on the relationship between Pakistan and the USA on fighting in Afghanistan. A majority of the Muslims were against the terrorist attacks against the USA. Their views on who was behind the attacks on the USA, however, is incredible for Americans. "Almost half of Pakistanis (48 percent) believe that Israel is behind the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Twelve percent blame bin Laden and 25 percent say 'some American group' is responsible for the assaults." There is clearly a huge gap in the Pakistani view of the world and the American view. Pakistan and the USA are allies in fighting terrorism. 10-01
2. Afghanistan - Bush Asks Children for Help (Awesome Library)
   President Bush is asking children to contribute to prevent a disaster to the children of Afghanistan. 10-01
3. Combating Terrorism (Congressional Record - Leahy)
   Provides Senator Leahy's strategy for combating international terrorism. "We must confront the entire superstructure of terrorism -- the states that knowingly provide terrorists with support and safe haven, the system of financial support, and sources of recruits, and the hatreds that spawn them." Senator Leahy warns that we need to avoid civilian casualties, be more clear on our long term military objectives, provide leadership in brokering peace in the Middle East, avoid supporting tyrannies in our quest for terrorists, increase foreign aid, avoid the loss of civil rights, and address other causes of hatred toward the United States. 11-01
4. Combating Terrorism - New Law (ABC News)
   Provides the provisions of the new law, USA Patriot Act of 2001, for anti-terrorism. 11-01
5. Countries Joining US Coalition Against Terrorism (TheStar.com)
   Provides a map, with comments, on countries joining the USA in its war against terrorism. 9-01
6. Editorial - Applying Islamic Law to Osama bin Laden (MSN - Lithwick)
   Asks whether bin Laden would be found guilty if Islamic law were used to try his case. Concludes that if the Taliban used Islamic law (sharia), bin Laden would already be in custody, given evidence so far revealed. Concludes that the Taliban do not use Islamic law in their legal proceedings. 10-01
7. Editorial - Countering Terrorism from the Middle East (Awesome Library - Adams)
   Argues that two problems must be addressed in order for the USA to reduce the long term problem of terrorism from the Middle East. The primary two enablers for terrorism are nations harboring terrorists and nations fostering anti-American attitudes. In addition, two more problems, if handled well, could actually lead to a new era of cooperation and long term peace. The two problems are US foreign policies that hurt Muslim nations and conflicts between Fundamentalist Muslim values and Western values. Provides recommendations for each problem. 10-01
8. Editorial - Forming New Afghanistan Government Will Be Complex (Far Eastern Economic Review - Rashid)
   Describes the different groups involved with trying to form a government after the Taliban have fallen from power. 10-01
9. Editorial - Make Long Term Commitment to Afghanistan (Heritage Foundation - Phillips)
   Recommends that the USA support the development of a stable and safe government for Afghanistan as part of a long term effort to fight terrorism. 9-01
10. Editorial - Reasons for Terrorist Rage (Working for Change - Beiser)
    "President Bush didn't quite get it right when he said bin Laden's followers hate us because of our freedoms. They hate us because we are bringing our freedoms to them." 11-01
11. Editorial - U.S. Detainees Need to be Tried (Guardian Unlimited)
    Argues that the USA should follow international law in dealing with detainees captured during the conflict in Afghanistan. (The Guardian is a British newspaper.) 2-02
12. Essay - Combat Terrorism by Fostering Democracy (FutureNet.org - Korten)
    "If we are to have real security we must at once reduce our vulnerability to terrorist disruption and eliminate the conditions of exclusion, hopelessness, and loss of meaning that give rise to it." 3-02
13. Evidence Against Bin Laden (BBC News)
    Provides British (UK) conclusions about the involvement of Osama bin Laden, al-Queda, and the Taliban in terrorist acts, based on intelligence the British government has obtained. Also spelled al Quida and Taleban. 11-01
14. Fighting Terrorism (New York Times - Annan)
    Provides a response to the September 11th attack against the USA from the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 12-01
15. Foreign Ministers Agree on Anti-Terrorism Stance (China Daily)
