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South Asia Terrorism
Portal
Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi, India
www.satp.org
Characteristics
A. South Asia Intelligence Review ( Weekly Assessments and Briefings)
B. Terrorism Update (daily)
C. Country Profile
i. Assessment
ii. Backgrounder
iii. Bibliography
iv. Documents (Acts & Ordinances, Papers)
v. Data Sheets
vi. Timelines
vii. Terrorist Groups
D. Quarterly Journal: Fault Lines: Writings on Conflict & Resolution
E. Northeast Portal, Database of Terrorism in Northeastern Indian
F. Annual South Asia Assessment
G. Map of Violent Conflict and Terrorism
Analysis
The South Asia Terrorism Portal, hosted by the Institute for Conflict
Management in New Delhi, is a broad effort at documenting and analyzing
the history of terrorism in the region of South Asia. The Portal provides
a readily accessible data of terrorist events and terrorist groups on the
following countries of South Asia: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh,
Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Primarily the site concentrates on a country by
country data collection and analysis. Country profiles provide a number of
different resources on terrorist events and issues about each particular
country: assessment, backgrounder, bibliography, acts & ordinances, data
sheets, timelines and terrorist groups. The site also provides a
collection of data and analysis on terrorism in the Northeastern region of
India: Jammu & Kashmir and maintains a database of terrorist events that
have occurred in these states. A series of annual assessments of terrorism
discussing the development of terrorist and counter-terrorist activities
in the South Asia region is also published online regularly. Numerical
data is complemented by maps of terrorist events, terrorist groups and
conflicts in specific regions of South Asia. A wide collection of data and
assessment is supplemented by a quarterly journal Faultines,
published by the Institute for Conflict Management, which is accessible
through the site. Faultlines, primarily a journal on conflict and
resolution, provides a substantial analysis and scholarly discussion on
the issues of terrorism in South Asia.
Although, the South Asia Terrorism Portal, on the surface, is an
impressive user friendly resource on terrorism in South Asia, its entire
collection of data, research and analysis is marred by lack of sources and
references. The data sheets and timelines on each of the countries either
have no sources listed or these listings are limited to vague phrases,
“figures are compiled from news reports and provisional”, “constructed
from media reports” or “compiled from English language media sources”. A
number of data on violence is represented through graphs and maps.
However, similarly no sources or references are listed for these
representations.
The analysis in the form of country assessments, country backgrounders and
briefings on terrorist groups are marred by lack of objectivity. A few
analysis and descriptions I have sampled exemplify a subjective viewpoint
and the Portal’s lack of sources only dissuades the reader in accepting
these analysis as objective and factual. In India Assessment 2002, the
writer states, “Available evidence, however, suggests that the Pakistani
government continues its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, and
terrorism remains an instrument of its state policy.” and at another point
in the same article it is stated, “In the eastern part of the country, in
January 2001, the Army and intelligence agencies reportedly unearthed an
ISI plot to convert North Bengal into a trouble spot, so that the Indian
Army would have to maintain round-the-year deployment in the region.”
However, through out India Assessment 2003, not a single source of
information or intelligence is indicated. At the same time the analysis is
adamant on a long range of generalizations and accusations that they
themselves have failed to support through any evidence. Similarly in
Pakistan Assessment 2003, the analysis states, “A series of high-intensity
terrorist attacks during 2002 and in the first half of year 2003 in the
Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and other States, all bore a clear
Pakistani imprint”. Again, the analyst here has failed to elaborate what
exactly a ‘Pakistani imprint’ signifies and is suggesting his vague and
generalized statements as evidence of involvement of the Pakistani state.
In Bangladesh Assessment 2003, the analysts continue with these
accusations and generalizations, with no clear source or evidence:
“….Bangladesh has become a new safe haven and theatre of activities for
the Al Qaeda and other Islamist fundamentalist groups, reports from Asian
and Western intelligence services have suggested otherwise”, “The
Bangladeshi Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) in
collaboration with the ISI and transnational Islamist groups, coordinate
the activities of several Indian groups such as the United Liberation
Front of Asom (ULFA), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), All
Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).”
Although the Institute for Conflict Management has managed to create a
large collection of data, research and analysis on terrorism, the lack of
sources and references leave its conglomeration of data and analysis shaky
and unreliable, to say the least.
IPCS Terrorism Project
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi, India
www.ipcs.org
Characteristics
A. News Reports on Terrorism with Daily Update
B. News Archive Database
C. Articles on Terrorism by Region:
i. Kashmir
ii. Northeastern India
iii. Sri Lanka
iv. Naxal Violence
D. Articles on Types of Terrorism
i. Nuclear Terrorism
ii. Chemical Terrorism
iii. Bio-Terrorism
iv. Suicide Terrorism
E. Panel Discussion and Seminar Transcripts
Analysis
The IPCS Terrorism Project, maintained by the Institute of Peace and
Conflict Studies in New Delhi, is an analytic resource on issues of
terrorism around the globe, with a particular concentration in certain
regions of South Asia. The site provides daily news reports on terrorist
events and issues around the globe from English national dailies and
magazines from India, the South Asia region and the world. At the same
time site maintains an easily accessible and searchable archive of these
news reports. The other main feature of IPCS Terrorism Project is a
collection of articles from scholars, experts and the IPCS staff on
terrorism and the issues surrounding it. Firstly, a regional collection of
articles is maintained concentrating in Kashmir, Northeastern India, Sri
Lanka and Naxal Violence. Secondly, a collection of articles is maintained
analyzing types of terrorism, particularly Nuclear Terrorism, Chemical
Terrorism, Bio-Terrorism and Suicide Terrorism. The Project also provides
a number of references and website links to other resources for
information on terrorism.
