Accession Number:

ADA455763

Title:

The New Terrorism: The Nature of the War on Terrorism

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

AIR UNIV MAXWELL AFB AL SCHOOL OF ADVANCED AIRPOWER STUDIES

Personal Author(s):

• Kometer, Michael W.

Report Date:

2004-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

86.0

Abstract:

This study defines the nature of the war on terrorism by assessing the changing nature of terrorism itself and develops an analytical framework within which to assess the strategies of terrorist groups. It compares the strategies of old terrorist groups -- Red Army Faction, Palestinian Liberation Organization PLO, and Irish Republican Army IRA -- to the new terrorism, the militant Islamic movement. The study concludes that there is a new terrorism that is not merely terrorism but a global insurgency. The strategy of this new movement requires an aggressive war on terrorism as a counterstrategy, but not necessarily the war that the United States is trying to fight. This study develops guidelines for military strategy against the insurgents by using the same analytical framework to assess the insurgents strategy.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY STRATEGY
• *STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
• *HISTORY
• *COUNTERTERRORISM
• *TERRORISM
• *INSURGENCY
• TERRORISTS
• UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
• POLITICAL ALLIANCES
• COUNTERINSURGENCY
• DOCTRINE
• INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
• MOTIVATION
• THESES
• ORGANIZATIONS
• LEADERSHIP
• GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN)

Subject Categories:

• Humanities and History
• Unconventional Warfare

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE