Information Terrorism
The introduction of the computer has created a new type of terrorism known
as
informational terrorism, which presents a threat, equal to or greater
than
physical terrorism. E-mail bombs and attacks on internet servers are the
lowest
forms of informational terrorism in terms of destruction. Higher forms
of
informational warfare include using the internet as a catalyst to
produce
physical terrorism on a higher scale. "The national security
establishment is
concerned with a new form of conflict; informational
warfare." (Devost, 1) The
Department of Defense definition of terrorism
is "the calculated use of
violence or the threat of violence to inculcate
fear; intended to coerce or to
intimidate governments or societies in the
pursuit of goals that are generally
political, religious, or ideological."
(Research, 1) While in physical
terrorism, the perpetrator must come in
contact with the target, in
informational terrorism the perpetrator only
needs a computer connection. Not
only are the tools of information terrorism
more accessible but the implications
can be more devastating. In conjunction
with the Internet and the infancy of its
laws, the criminal justice system
has fallen behind with its vague set of
incoherent laws. Terroristic
violence, as portrayed in Tom Clancy’s Clear and
Present Danger, presents
a serious threat to the U.S. which should be dealt not
only with caution and
security, but also in conjunction with response.
"Identifying
international terrorists and their networks providing warning so
that
protective or deterrent measures can be taken, and gathering information
on
terrorist acts require a major U.S. intelligent effort." (Wilcox, 1) In
Tom
Clancy’s Clear and Present Danger, information is not correctly
distributed to
U.S. agents causing underestimation of enemies. To rectify
the drug problem
initiated by Columbia, both the United States and Columbia
use physical
terrorism to contend one another. After Colombian drug lords
murder a United
States ambassador, the United States retaliates by
mounting a series of covert
operations including assassinations and
interdiction of drug production and
smuggling. Does the Colombian drug lords
murder of one man justify the reactions
of over exertion of force from the
U.S.? Tom Clancy used small teams of covert
operatives to launch a counter
attack on the Colombians. The U.S. currently
employs a strategy similar to
this. "To respond promptly to terrorist
incidents abroad which require varied
U.S. resources, we have developed a unique
fast reaction team. This team, led
by an officer from S/CT, consists of experts
from DOD, CIA, FBI and other
agencies, as needed. At the request of a foreign
government or an U.S.
Ambassador abroad, this team can be dispatched within a
few hours on a
specially dedicated aircraft provided by DOD to any place in the
world. The
team's job is to provide support to the Ambassador and the host
government in
resolving a terrorist crisis, and to advise on additional U.S.
assets that
might be needed."(Combating, 2) This response does not only
embody
Clancy’s counteraction but surpasses it with the annexation of
whatever force
is necessary. "Small, tailored teams can be launched,
depending on the crisis,
and specialists from individual urgencies can be
sent alone, as the situation
arises"(Wilcox, 2) If the product of physical
terrorism is fear and death, how
can information terrorism render a greater
threat? "Considering the presence
of computers in modern society, it is not
surprising that terrorists have
occasionally targeted computers systems in
the past."(Devost, 2)
"Information terrorism is the nexus between
criminal information system fraud
abuse, and the physical violence of
terrorism"(Devost, 2) "Information
technology offers new opportunities to
terrorists"(Devost, 1) "Information
warfare, loosely defined, is targeting
the information and information systems
that comprise and support civilian
and military infrastructures of an adversary.
Information warfare runs
deeper than attacks on tanks and troops: an information
warfare campaign can
target and disrupt the information and networks that
support crucial
day-to-day workings of civilian, commercial, and military
systems, e.g., air
traffic control, power grids, stock markets, international
financial
transactions, logistics controls, etc. "(Informational, 1)
"Information
technology offers new opportunities to terrorists. "A terrorist
organization
can reap low-risk, highly visible payoffs by attacking information
systems.
In an effort to attract the attention of the public, political
terrorists
perpetrate their acts with the media at the forefront of their
strategy: this
strategy calculus is based on the assumption that access to the
communication
structure is directly related to power." (Informational, 1) In
short,
informational terrorism can affect millions of people, thousands of
miles
away, without leaving a trail for restitution. "Terrorism is a
rapidly
evolving and responsive phenomenon." (Devost, 1) "It is war in which
there
are no front lines and in which terrorism practitioners have
intentionally
blurred the distinction between combatants and
noncombatants."(Responding, 5)
Any type of terrorism is too destructive,
whether it’s as small as a
kidnapping or as complex as state-sponsored
terrorism between two conflicting
governments. "Terrorist violence represents
a serious threat to U.S.
personnel, facilities, and interests around the
world"(Responding, 4) "As
technology becomes more cost effective to
terrorists – that is, its
availability and potential for disruptive effects
rise wile its financial and
other costs go down."(Devost, 2) "To combat this
growing threat, many
members of Congress have recently proposed
anti-terrorist
legislation."(Terrorism, 1) In my opinion the response to
terrorism is too
late. When presented with an act of violence the
counter-action will involve
violence. After the operation has transpired the
anti-terrorism is only
vengeance. The only true way to combat terrorism and
terrorist activities is
prevention. "The war against terrorism will be a
protracted conflict."
(Responding, 5) "Terrorism for the foreseeable future
will remain a weapon of
choice for government groups, and other parties to
conflict." (Responding, 4)