However, IPCS primarily maintains a strictly analytic coverage of
terrorism and its geographical range of coverage is also very limited in
scope. The institute has not established a collection of statistical
research on terrorist groups, terrorist events and counter-terrorist
activities. They have relied on news reports for factual information on
terrorism in Indian and Sri Lanka; however, most of this coverage is based
on local and national newspapers of these regions. In spite of a limited
geographical coverage and entirely analytic research, the institute has
not made any substantial efforts at presenting a broader perspective on
issues of terrorism. IPCS analysts largely limit themselves to examining
the political and military challenges that terrorism poses whereas the
economic and social implication of terrorism is largely ignored. Also the
analysts concentrate more on policy proposals than analyzing current
national and regional policies to combat terrorism. First of all, their
geographical coverage is limited to India and Sri Lanka and even with in
India only terrorism in Kashmir and Northeastern Indian states is covered.
Even their news reports on terrorism are limited to the coverage of these
regions. The IPCS Terrorism Project site also lacks a structured and
user-friendly presentation. The division between regional analysis and
topical analysis on terrorism is not clear and difficult to navigate.
Research articles and papers on nuclear, chemical and biological terrorism
are greatly limited in quantity as only a few outdated articles are
available on the subject.
Terrorism and American
Foreign Policy
The Brookings Institute, Washington D.C., USA
www.brookings.edu/terrorism
Characteristics
A. Policy Briefs
B. Analytics Papers and Commentary
C. Government Documents on Terrorism
D. Archive of audio, visual and printed transcripts of Brooking events on
Terrorism
E. Resources:
i. The Role of the Press in the Anti-Terrorism Campaign
ii. Brookings Update on Terrorism e-mail alert
Analysis
Terrorism and American Foreign Policy, a project launched by the
Brookings Institute in Washington D.C. in September 2000, is a large-scale
effort at employing its reservoir of scholarly expertise to focus on
exploring the immediate and long-term relationship between American
foreign policy and international terrorism. The Brookings’ scholars
primarily concentrate on generating regular policy briefs and analytic
papers. The policy briefs examine and evaluate the American foreign policy
initiatives to tackle the threat of terrorism to American soil and
American interests, particularly since the attacks of September 11, 2001.
The papers published under the project focus on exploring the different
aspects of American strategies in counter-terrorism and the war on
terrorism. A number of related issues the institute has explored are:
America's military options for responding to terrorist attacks, using
financial sanctions against countries that support terrorism, controlling
financial support for terrorism, the role of an international coalition to
combat terrorism and Pakistan's pivotal role in combating terrorism.
The institute maintains an easily accessible archive of audio, visual and
printed transcripts of events Brooking has held for its project Terrorism
and American Foreign Policy.. In the resource department, the institute’s
project provides access to a reserve of government documents dealing with
the issue of terrorism. Innovatively the project also presents the option
for users to sign up for a web mail alert of terrorism updates. However,
one of the unique and creative developments of the institute is The Role
of the Press in the Anti-Terrorism Campaign, a weekly discussion series on
news media issues growing out of the current anti-terrorism campaign. The
discussion series is an effort to create an environment in which
journalists and government officials can meet to discuss government-press
problems and conflicting interests. Transcripts of discussions and
interviews of press and government representatives are available on the
site. The strength of the Brookings’ project Terrorism and American
Foreign Policy emanates from the diversity of scholarly expertise the
institute has directed towards the studying the relationship between
terrorism and the American policy making. The wide range of expertise the
institute has employed is apparent from the many research backgrounds
these scholars come from: American Foreign Policy, Budge & Tax Policy,
Central Asia, Defense & Homeland Security, East Asia, Economic
Forecasting, Europe, Globalization and Trade, Middle East, Pakistan and
India and Refugees. Also many of the scholars have experience at high
levels in the national security structure of the United States.
However, the Brookings project essentially explores terrorism in the
context of American policies and its counter-terrorism efforts. A large
part of the research concentrates on America’s involvement in the war on
terrorism and its implications. Beyond that nexus, the project fails to
explore terrorism in a general context. Although the institute has engaged
a diverse group of experts on the project, it has maintained at limiting
its analysis and research to the nexus of terrorism and America. Even with
in that nexus, the scholars are devoted exploring a strictly foreign
policy perspective. A sociological perspective is lacking, where the nexus
of terrorism and American or International society might be explored.
Although, the project The Role of the Press in the Anti-Terrorism Campaign
is a sign of the institute making an effort to expand its study, the
project largely is limited to studying power relationships between the
media and the government and the role of the public is hardily considered.
