no matter whether their demands are fulfilled are not.
People taken hostage may offer resistance or obey. No matter what they may do, they are fully at the mercy of terrorists.
As for the more powerful majority, government, any other authorities and their forces, they perform almost the same actions in any situation of emergency. The public protectors’ highest aim is to secure the release of hostages (if any), and to offer sympathy to the injured and the relatives of the killed (if any). They also try to provide security at airports and other public places by installing such devices as DETECTORS, METAL DETECTORS, and EXPLOSIVESDETECTION PORTAL in order TO INSPECT PEOPLE AND THEIR LUGGAGE by making them WALK THROUGH THE DETECTOR in order to FERRET OUT PEOPLE who carry explosives.
EXPLOSIVE – substance that can explode
· CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVE
· PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE
· HIGH EXPLOSIVE
To describe the activities of terrorists and their opponents in a more detailed way the following vocabulary may be of help.
3.1. Terrorists “at work”:
· to prepare / plan terrorist acts
· to have a terror plan
· to design / organize / attempt an attack on smth.
· to plot a series of attacks on / against smb. / smth.
· to choose one’ targets carefully
· to study automated programs that control the nation’s power plants, powerlines, pipelines and water-treatment plants
· to buy / use new high-tech weapon systems
· to target the innocent and defenseless
· to target a particular community
· to frighten the civilian population
· to carry out acts of terrorism
· to commit terrorist acts
· to attack / hit targets
· to stage an attack (a bombing attack)
· to intensify terrorist attacks
· to carry out numerous small bombings and minor assaults
· to make / build a bomb
· to place a suitcase bomb somewhere
· to explode / detonate a bomb (mine, fuse)
· to blow smth. up
· to blow oneself up
· to take control of passenger airliners (or other transport vehicles)
· to blackmail the crew and the passengers
· to cling to the gun
· to use different dangerous materials
· to release some toxic gas (e.g. sarin gas)
· to poison water supplies
· to contaminate food with dangerous biological agents (e.g. with anthrax spores)
· to hack into computer networks
· to set up trainer camps in remote areas
· to supply terrorists with fake documents
3.2.1. Civilians facing the threat of assault by terrorists:
· to be on one’s guard
· to take precautions against a surprise attack
· to protect oneself (one’s family) from attack
· to follow / heed the advice of local authorities / local emergency officials
· to cooperate with the police and security units
· to share specific knowledge about potential threats with the authorized personnel
· to inform local police of any suspicious persons or objects
· to have essential supplies on hand
3.2.2. What civilians should do in case of a terror strike:
· to avoid / resist panic and confusion
· to help / aid the victims of attacks
· to check them for injuries
· to give first aid to seriously injured people
· to leave the affected / dangerous area
· to check one’s house for damage (using a flashlight)
· to sniff for gas leaks
· to turn off the main gas valve
· to turn off all heating and conditioning systems
· to shut off any other damaged utilities
· to check for fires, fire hazards and household hazards
· to seal all cracks around the door or any vents into the room (in case of a dustbomb, smoke or gas attack)
· to put on gas masks when necessary
· to check on neighbours (especially those who are elderly or disabled)
· to prepare / assemble a disaster supplies kit (in case evacuation is necessary)
· to take aid supplies (medicine), a change of clothing, a sleeping bag or a bedroll, food, a battery powered radio or television and extra batteries, cash, and copies of important family documents (passports, licenses, birth and marriage certificates)
· to take special need items for any member of one’s family
· to contact the authorities for emergency instructions
3.3. Anti-terrorism measures and actions taken by the authorities (or expected from them)
3.3.1. The government in general:
· to take a strong stand against terrorism
· to condemn terrorism in all forms
· to reject / oppose / fight terrorism
· to aim at destroying / defeating / curbing / getting rid of terrorism
· to combat terrorism in a comprehensive manner
· to take concrete actions to stop terror
· to control the ‘hot spots’ of terrorism
· to fight terrorism by military means, legal means, law enforcement and intelligence means
· to monitor terrorists’ movements / activities
· to prevent and suppress all forms of terrorist acts
· to prevent the flow of funds to terrorists
· to cut the financial links between organized crime and terrorism
· to disrupt / destroy / shut down terrorist groups and networks
· to create and develop anti-terrorism facilities
· to establish anti-terrorism training centres
· to train firefighters, police, bomb squad members, hazardous material experts
· to rethink and reorganize national security assets
· to expand the security force
· to tighten security in ‘problem’ areas
· to work out clear cut emergency directions
· to design a wide scale emergency preparedness program
· to prepare doctors, hospitals and health officials for a bioterrorist attack or other medical disasters
· to train emergency crews to deal with radiological, biological, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction
· to upgrade computers in hospitals
· to prepare hospitals to treat a huge influx of sick and injured
· to generate new technologies for protection of people
· to design security systems for utilities
· to enhance border security
· to enhance airport, aircraft and port security
· to enhance international requirements for the security of air and maritime transportation
· to close territories of potential attacks
· to help the citizens prepare for surprise attacks
· to provide the public with information about the threat of terror strikes
· to raise the public awareness of the danger of terrorism
3.3.2. Security forces:
· to protect / defend a country against terror strikes
· to protect potential targets of terrorist attacks
· to resist, fight and defeat the perpetrators of terror
· to take military action (e.g. bombing raids, helicopter assault) against terrorists
· to prevent, disrupt and eliminate any form of terrorist activity
· to keep close watch on people suspected of ties with terrorists
· to investigate terrorist crimes
· to search and dismantle terrorists
· to hunt / track down / corner a terrorist
· to catch / arrest a terrorist
· to find and release hostages and victims of kidnapping
· to free passengers of hijacked aircraft / vehicles out of terrorist hands
· to aid / treat the victims of terror attacks
3.3.3. Control at the airport:
· to provide security at airports
· to take security measures against the possible acts of terrorism
· to increase the level and variety of security techniques
· to improve the quality / the effectiveness of airport screening
· to screen all baggage / cargo / passenger luggage
· to make a thorough scrutiny of people and their luggage
· to inspect / monitor people and their luggage
· to check the baggage
· to scan smth.
