Based on the readings from the text and research, there is no one behavior and tactic that
will describe terrorism. However, terrorist often follow certain patterns of activity, such as
“propaganda, recruiting, financing, and training” (McEntire, 2019, p. 78). In terms of
propaganda, ideological goals are continually being supported and developed by terrorist. For
example, terrorist have been known to use the media to connect with others to promote their
ideas of attacks, as well as criticize enemies (McEntire, 2019). Social media has become a more
of an essential platform among terrorist groups in regard to their strategic communication
concepts because they are able to promote their ideas to a broader public community
(Rothernberger, 2012). This is change in media is something that has been utilized by terrorist
within the past decade due to continual advancements of the internet and technology. Technology
is also used to recruit terrorist. McEntire (2019) discussed how terrorist use well-developed
websites to seek out individuals or groups that support similar ideologies. Therefore, it is
important to note that technology is s major change that has allowed for terrorism to become a
growing issue overtime.
Financing is another tactic that terrorist use to help support their activities. Terrorist
groups can meet their financial obligations through multiple different ways, and these can
include involvement in drug trading, investing in businesses or stocks, other illegal activities, and
may also obtain financial resources from governments or individuals (McEntire, 2019). For
example, there seems to be a close connection between terrorism and narcotics due to terrorist
leaders being involved in these illegal activities of selling and moving drugs for money. Lastly,
training is a crucial element in terrorist groups. Terrorists make sure that they educate themselves
and others about their deadly abilities (McEntire, 2019). Training leads to helping terrorist obtain
false documents, travel, allow for secret communications, planning of attacks, and obtaining
weapons (McEntire, 2019). In order for terrorist to not get caught, training is an essential factor
that is required.
There is not one reason for someone to become a terrorist but there are main factors that
contribute to it. The majority of terrorist are socially isolated individuals, are unemployed, have
little education, and are typical single (Gill et al., 2014). Also, there has been research done on
mental disorders contributing to individuals becoming terrorist. Gill et al. (2014) highlighted that
about less than a third, 31.9%, of terrorist have been seen to have had a mental illness or
personality disorder. With this being said, behaviors and experiences are inherent in identifying
factors that play a role in individuals becoming terrorist. When individuals are not being heard or
there is no change happening then individuals or groups will take actions. It is important that
information is provided to the general public on the behavioral indicators that lead to this type of
violence (Gill et al., 2014).
Being able to understand behaviors and tactics in which terrorist operate will ultimately
allow for improvements in prevention and reduction of future attacks. Kuiawski (2015)
highlighted that terrorist are known to be strategic enemies. Therefore, they do not just attack
randomly; “they attack sites where defense is weak and expected gains are high” (Kuiawski,
2015, p.365). This is why it is important to understand how terrorism and their behaviors have
changed over time. Proverbs 24:8-10 states “whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer. The
schemes of folly are sin, and people detest a mocker. If you faulter in a time of trouble, how
small is your strength” (New International Version, 2011). Those who cause harm to innocent
individuals will reap the consequences that the Lord plans. It is important to understand specific
tactics and behaviors of terrorist in order to be better prepared to protect ourselves against evil, in
this case terrorist.
References:
Gill, P., Horgan, J., & Deckert, P. (2014). Bombing alone: Tracing the motivations and
antecedent behaviors of Lone‐Actor terrorists. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 59(2), 425-435.
Kujawski, E. (2015). Accounting for terrorist behavior in allocating defensive counterterrorism
resources: Accounting for Terrorist Behavior. Systems Engineering, 18(4), 365-376.
McEntire, D. A. (2019). Introduction to homeland security: Understanding terrorism with an
emergency management perspective (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New International Version Bible (2011). BibleGateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/
(original work published 1978).
Rothenberger, L. (2012). Terrorist Groups: Using Internet and Social Media for Disseminating
Ideas. New Tools for Promoting Political Change. Romanian Journal of Communications and
Public Relations., XIV(3), 7–23.
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