Terrorism Program
Center for Defense Information, Washington, D.C., USA
www.cdi.org/terrorism
Characteristics
A. Analytics Papers
B. News & Opinion Articles
C. Coverage by Issue:
i. Eye on Iraq
ii. Operation Enduring Freedom
iii. Responding to Terrorism
iv. Terrorist Network
v. Homeland Security
vi. U.S. Weapons Systems
vii. Foreign Policy & Security Strategy
viii. Legislation
ix. Arms Trade
Analysis
The Terrorism Program, a project of the Center for Defense Information
in Washington, D.C., provides data and analysis on several different
issues surrounding the United States’ effort in combating terrorism. The
issues researched and analyzed by the program revolve around the military,
security and foreign policy challenges to the United States in its fight
against terrorism. The center has divided its research areas into the
following sections: Eye on Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom, Responding to
Terrorism, Terrorist Network, Homeland Security, Foreign Policy and
Security Strategy, U.S. Weapons Systems, Legislation and Arms Trade. The
center explores these issues through regularly publishing a series of
analytic papers and articles on the site by scholars, researchers and
experts of the center. The section on Iraq, presents a regular war update
and analysis of the main issues of the Operation Iraqi Freedom coupled
with weather update, casualty reports and maps. Similarly, the ‘Operation
Enduring Freedom’ section consists of a number of analytic papers and
articles discussing the war in Afghanistan and the challenges for American
policies and military strategy. The section ‘Responding to Terrorism’
generally addresses the challenges the United States faces in combating
international terrorism, particularly the military and foreign policy
challenges. Other than that a collection of articles also provide analysis
and profiling of foreign terrorist organizations and a list of designated
foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. state department. A resource
on military data and analysis in relation to American’s fight against
terrorism is available through the sections ‘U.S. Weapons System’ and
‘Arms Trade’. The site also maintains a collection of news coverage from
newspapers around the United States of various issues surrounding American
military, security and foreign policy in relation to international
terrorism by CDI experts and analysts.
The Center for Defense Information’s Terrorism Program, however, limits
itself to a military, foreign policy and security analysis of the American
fight against terrorism. Most of the news articles and analytic papers
concentrate on exclusively exploring the military and security challenges
to the United States. CDI analysts have largely ignored the wide range of
social and economic implications for the United States as it tries to
combat terrorism. More importantly the analysts lack in exploring how
these economic and social implications affect the many facets of American
military and foreign policy strategy they have discussed. Certainly, the
center has limited itself to examining how the United States faces
terrorism and does not expand its research geographically. The CDI’s
resource also explicitly relies on its own experts and analysts, even for
news coverage and it could attempt at accommodating a more diverse range
of perspective on the issue of terrorism by including analysis and
commentary of analysts and researchers outside of its staff. The CDI also
maintains a very thorough profile and analysis of individual designated
foreign terrorist groups. However, it has not pursued any comparative
analysis of terrorist groups or even a comparative analysis of regional
terrorism.
Transnational Threats Initiative
Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.,
USA
www.csis.org/tnt/index.htm
www.csis.org/tnt/rc/terror.html
Characteristics
A. Task Force:
i. Terrorism
ii. Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism
iii. Cyber Threats of the Future
iv. Information Warfare & Information Assurance
v. Russian Organized Crime
vi. Nuclear Black Market
vii. Asian Organized Crime
viii. Financial Crimes
ix. Global Narcotics Industry
B. Publications
C. Transnational Threats Update
D. Transnational Threats Resource Center
Analysis
The Transnational Threats Initiative, a project established by the Center
for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., aims at
exploring the breadth, depth and impact of a variety of transnational
threats. The center has formed an active syndicate of government and
private sector expertise to formulate policy recommendations and
solutions. These policy proposals are aimed at government and businesses
to better prepare and response to transnational threats. The project,
however, does not limit itself to terrorism, but also explores several
other transnational threats like organized crime, financial crime and
narcotics. The research and analysis of the institute suggests that there
is a dynamic nexus of terrorism and transnational organized crime around
the globe that needs to be investigated.
The project has organized several task forces of experts and scholars to
explore a variety of issues on terrorism. The task force on Terrorism is
assessing the impact of terrorist trends and developments on US and
international security; exploring linkages between terrorism and global
organized crime; and evaluating mechanisms and recommending improvements
for deterring and responding to terrorism. However, largely the research
and analysis concentrates on the transnational threat to the United States
and the rest of the world is largely ignored. A task force on Chemical,
Biological, Radiological and Nuclear terrorism is evaluating the current
strategy of the United States on countering these threats and proposing a
better long-term roadmap and strategy to counter these threats. Similarly
task forces on Cyber Threats and Information Warfare are exploring the
potential terrorist involvement in these threats and the strength of any
counter-strategy the government has in place for these unconventional
terrorist threats. A series of other task forces on international crime
and narcotics industry explore the potential link between terrorism and
global crime. The product of these task forces is available in the form of
publications, however, only through sale and the site only provides
publication briefs.
The Transnational Threats Initiative also provides monthly reports on
terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime, money laundering and most
other transnational threats. Largely the monthly reports are the most
accessible and comprehensive resource on the site. The project has also
established a Transnational Threats Resource Center that provides
congressional testimonies, select articles and op-ed pieces by its
scholars and experts and limited news coverage of transnational crime and
terrorism. However, the resource center is outdated and has not updated
with current material since 1999. Most of the resources available on the
site are analytic in nature and the center thus lacks a good source of
statistical data on transnational crime, terrorist groups or terrorist
events.
