Terrorism is a constant companion of mankind, which is one of the most dangerous and difficult to predict phenomena of our time that obtains more diverse forms and becomes more and more rampant. Terrorist attacks bring massive casualties, have a strong psychological pressure on large numbers of people, involve the destruction of material and spiritual values that cannot be restored sometimes, sow hatred among nations, provoking war, distrust and hatred between social and ethnic groups, which sometimes cannot be overcome in within a generation.
The nature and tactics of modern terrorism and its inhumane essence lies in the fact that in order to achieve the objectives can be used fear, terror, and often the death of mostly innocent persons as well as the destruction of property. Today terrorism is sufficiently trained force equipped with the highest technical level. While in the past the main arms for terrorists were hand bombs and single-shot pistols, now, as is well known, they have access to all the resources, of human inventions: any cold weapons and firearms, explosives and poisonous substances, biological agents, radioactive materials and nuclear warheads, emitters of electromagnetic pulses, widespread means of communication (e-mail, telephone, computer) and others. Nuclear, chemical and biological terrorism was formed as an independent problem only within the last 10 - 15 years. Components of chemical and biological weapons are available for terrorists now like never before. They can get into their hands the waste chemical weapons and rocket fuel. All this creates large-scale threats to national security of countries.
Among last and the most horrific acts of terrorism there were recent acts of terrorism in Paris in the evening of November 13, 2015. The interviewed experts predict that the tragedy could significantly change the policy of France and make the country more closed. At the same time the terrorists, in their opinion, cannot stop there and conduct bloody actions in other countries.
A series of terrorist attacks in Paris began with three explosions at the entrances to the stadium Stade de France, which at that time held a football match between France and Germany. Present at the scene French President Francois Hollande was immediately evacuated, and after a few tens of minutes held a private meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs Bernard Kaznevom. As it turned out, they had to speak not only about the explosions near the stadium.
At the same time with the terrorist attacks at the Stade de France in Parist several more attacks occured. One of the terrorist groups fired bars and restaurants on the street Sharon Fontaine-au-Roi, at the intersection of Bisha and aliber, as well as on the Boulevard Voltaire in the center of Paris. After this, the attackers burst into a concert hall Bataclan, where was a performance of the Eagles of Death Metal band, which brought together fifteen hundred spectators. According to French media, terrorists were shouting "This is for Syria!" The attackers opened fire first at the ceiling, and then run up on people. Part of the concert visitors did not manage to leave the building and were taken as hostages. The terrorists did not try to negotiate with the authorities, and simply kept killing people. In this regard, Special Forces decided to storm. The terrorists were liquidated during the operation.
It should be noted that the responsibility for the attacks took over the organization "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL). Francois Hollande commented regarding personal involvement in the incident the militants of ISIL. However, as stated by the director of the Center for Middle East Studies Ihor Semivolos, it is possible that the militants of ISIL have nothing to do with the crime, but just wanted to get acknowledge by this act. He thinks that it was their interest to take responsibility for all acts of terrorism, as in this way they capitalize themselves. According to him, one should not draw hasty conclusions, and wait for the investigation of the official results.
Many of the world's media have already dubbed the attacks in Paris a kind of American version of September 11, when controlled by terrorists planes crashed into the twin towers in New York. In this regard, France is predicted with radical changes in domestic and foreign policy, as well as in terms of the involvement of the country in anti-islamiс coalition. These attacks will hit Francois Hollande’s ratings and may destabilize the political situation not only in France, but throughout Europe. It is possible that this will lead to an increase in the popularity of political parties that oppose the policy of the European Union on the adoption of new refugees.
Currently, absolutely any American can be the victim of a terrorist act. This phenomenon has no boundaries, no age or any other restrictions. The US administration has warned US citizens about the increased threat of terrorism around the world. Also, according to the US State Department it evidenced by the recent terrorist attacks in France, Denmark, Nigeria, Turkey, Mali, as well as Russian plane explosion in Egypt, the responsibility for which has assumed a terrorist group "Islamic State." Available information indicates that the IG group, "Al-Qaeda", "Boko Haram" and others continue to plan terrorist attacks in various parts of the world and the US is no exception, which means that the American public is in danger undeniably. November 20, 2015 it was reported that the police of New York State significantly strengthened the control of the main objects of transport infrastructure because of the threat of terrorist attacks. Also, the US authorities decided a few years ago to increase the level of threat of terrorist acts from the "yellow" (elevated) to "orange" (high). According to the commentaries of the Head of the Department of Homeland Security Thomas Ridge, the terrorist threat has been raised in connection with recent bombings against US citizens in Saudi Arabia, as well as in connection with the special services available to the information about the growth of militancy "of al-Qaeda.
Based on the above information we can clearly see that now absolutely every citizen may become a victim of a terrorist attack regardless of their location, age, and time of day. Every year, terrorists have become more ruthless and bloodthirsty. Frightening evidence of this may be a case of closing schools in Los Angeles on December 15, 2015, when the entire Unified School District Los Angeles was closed due to the threat of terrorist attack. Currently we are sending to schools the most important in the lives of Americans – our children, but cannot be sure of their safety. What to speak of crowded places. Since mass casualties and massive destruction reinforce destabilizing political effect of the terrorist attack, the most dangerous to the American public considered major sporting events, theater, open-air markets, shopping centers, airports, transportation systems, and other public places where people may gather. The threat of terrorism can wait anywhere if you do not take appropriate measures.
Terrorist groups coordinate their actions in close cooperation with each other, prepare more carefully for their crimes and improve discipline within organizations. Therefore, most of the attacks succeed. At the moment, everyone realized that it is necessary to apply the most decisive and tough measures in the fight against terrorism. After all, in fact the terrorists have declared war on us. So, how can we fight against the terrorism? Power and legal measures should be taken into account; both internal and external.
1. Power measures. Most countries fight against the terrorism with use of force. Such methods are ineffective, they were applied for more than 30 years, and the attacks have not diminished. This can be explained with the fact that force measures are being taken against manifestations of terrorism but not against itself. The causes of terrorism itself, violent methods are not being eliminated.
2. Legal measures. In 1985, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on international terrorism. It strongly urged the countries to discourage terrorist attacks. However, these legal provisions are outdated and irrelevant, considering the rapid development of terrorist methods, communication tools, etc. It is necessary to update the legal framework and adapt it to the modern conditions.
3. Internal measures. These are measures for prevention of terrorist attacks. They are the most effective, because the attack is easier to prevent than to deal with its consequences. It is practically impossible to find out where the next terrorist attack will occur. It is hard enough to get the security services with timely information about the new strike of terrorists. The terrorists’ information leakage is very rare and the traitors are being cruelly victimized. Although the media has written about the fact that the FBI knew about the upcoming events of September 11, but did not have time or could not do anything.
4. External measures. They include the adoption of special anti-terrorism laws, the interaction of states struggling against terrorism as well as economic pressure on countries that support terrorism. These include Jordan, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Cuba, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Sudan.
The most effective in the fight against terrorism is a synthesis of power and legal measures. Terrorist groups must be destroyed physically. But we must not forget about the legal regulations. In parallel with these measures, it is necessary to eliminate the causes of terrorism.
References
Jay Newton-Small (November 23, 2015) The Cost of the Paris Attacks. Time. Retrieved March 21, 2016, from: <http://time.com/4123827/paris-attacks-tourism/>
United Nations Actions on counter terrorism (n.d.) International Legal Instruments. Retrieved March 21, 2016, from: < http://www.un.org/en/terrorism/instruments.shtml>