· to make people walk through the metal detector
· to install bomb-scanning machines
· to ferret out people who carry explosives / dangerous items / different hazardous materials
3.3.4. Judicial authorities:
· to gather facts / evidence against a terrorist
· to accuse smb. of criminal involvement in terrorism
· to bring terrorists to justice
· to put a suspect into prison
· to jail a terrorist
· to consider a case against smb. on suspicion of being a member of a terrorist network
· to indict a terrorist
· to sentence a terrorist to (death / life imprisonment / … years)
· to grant clemency to smb.
SECTION 4. WHY IT HAPPENS
Acts of terrorism and violence may be divided into two groups:
1. those that are performed by individuals,
2. the ones performed by organized militant groups.
Actions of protest are carried out due to some serious CAUSE.
Acts of terrorism are performed on some certain PURPOSE that is usually connected with POLITICS, RELIGION, FINANCE, and INDIVIDUAL FAME
(the condition of being well known and talked about).
CAUSE /compare with REASON/ (OF) –
1.SOMETHING WHICH PRODUCES AN EFFECT; A PERSON, THING OR EVENT THAT
MAKES SOMETHING HAPPEN;
2.SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES A SATISFACTORY REASON FOR AN ACTION;
3.PRINCIPLE, AIM OR MOVEMENT THAT IS STRONGLY DEFENDED OR SUPPORTED
- TO MAKE COMMON CAUSE – TO TAKE ACTION TOGETHER FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
REASON – THE CAUSE OF AN ELEMENT OR SITUATION; A FACT, EVENT, OR
STATEMENT THAT PROVIDES AN EXPLANATION OR EXCUSE FOR
SOMETHING.
PURPOSE /compare with AIM/ -
1.AN INTENTION OR PLAN, A PERSON’S REASON FOR AN ACTION
2.A USE, EFFECT, RESULT
3.STEADILY DETERMINED FOLLOWING OF AN AIM
- ON PURPOSE – 1.INTENTIONALLY
2.WITH A PATICULAR STATED INTENTION
AIM (OF) – THE DESIRED RESULT OF ONE’S EFFORTS, INTENTION OR PURPOSE
- TO AIM (AT/FOR) – TO DIRECT ONE’S EFFORTS (TOWARD DOING OR OBTAINING SOMETHING),
INTEND (TO)
Terrorists may aim
· TO SHOW OFF
· TO SHOW ONE’S POWER
· TO THREATEN SMB.
· TO DEMAND POLITICAL RIGHTS/POLITICAL ASYLAM/RANSOM
· TO CHANGE POLITICAL SITUATION
· TO TARNISH ONE’S IMAGE
· TO PUNISH SMB.
· TO TAKE REVENGE
The reason for acts of terrorism performed by single individuals may be that they have poor mental health.(usually they want to become famous)
Religious fanatics are often found among single terrorists.
People that perform violent actions may be characterized by
- INBORN VIOLENCE
- ACQUIRED MENTAL DISORDERS
INBORN VIOLENCE – AN INDIVIDUAL PREDISPOSITION TOWARDS VIOLENCE
CAUSED BY
· GENETIC CODE MUTATION,
· INBORN MENTAL DISORDERS,
· MENTAL DESEASE/ILLNESS
THAT MAY LEAD TO HIGH AGGRESSIVE STATES WHEN PEOPLE
· CANNOT KEEP ANGER UNDER CONTROL
· CANNOT RESTRAIN ANGER
· EASILY LOSE PATIENCE
· EASILY FLY IN RAGE
· TREAT OTHERS CRUELLY/BRUTALLY
AQUIRED MENTAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS may be caused by