Terrorism Resource
Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of
International Studies,
Washington, D.C., USA
cns.miis.edu/research.terror.htm
Characteristics
A. Agro-Terrorism
i. Chronology
ii. State Programs
B. Group Profiles
i. Al-Qaeda
ii. Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)
iii. Al-Jihad al-Islami
iv. Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya
C. U.S. Domestic Preparedness and Response to Terrorism
D. Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism
i. Article & Papers
ii. Database
iii. Chronology
Analysis
The Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California maintains a
diverse resource on three types of terrorism: political terrorism,
agro-terrorism and WMD Terrorism. The center with its expertise in
nonproliferation studies aims at studying the relationship between the
spread of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. In its resource on
agro-terrorism, the center has maintained a chronology of chemical and
biological attacks targeting crops and livestock between the years 1915 to
2000. This list includes allegations and threats, along with confirmed
incidents of deliberate use of chemical/biological weapons to destroy
pre-harvest crops or livestock, in order to cause economic damage.
Similarly, the center has also constructed a chart of state programs that
have developed offensive capabilities with the potential of agricultural
bio-warfare. The chart includes states that have developed or are
suspected of developing biological agents with anti-livestock or anti-crop
properties. The chart summarizes data available from several open sources.
However, the center points out that the precise assessment of a state's
capabilities is difficult because most bio-warfare programs were, and/or
are, secret and cannot be independently assessed. A number of articles and
commentaries are also available that discuss the threat of bio-terrorism
and the methods to combat that threat.
For its resource on political terrorism, the center has developed group
profiles of select terrorist organizations operating in Afghanistan
namely: Al-Qaeda, IMU, Al-Jihad al-Islami and Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya. The
center’s resource on political terrorism is limited to seven articles on
these groups and four of these articles only discuss the activities of Al-Qaeda.
Also the collection of articles is not regularly updated since the last
article on political terrorism was posted during December 2002. The site
also provides a collection of congressional testimonies and research
papers by the center’s experts on American security against and response
to terrorism. However, largely these papers and testimonies revolve around
the issues of bio-terrorism and the American strategy and response policy.
Furthermore, the center also specializes in covering the issues
surrounding WMD terrorism through a series of chronologies and a
restricted access database. Complementing that is a collection of articles
and interviews from newspapers and journals and occasional research papers
by the center’s experts on WMD Terrorism.
Resource on Terrorism
Council on Foreign Relations, Washington D.C., USA
www.cfr.org/reg_issues.php
Characteristics
A. Terrorism: Questions & Answers:
i. Afghanistan
ii. What is Terrorism?
iii. Terrorist Groups
iv. State Sponsors of Terrorism
v. Havens for Terrorism
vi. Coalition States
vii. Weapons of Mass Destruction
viii. Homeland Security
ix. Causes of 9/11
x. Responses to 9/11
xi. Policy After 9/11
xii. War on Terrorism in 2002
B. Transcripts & Videos
C. Publications
D. Foreign Affairs Articles
E. Op-ed, articles and interviews
Analysis
The Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. maintains a
comprehensive resource on terrorism in the form of a series of analytic
and informational coverage on international terrorism, the war on
terrorism and American security challenges in response to terrorism. The
Council has engaged a variety of experts in analyzing the many dynamics of
international terrorism, particularly U.S. policymaking in response to
terrorism and homeland security strategy and policy. The analysis of
experts and scholars are available in form of task force reports on the
site, articles in its Foreign Affairs journal and general papers by its
analysts. The site also provides news coverage of terrorism with a
collection of updated op-ed, articles and interviews from America’s
various newspapers. Although, the council has maintained a substantial and
diverse analytic coverage of terrorism, it lacks in statistical coverage
of terrorist attacks, war on terrorism and terrorist finances among many
other issues.
The Council has also created an informational section of Questions &
Answers, primarily aimed at providing a knowledgebase on the many issues
of terrorism and the war on terrorism in a simplified form for the general
public. The knowledgebase is presented in a form of twelve sections,
listed above, with questions and answers to common issues and queries on
terrorism. However, the council’s efforts for simplification of
information have lead to many generalization of issues and explanations to
answers that have been formulated. For example in the section on state
sponsors, Syria is identified as a state sponsoring terrorism and
possessing weapons of mass destruction. However, these explanations begin
with an affirmative ‘yes’ and then move on to say the only source is the
U.S. state department and their intelligence reports. The writer should
have identified from the start that only according to these sources that
these conclusions can be made about Syria. Certainly, the prolific use of
U.S. state department source and intelligence reports in their statements
and explanations is misleading itself for the reader, especially where a
lot of the issues are controversial and statements accusatory. The
Question & Answers section also holds a collection of weekly analysis of
the war on terrorism during the year 2002 with covering events by region
and issues.
