Title: International Politics: Terrorism | SparkNotes
Headings: International Politics
International Politics
Terrorism
Types of Terrorism
Guerrillas Versus Terrorists

Content: Many terrorists are young, frustrated men who feel that they have  been treated unjustly. Sometimes terrorists try to destabilize a government  directly, via assassinations, kidnappings, and the bombing of government  buildings. Terrorists can also work to undermine governments indirectly by  showing people that their leaders are too weak to prevent the attacks and that  an active resistance movement exists. Sometimes, terrorists attack in order to  provoke a strong response from the government, hoping that the response will  alienate more people from the government and foster even more political discord. Example: Many scholars and political  analysts have argued that President George W. Bush played into al Qaeda’s  hands by passing the Patriot Act in 2001 and by invading Iraq in 2003. The  Patriot Act gave the federal government more power to detain and question  suspected terrorists—often without trial—and to monitor suspicious activity. The Iraq War, meanwhile, deeply divided Americans when it became clear that  Saddam Hussein had no connection with al Qaeda and was not harboring weapons  of mass destruction. The federal government’s suspension of some civil  liberties along with the specter of deceit has shattered much of the unity  Americans felt in the wake of the September 11th terrorist  attacks. Previous section Revolution
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