    Foreign ministers attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting agreed to work together to earnestly implement measures to fight terorism, with leadership from the United Nations. They agreed that the war is between civilization and barbarism, not a war between religions or ethnic groups. The ministers also agreed to work together to solve the problems associated with global terrorism. 10-01
16. Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights )
    States how prisoners of war must be treated and includes 143 articles. For example, "Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria." 1-02
17. Geneva Convention on Treatment of Prisoners of War (University of Minnesota)
    Provides the rules, adopted by most countries, for treatment of prisoners of war. Killing, torturing, starving, injuring, mistreating, or failing to provide medical assistance for, prisoners of war is a war crime. 11-01
18. Hidden War in Afghanistan (Guardian Unlimited - Burke)
    Describes the conflicting interests of different nations trying to influence the war in Afghanistan. Describes the chief intelligence agency of Pakistan, who trained and supported the Taliban, as still very loyal to the Taliban. Accuses the agency, the ISI, of continuing to support the Taliban by letting Taliban supporters through the border to Afghanistan and possibly hurting the efforts of the Northern Alliance to unite against the Taliban. This is the hidden war. 11-01
19. History of Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (U.S. Navy)
    Provides a short history of the area used for detaining persons considered by the U.S. government to be most dangerous among those captured in the conflict in Afghanistan. 2-02
20. History of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, U.S. Naval Station (U.S. Navy)
    Provides a detailed history up to 1964. 2-02
21. Homeland Security Risk Level (Whitehouse - Homeland Security)
    Provides information on the level of risk for attacks by terrorists by using a color-coded system, including Low (Condition Green), Guarded (Condition Blue), Elevated (Condition Yellow), High (Condition Orange), and Severe (Condition Red). Activities that may be started in a "Code Red" condition include
    
    Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning specially trained teams,
    Monitoring, redirecting or constraining transportation systems,
    Closing public and government facilities, and
    Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical emergency needs. 3-02
22. Interview With Muslim Scholars Regarding September 11th (CBS - 60 Minutes)
    Provides a Muslim perspective on "Muslim" terrorism and the Wahhabi puritan form of Islam from Saudi Arabia. Also called 911, 9-11, or 9/11. 10-01
23. Islam's Silent Majority Needs To Speak Up Now (Christian Science Monitor - Ford)
    Discusses the failure of the large majority of Muslims to speak out forcefully against extremism in Islam. Mattson states, "who has the greatest duty to stop violence committed by Muslims against innocent non-Muslims in the name of Islam?" "The answer, obviously is Muslims."11-01
24. Legal Basis for US Military Action in Afghanistan (Radio Netherlands - Kievit)
    Provides international legal statutes that apply to US involvement in Afghanistan. Provides the opinion that the US is entitled to bring terrorist network members, including Ossama bin Laden, to justic for trial. However, Kievit states that the USA may not go further than that legally. For example, he contends that President Bush's statement that bin Ladin is wanted "dead or alive" is not a legally defensible position. 10-01
25. Muslim Misgivings About US Military Action in Afghanistan (Radio Netherlands - Kievit)
    Provides a Muslim perspective on American actions in the context of the past ten years. Many Muslims believe that the USA has become a supporter for "state terrorism" by Israel against Palestinians. They do not support bin Laden's actions, but they do agree that the USA has had very unfair policies. Editor's Note - Islam does not support the practice of separating "church and state." Therefore, an attack by Israelis against Palestinian Muslims is viewed by Muslims worldwide as an attack against Islam. The USA's support of the Israelis after attacks is therefore seen as support of attacks against Islam. 10-01
26. Muslim Rage (Awesome Library)
    Summarizes an article in The Atlantic, written by Dr. Bernard Lewis, about Fundamentalist Muslim rage. 10-01
27. Muslim Rage (Christian Science Monitor - Ford)
    There can be no justification for killing innocent civilians, such as on September 11th. However, it is important for the citizens of the USA to understand how people in the Middle East regard the United States as the USA works to fight terrorism globally.
    
    Provides personal stories of Muslim families in the Middle East affected by American foreign policies and military interventions. "Trying to root out terrorism without re-plowing the soil in which it grows - which means rethinking the policies that breed anti-American sentiment - is unlikely to succeed, say ordinary Middle Easterners and some of their leaders." ''There is only one way for America to be a friend of Islam,' says Ahmed. 'And that is if they consider our lives to be as precious as their own.' 10-01
28. Muslim Rage (Straits Times - Zakaria)
    "The Muslim Brotherhood and organisations like it tried to give people a sense of meaning and purpose in a changing world, something no leader in the Middle East tried to do. Fundamentalism gave Arabs who were dissatisfied with their lot a powerful language of opposition." "If there is one great cause of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, it is the total failure of political institutions in the Arab world." "The disproportionate feelings of grievance directed at America have to be placed in the overall context of the sense of humiliation, decline and despair that sweeps the Arab world. Arabs feel that they are under siege from the modern world and that the US symbolises this world." 10-01
29. Muslim Rage (The Atlantic - Lewis)
    A tiny percent of Muslims are terrorists, just as a tiny percent of Christians or Jews are terrorists. However, there is a growing number of Muslims, especially fundamentalists, that are very angry with the United States. Bernard Lewis, the Middle Eastern scholar, summarizes why so many Muslims, especially fundamentalists, are so intensely anti-American. Editor's Note - Dr. Lewis appeared on the Charlie Rose television show (10-18-01) and pointed out that vast numbers of Middle Eastern Muslims are also very pro-United States. He gave the example of the tens of thousands of Iranians who publicly demonstrated their grief, sorrow, and support for the United States because of the September 11th disaster--despite strong orders from the Iranian government not to do so. Also called 911, 9-11, or 9/11. 10-01
30. Muslim Rage and Democracy (National Endowment for Democracy and the Johns Hopkins University Press - Wright)
    Provides Robin Wright's analysis. 12-01
31. Muslim Rage and Europe (Oregonian - Friedman)
    Provides an essay arguing that it is the loss of dignity that has caused young middle-class men from the Middle East to turn to leaders who turn them from Islam to violence. 12-01
32. Muslim Responsibility for Countering Terrorism (TheAge.com - Makiya)
    Describes the true meaning of jihad and exhorts Muslims to stop the source of terrorism, persons who are trying to hide their own rage and criminal behavior under the cloak of religion. Argues that terrorists are to Muslims what the Ku Klux Klan is to Christianity. Also argues that Muslims and Arabians should stop trying to explain why they are so angry with Americans and, instead, focus their efforts on stopping terrorism committed under the name of Islam. 10-01
33. Muslims Against Terrorism (Islam for Today)
    Provides statements from Muslim scholars. 10-01
34. Muslims Against Terrorism - Singapore (Straits Times Asia - Osman)
    According to Osman, the supreme authority of Muslims in Singapore stated 'There is no war against Islam and the war is against terrorism affecting Muslims and non-Muslims.' 10-01
35. National Strategy for Combating Terrorism (Rand Corporation)
    Provides a national plan for combating terrorism in the United States. (Uses PDF format.) 9-01
36. Northern Alliance (CBC)
    Provides a profile of the Northern Alliance, the military group opposing the Taliban in Afghanistan. 10-01
37. Opinion Leaders - Views of the USA and Terrorism (International Herald Tribune - Knowlton)
    Provides results from a poll of opinion leaders globally regarding the American role in combating terrorism. Americans view themselves differently from how others view the USA. 12-01
38. Pentagon Hires Public Relations Firm (Guardian Unlimited - Day)
    Discusses the hiring of a public relations firm to help the Pentagon make its case to the world regarding counter-terrorism efforts. (The Guardian is a British newspaper.) 10-01
39. Prayer in Response to Terrorism (Christian Science Monitor)
    Provides the view that terrorism is countered most effectively by praying for our enemies. 3-02
40. Profiling - Nations Object to Profiling (Guardian Unlimited)
    Describes the complaints of 17 countries regarding discrimination against Arabians and others at security points at airports. 2-02
41. Reactions to Counter Terrorism Efforts (ABC News)
    Provides updates of reactions of people by region. 10-01
42. Recommendations to Improve Homeland Security (Brookings Institute - Project on Homeland Security)
    "To broaden and reorient the homeland security agenda, we propose a four-tier strategic framework. The four tiers are (1) perimeter defense of the country's borders, (2) preventive activities within the country, (3) protection of domestic sites, and (4) consequence management after attacks."