Terrorism Research Center
Washington, D.C., USA
www.terrorism.com
Characteristics
A. Advisories
B. Country Profiles
C. News
D. Terrorist Profiles (Searchable Database)
E. Significant Events (Searchable Database)
F. Terrorist Attacks (Searchable Database)
G. Counter-Terrorism (Searchable Database)
H. Documents
I. Book Shelf
J. Topics
i. Research & Analysis
ii. Counter-terrorism Operations
iii. Homeland Security
iv. Information Warfare
v. Real News Items
vi. Reference Material
vii. Terrorist Groups
K. TRC Forum
Analysis
The Terrorism Research Center, an independent institute located in
Washington, D.C., is exclusively devoted to the research of terrorism and
counter-terrorism. The center maintains a network of terrorism and
information warfare specialists drawn from industry, government, and
academia around the globe. The strength of center’s site derives from its
several extensive databases on: terrorist profiles, significant events,
terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations. However, the online
access to most of its database is restricted and available only on a
subscription basis. Also in its database of terrorist group profiles
several listings lacked content and at times failed to indicate sources.
The center also provides a frequently updated advisory and alert of
terrorist threats in countries around the world. In addition, the center
maintains a compilation of country profiles in specific relation to their
experience with terrorism. Latest news coverage of terrorist events is
available on the site from online news sources of the region. However,
news items are in the form of links to online news sites and some of them
are inaccessible or have restricted access. In its terrorism
knowledgebase, the center maintains a number of articles and papers on a
several topics related to terrorism: counter-terrorist operations,
homeland security, information warfare and terrorist groups. However, by
and large, these articles and papers focus on America’s involvement in
facing the challenges of terrorism and ignore the rest of globe and their
experience with terrorism. The center has also attempted to compile
documents on several different topics of terrorism but they are not
current and very limited in quantity. The site also provides a section of
reference material for the study of terrorism and information latest books
circulating on terrorism and the issues surrounding it. Moreover, the
research center has created a discussion forum that provides a space for
interested individuals to express their views and discuss in designated
forums their opinions on a variety of issues of terrorism.
Anti-Defamation League
Washington, D.C., USA
www.adl.org
Characteristics
A. Articles & Papers:
i. International Terrorism
ii. Domestic Terrorism
iii. U.S. Response to Terrorism
B. Recent Press Releases
C. Terrorism Update: Periodic Report on Domestic and International
Terrorism
D. Terrorist Organization Database ( link to ICT database)
Analysis
The Anti-Defamation League, an independent organization working against
discrimination and particularly anti-Semitism, maintains a relevant
compilation of online information and research on terrorism. Primarily,
the site maintains a collection of articles and papers on three particular
topics: international terrorism, domestic terrorism and U.S. response to
terrorism by ADL analysts and external sources. Nearly all of the articles
and paper under international terrorism cover only terrorist events and
issues pertaining to the Middle East or groups based in the Middle East.
The section on domestic terrorism covers internal U.S. terrorist threats
and terrorist groups. However, this section consists of only five articles
and has not been updated recently. Similarly, the section on American
response to terrorism articles covers American policy and strategy to
combat terrorism. This section is also inadequate in coverage as it holds
only five articles and does not provide current coverage of American
responses to terrorism. Unfortunately, many of the articles contain no
indication of sources or references and therefore are an unreliable
resource.
Furthermore, the site maintains an archive of international and domestic
press releases on terrorism. However, these press releases are only ADL’s
official affirmation of its positions on issues or events related to
terrorism and are not sufficient as coverage of terrorism. The ADL also
provides a link to the International Policy Institute for
Counter-Terrorism’s database on terrorist organizations and terrorist
attacks. One of the more comprehensive coverage ADL provides a period
publishing of reports on domestic and international terrorism. The report
presents analysis of emerging threats, counter-terrorism efforts and
terrorist attacks against the United States and Israel.
Asia Terrorism Database
Asia-Pacific Institute, American Foreign Policy Council, Washington, D.C.,
USA
www.afpc.org/td.shtml
Characteristics
A. Asia Terrorism Database:
i. Indonesia
ii. Philippines
B. Event Transcript and Report
Analysis
The Asia Terrorism Database, a project of the Asia-Pacific Initiative of
the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, D.C., aims at providing
a history and chronology of terrorist organizations and their activities
throughout the Asia-Pacific region. However, the coverage of the database
is limited to the profiling of select terrorist groups in Indonesia and
the Philippines. In the case of Indonesia, background and activities of
the following terrorist organizations are available: Aceh Merdeka and
Jemaah Islamiah. In the coverage of the Philippines the background and
activities of the following terrorist groups are available: New People’s
Army, Abu Sayyaf Group and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The range and depth of information about these terrorist groups that the
council has compiled is scarce and does not mention vital details about
leadership and significant events of these groups. In addition facts,
figures and statistics used for the profiling of these groups are only
erratically supported by sources. For example in the profile of the group
New People’ Army (NPA), the first part of information is supported by
state department documents, however, the rest of the details have no
reference or sources listed. Similarly, in the profiling of the group Aceh
Merdeka the writer mentions that the ‘Associated Press reports, however,
the two sides left the issue of disarming the province to further
negotiation’ but the date and year of that report is not cited. The
Council’s negligence of identifying sources leaves its limited research of
a significant region insubstantial and unreliable. The site also holds a
few transcripts and reports of events and activities the Asia-Pacific
Initiative has held in regards to international terrorism.
