Overview

The events of 11 September 2001 have thrust the United States to the forefront ofthe international struggle against terrorism. Terror is no longer a retail business; al-Qaedahas taken it to the wholesale level. In the past, as in the earlier history of the IrishRepublican Army (IRA), the purpose of terrorists was indeed to create fear, but also toachieve political aims of a limited nature. Even when they were at their most murderous, the IRA remained politicians, albeit criminal ones. They had their political objective, aunited Ireland, and they had political constituencies to maintain, among Irish RomanCatholics, and among Irish Americans who misguidedly donated their dollars intoNoraid's collecting boxes. These constituencies were willing to condone attacks onsoldiers, policemen, or politicians. They were even willing to condone the murder ofunconnected civilians, as long as it was in penny numbers. But they balked at thebombing in Omagh, which killed scores of innocents. Al-Qaeda does not use terror as apolitical weapon, but as a new type of total war. They do not seek to persuade, but todestroy. President Bush has been criticized for describing the situation after 11September 2001 as the war on terrorism. Yet that is a fair description. When people killby the thousands they change the nature of the crime. This is the hallmark of al-Qaeda;whether in New York, Bali, or Madrid, it believes in death (Rees-Mogg 2004)

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