Analysis of Techno-terrorism :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Techno-terrorism and the Future of Civilization      Ã‚  Ã‚   "Modern terrorism, with sophisticated technological means at its disposal and the future possibility of access to biological and nuclear weapons, presents a clear and present danger to the very existence of civilization itself"--Justice Arthur J. Goldberg. Mr. Goldberg's statement expresses a valid concern that has become an alarming reality. As terrorists trade pistols for airplanes and pipe bombs for nuclear explosives, technology is rapidly increasing the power, range, and effectiveness of attacks that terrorists are able to execute.    We should expect that terrorist attacks will become even more lethal for a few reasons. First, the terrorists themselves are becoming more technologically adept. Second, governments such as Iraq and Syria are providing the wherewithal for attacks against new and more sophisticated targets. Third, religious radicals are establishing new boundaries for mass violence beyond what had been previously anticipated. Finally, the threshold for new forms of attack has already been breached--such as the attacks on technological infrastructure and poisonings of municipal water supplies. Techno-terrorism is the topic of discussion for this paper, however, it is also a topic for legislators, governments, communities, and families to evaluate when molding the world of tomorrow. The purpose of this paper is to examine terrorist ideology and to explore the technology of terrorism and what impact it may have for the future of civilization.    In order to better understand terrorism and the effect that technology may have, one needs to be cognizant of the different elements of terrorism. One dimension to start with is the general strategies of terrorism--how are terrorists trying to accomplish their goals. Tactics--a related component to strategies--stands out as the essence to terrorism. Other elements that will be covered include personal weapons and technological improvements that serve as an added bonus to personal weapons. Lastly, the latest, and most noxious, phenomenon of terrorism is mass destruction--the use of explosives and nuclear warfare.    When I mentioned general strategies of terrorism, I mean that general themes and patterns or lack thereof will be discussed. The summation of the following points explain the focus of terrorism on a unbiased scale. The first of five major themes is the idea that the terrorist act must always have a victim--someone or something harmed by the act--in order for the act to be utilitarian. Second, there are no real targets in which an enemy or adversary is terminated, only symbolic targets.