Inter-American Committee against Terrorism
Organization of American States
www.cicte.oas.org
Characteristics
A. Counter-Terrorism Legislation
B. Documents, Resolution & Conventions: CICTE Committee & UN Session
C. Event Transcripts and Briefs
D. Database: Resource Material on Terrorism
Analysis
The Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, an initiative of the
Organization of American states, maintains a resourceful database of
legislations, treaties and conventions of member states, international
organizations and select states around the globe. The database contains
excerpts of national legislation of member states regarding terrorism and
legislative examples from other nations of the world. In addition draft
legislations from related international organizations such as the OAS-CICAD,
the Commonwealth Office, the United Nations and other appropriate agencies
are available. The database also contains excerpts of regional and
multi-regional treaties and conventions related to terrorism. Furthermore,
the database offers access to contact information on area experts of
various fields related to the fight against terrorism. Information on
training courses, academic research and institutions involved in efforts
to counter-terrorism is also available through the database. However, the
database lacks statistical records of terrorism and terrorist groups and
exclusively deals with counter-terrorism, organizations involved in
counter-terrorism and research on counter-terrorism. The database is
noticeably lacks coverage of the many dimensions of international
terrorism and even of terrorism in North and South America.
The site also has a compilation of listings of current counter-terrorism
legislations of North American and South American states in the following
areas: Chemical & Biological Weapons, National Security, Financial
Controls, Immigration Controls, Penalties for Terrorist Offences and
Transportation & Aviation Control. Similarly the site maintains a
compilation of documents, resolutions and conventions of CICTE Committee
and UN Session regarding terrorism and counter-terrorism issues. In
addition select transcripts and briefs of CICTE events are also available.
Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism
Oklahoma, USA
www.mipt.org
Characteristics
A. First Responders: Responder Knowledgebase
B. Research
C. Lessons Learned
D. Library
E. Victims Assistance
F. Database: Terrorism Incidents & Significant Dates Database
G. Bibliography
Analysis
The Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, a non-profit
corporation in Oklahoma, maintains an online knowledge base of research in
social and political causes and effects of terrorism. The Institute is
also involved in the study of terrorism involving chemical, biological,
radiological and nuclear weapons of mass destruction. The Institute also
dedicates a large area of research to develop equipment, training and
procedures that assists first responders in preventing terrorism and
responding to it.
The Responder Knowledgebase has been built specifically to serve the needs
of emergency responders dealing with terrorism. It contains information on
currently available products, along with a wealth of related information
such as standards, training, and grants for chemical, biological, nuclear
and radiological attacks. The knowledgebase, however, is lacking in
providing similar information for militant terrorism. The knowledgebase
also has a storage of articles and reports evaluating responder activities
and discussing various issues around responder training, funding and
standards. In addition, references to publications and links to related
sites on emergency responders are available on the site. Another section
of the site ‘Lessons Learned’ hosts a compilation of the best practices
and lessons learned from actual terrorist events and various national,
state, and local training exercises collected, catalogued and analyzed in
the form of reports and articles. Similarly, another section of the site
on victim assistance provides reports and information on legislative and
medical support to victims of terrorism. The Responder Knowledge mainly
concentrates on counter-terrorism knowledge and strategy from the
perspective of attacks and threats to the United States and could have
greatly benefited in exploring the counter-terrorism knowledge and
strategy of other nations and regions.
The research area of MIPT’s site documents the various programs and
workshops the Institute has held through a collection of transcripts and
reports. Additionally, press releases of MIPT sponsored counter-terrorism
research are also available. The institute also maintains an extensive
online library of reports, articles and various studies on terrorism and
counter-terrorism. Some of the many areas the library provides resources
on are: agricultural terrorism, chemical & biological terrorism, cyber
terrorism, critical infrastructure protection, domestic legislation,
federal funding for security and counter-terrorism, nuclear terrorism and
aviation security. The library provides access to a bibliography of
material on terrorism and counter-terrorism.
The MIPT, in collaboration with RAND Corporation, also hosts a number of
broad databases. Viewers are provided with access to three MIPT-sponsored
databases: RAND Terrorism Chronology, RAND-MIPT Terrorism Incident
Database and MIPT Indictment Database. The first two databases were
compiled by the RAND Corporation, of which the RAND Terrorism Chronology
Database records international terrorist incidents occurring between 1968
and 1997, while the RAND-MIPT Terrorism Incident Database records domestic
and international terrorist incidents occurring from 1998 to present. The
MIPT Indictment, that is supposed to provide a record of terrorist court
cases that have taken place in the U.S. since 1978, is currently
unavailable through the site. The first two databases that are accessible
allow the user to search and retrieve terrorism data, detailed
descriptions and statistical analysis. Users have options to view
predefined reports, access graphical summaries, create and execute their
own queries and search the database using different types of keyword
searches.