    
    "The Bush administration's 2003 budget contains initiatives that are broadly similar to our first and final categories, but proposes a somewhat scattershot collection of individual programs and efforts within the second category of domestic prevention and the third category of domestic protection. We attempt to develop a more systematic and comprehensive agenda in those areas." 5-02
43. Roots of Rage (MSNBC.com - Dateline)
    Discusses how the USA became the target of rage from terrorists from the Middle East. 1-02
44. Roots of Terrorism (Raikhlin)
    Provides a sociological analysis at a college level. 1-02
45. Saudi Arabia and al Qaeda (Weekly Standard - Wurmser)
    Provides a history of the relationship between Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Wahhabism, Osama bin Laden, and the al Qaeda terrorist network. 10-01
46. September 11th - A Defining Moment (ABC News - Sealey)
    Provides an essay on how the September 11th attack on the USA has changed Americans. 12-01
47. Steps Needed to Counter Terrorism in the USA (US State Department)
    Provides steps that the United States government needs to take to improve its ability to prevent terrorism. (The report was published in June of 2000.) 9-01
48. Tanzanite Gems Linked to al-Quida (MSNBC - Block and Pearl)
    Discusses links between the trafficking in tanzanite, a very rare gem, and the al-Quida terrorist network. 11-01
49. Tape of Bin Laden - Arabian Reaction (BBC News)
    Provides reactions from Arabians after seeing a videotape of Osama bin Laden stating that he had been involved in planning the September attack against the USA. 12-01
50. Tape of Bin Laden - Arabian Reaction (Time.com - MacLeod)
    Describes how a videotape of Osama bin Laden stating that he had been involved in planning the September attack against the USA, combined with the fall of the Taliban, will probably affect followers of bin Laden. 12-01
51. Technology to Combat Terrorism (Popular Mechanics)Describes technology that can help reduce terrorism in the USA. 1-02
52. Terrorism and the Peace Process in the Middle East (Time)
    Discusses the relationship between efforts to reduce international terrorism, lead by the USA, and the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. 11-01
53. Treatment of Suspects (Amnesty International)
    Argues that suspects that have not been charged with crimes in the September 11th disaster should not be abused or lose basic human rights. Also called 911, 9-11, or 9/11. 10-01
54. U.S. Installs Nuclear Sensors to Fight Terrorism (International Herald Tribune - Gellman)
    Provides the views of an Egyptian human rights activist. 2-02
55. U.S. and Afghanistan Priorities Different (Time.com - Karon)
    Describes differences between American priorities and Afghan priorities regarding the Taliban. The Americans want the Taliban leaders captured and the Afghans are willing to have the leaders change sides and go free, an Afghan tradition. 1-02
56. US Government's Relationship With Middle East Muslims (Washington Post - Morgan)
    "It is too late for a dialogue with terrorists and extremists who are cynically using religion to attack a straw man: 'Christian' America that is 'crusading' against Islam." "Even so, our security now depends on finding ways to show we are on the side of peaceable Muslims, even fundamentalists, who are using religious principles in a legitimate struggle for better societies." 10-01
57. United Nations Adopts Resolution Against Terrorism (Dawn.com)
    Provides key components of the resolution. 9-01
58. Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act (Quicken.com)
    Summarizes the benefits for those affected by terrorist attacks against the United States. 2-02
59. Wanted for Terrorism - Rewards Provided (U.S. Department of State)
    Offers up to 5 million dollars as a reward for "information that prevents, frustrates, or favorably resolves acts of international terrorism against U.S. interests worldwide or leads to the arrest or conviction in any country of an individual for the commission of such an act." Provides pictures and descriptive information on twenty-two persons indicted on charges of terrorism. 11-01

Projects

1. Bush Asks for Children to Communicate With Children in the Middle East (Washington Times - Sammon)
   President Bush asks that each child in America find a Muslim child in the Middle East to communicate with to improve understanding between our two cultures. The effort is called Friendship Through Education. 10-01
2. Communication With Children in Other Countries (Friendship Through Education)
   President Bush asks that each child in America find a Muslim child in the Middle East to communicate with to improve understanding between our two cultures. This is the program he recommends. 10-01