Terrorism and Homeland Security
RAND Corporation, California, USA
www.rand.org/terrorism_area
Characteristics
A. News Room: Op-ed and Commentary
B. Project Briefings
C. Congressional Testimony: Terrorism and Security
D. Bio-Terrorism: Research and Commentary
E. Online Publications on Terrorism
Analysis
The Rand Corporation maintains, as part of its research area on terrorism,
an online resource of analytic material on terrorism and homeland
security. The main analytic resources are a collection of opinion
articles, editorials and commentaries published by Rand’s staff in a
number of American newspapers and journals. These writings mainly explore
issues of domestic and international security in relation to the
challenges posed by international terrorism. The analysts also provide
commentary on the debates and issues on the war on terrorism, particularly
the role of the United States. However, the analysts have limited
themselves to a security perspective whereas the social and economic
consequences of international terrorism and the war on terrorism are
largely unexplored. Similarly, the Corporation also devotes a section to a
collection of commentaries and papers on bio-terrorism that explores types
of bio-threats, domestic preparedness against bio-terrorism and the
immediacy of a bio-threat.
A site also offers a compilation of congressional testimonies on homeland
security, biological terrorism, the September 11 attacks on the United
States and the war on terrorism. Similarly, select publications of Rand
are available online that mainly explore issues of homeland security,
bio-terrorism and challenges of international terrorism. Project
briefings, also available through the site, describe a number of issues
related to terrorism that Rand analysts and experts are exploring.
Resource on Terrorism
Foreign Policy in Focus, Washington, D.C., USA
www.fpif.org/indices/topics/terrorism
Characteristics
A. Commentary
B. Policy Briefs & Reports
Analysis
Foreign Policy in Focus, a collaborative think tank of analysts around the
world, provides a unique online resource of reports and commentary by
analyst and advocates from different regions of the world. FPIP’s ability
utilize a broad group of analysts allows it to provide a diverse range of
opinions and perspectives on issues of foreign policy and terrorism.
Policy reports available through site concentrate mainly on analyzing and
evaluating specific American policy initiatives response to international
terrorism and particularly in the post-September 11th scenario. The
commentaries, however, are more broad based and discuss how government’s
around the world are tackling domestic, regional and international
terrorism. The collection of policy reports and commentaries particularly
investigate the various issues surrounding the war on terrorism.
However, the site is current in the coverage of terrorism only till
October 2003 and the significant events that have taken place during the
November 2003 are unaccounted for. Also although FPIF has managed to draw
on a broad group of analysts and advocates, the analysis is largely
limited to political issues surrounding terrorism. The wide range of
economic and social issues that are at times even related to political
developments, have been ignored.
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Washington, DC, USA
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/
Characteristics
A. Opinions, Editorials and Articles
B. Policy Watch
C. Congressional Testimony
Analysis
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think tank dedicated to
research and analysis of American interests in the Middle East, supports a
collection of online resources on terrorism. A collection of opinion
papers, editorials and articles published in various journals and news
papers in the United States by senior analysts of the institute are
available on the site. These writings mainly discuss the dynamic of
terrorism originating from the Middle East and the challenges that it
poses to the United States. However, these writings are not current and do
not cover the last few months of significant development in international
terrorism, specifically in the Middle East.
The section on Policy Watch is a collection of policy reports and analysis
by analysts at the institute and outside expert of particular policies
formulated and adopted by the United States as it tries to combat the many
facets of terrorism. Similarly a listing of congressional testimonies by
senior fellows of the institute is available on the site. The testimonies
only provide coverage between the years 2001 and 2002.
International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism
Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel
www.ict.org.il
Characteristics
A. International Terrorism:
i. Terrorist Organization Profiles
ii. Terrorist Attack Database (1986 – Present)
iii. State Sponsored Terrorism
iv. Financing Terrorism
v. Non-Conventional Terrorism
B. Arab-Israeli Conflict:
i. Terrorist Organization Profiles
ii. Terrorist Attack Database (1988 – Present)
iii. Current Fatality Statistics of Palestine-Israeli Conflict
iv. Palestine-Israeli Peace Process
C. Counter-Terrorism:
i. International Activity
ii. Israeli Activity
iii. Terrorism Law
D. News Update
E. Articles
F. Documents
Analysis
The International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism maintains a
comprehensive online analytic and statistical resource on various issues
of domestic and international terrorism. The ICT’s website is primarily
divided in to three main areas of coverage: International Terrorism,
Arab-Israeli Conflict and Counter-Terrorism. The section on International
Terrorism consists of five different resource areas: terrorist
organization profiles, terrorist attack database, state sponsored
terrorism, financing terrorism and non-conventional terrorism. The
terrorist organization profiles and the terrorist attack database provide
a historical coverage of international terrorist groups. The profiles
document the origins, ideology, leadership, tactics and finance of these
groups while the database provides access to their activities. However,
the information contained in the profiles is erratic. A number of
organizations are incompletely profiled. In addition, sources for a number
of profiles are not identified while others have references to profile
compilations of other online databases. The database covers only the
period from 1986 to the present. The section on state-sponsored terrorism
provides articles, papers and documents related to six countries that the
institute classifies as sponsoring terrorism. These six countries are:
Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan and Syria. Background information on
Syria and Iran are without any sources or references. Similarly, a number
of articles and papers lack sources for data and statistics that have been
mentioned. The section on financing terrorism is makes use of a collection
of news articles to document the methods and tactics employed by
international terrorist groups for sponsoring terrorist activity and the
probable sources of their finance. The last section on non-conventional
terrorism explores through a series of articles by ICT researchers and
documents the threat and likelihood of nuclear, chemical, biological and
cyber terrorism. Also a background on the history and definition of all
these different types of non-conventional terrorism is provided.
The section on Arab-Israeli conflict is divided in to four resource areas:
terrorist organization profiles, terrorist attack database, current
fatality statistics of the Palestine-Israeli conflict and the
Palestine-Israeli peace process. The profile and the database document the
activities and history of the various terrorist organizations operating in
Israel and Palestine. Again the sources for the profiling of the
Palestinian organizations have not been identified. The database covers
the activities of these groups from 1998 to the present. Another section
provides a statistical analysis of fatalities in the Palestine-Israeli
conflict between years 2000 and 2003. The last section on the
Palestine-Israeli peace process consists of a collection of news items and
documents related to the various aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Resources on counter-terrorism are provided through a collection of
documents of U.N. resolutions and International Treaties. Similarly, a
collection of international and national legislation is available. The
last section of counter-terrorism discusses the history, method and
objective of the Israeli activity to control and eliminate terrorism. All
of the sections namely: International Terrorism, Arab-Israeli Conflict and
Counter-Terrorism each maintain news updates, articles and documents
related to the various issues of each area.
Cato Institute
Washington, D.C., USA
www.cato.org
Characteristics
A. Bio-Terrorism
B. Terrorism and Civil Liberties
C. Terrorism and Foreign Policy
D. Defense Issues and Terrorism
E. Iraq War
F. Afghanistan War
G. Political and Terrorism
H. Terrorism and Economy
I. Homeland Security
Analysis
The Cato Institute maintains an online resource of its research area in
terrorism. The online resource on terrorism contains a number of
sub-sections: bio-terrorism, terrorism and civil liberties, terrorism and
foreign policy, defense issues and terrorism, Iraq war, Afghanistan war,
politics ad terrorism, terrorist and the economy and home land security.
Each section contains a number of opinion articles and commentaries by
Cato’s analysts discussing the various issues of each subject. In
addition, policy briefings and analysis by Cato analysts is available on
these subjects. The institute also maintains a collection of audio and
visual material of television appearances of its staff in regards to
issues of terrorism. Transcripts of events of the institute related to
terrorism are also available online.
However, Cato mainly concentrates on a collection of analytic information
on terrorism and lacks in research for statistical data and analysis.
Moreover, the institute only maintains a selective news update of the Iraq
war and news related to other issues and facets of terrorism and
counter-terrorism are not available.
International Terrorism
International Crisis Group
www.intl-crisis-group.org
Characteristics
A. Articles
B. Commentary
C. Speech Transcripts
D. Report & Briefings
E. Media Releases
Analysis
The International Crisis Group, a multinational non-profit organization,
maintains an online analytic resource of its program on international
terrorism. Articles and commentary by ICG analysts provide coverage of and
perspective on a number of issues related to the consequences of terrorism
and method of counter-terrorism adopted by states. The speech transcripts
provide excerpts of views on terrorism by analysts of ICG. The reports and
briefings provide country specific analysis of terrorism, terrorist groups
and state responses to terrorism. Media releases provide select coverage
of terrorism in regions the ICG is involved and identifies the ICG’s
standpoint on particular issues.
The ICG website is lacking in any statistical analysis of terrorism.
Additionally, the analysts primarily concentrate, probably because of
their expertise, on terrorism originating in the Middle East, Central Asia
and South East Asia. Also the quantity and range of analysis and reports
is limited.
Center for Defense and International Security Studies
Lancaster, England, United Kingdom
www.cdiss.org
Characteristics
A. Database of Terrorist Events: 1945 -1998
Analysis
The Center for Defense and International Security Studies maintains an
online database of major terrorist events throughout the world during the
period 1945-1998. The database is divided into a decade by decade records
of terrorist event in particular countries. These collected incidents
provide a snapshot of the wide-range of terrorist attacks and political
violence experienced worldwide since World War II. However, the CDISS only
provides a minimal description of the events and their background.
Although a substantial statistical collection of terrorist events, it is
not comprehensive in any sense and only selective in documenting terrorist
attacks. The center also does complement its collection of data with any
analysis or commentary.
Center for International Security and Cooperation
Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, California, USA
http://cisac.stanford.edu/docs/nuclearterrorism.html
Characteristics
A. Background
B. Fact Sheet
C. CISAC Reports
D. Articles
E. Recent Newspaper articles and op-ed: Nuclear Terrorism
Analysis
The Center for International Security and Cooperation maintains an online
resource on nuclear terrorism. The resource consists of a background on
nuclear terrorism and supplemental fact sheets that provide information on
various aspects of nuclear terrorism, including answers to many of the
most frequently asked questions about radiation, dirty bombs, and nuclear
explosions. They also include information on what the public can do to
both prepare for and work to prevent these types of attacks.
Additionally, CISCAC reports discuss the how the public can access
advisory information in the case of a nuclear attack and better
communicate with source of information. Reports also discuss how to apply
existing technology and resources most effectively to prevent the
transport of illicit nuclear materials for use in terrorist activities by
means of international commercial shipping. However, the reports are
lacking in identifying the likelihood of nuclear attacks and probably
origin of these attacks. A number of article and op-ed pieces are
available that discuss many issues surrounding a nuclear terrorist attack.
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