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U.S. State Department

Consider The Following . . .

  • List and briefly describe the State Department's five fronts of terrorism.
  • Consider the first principle used in fighting terrorism: "make no concessions to terrorists and strike no deals." Do you think since terrorist attacks continue this policy is effective? Either agree or disagree with this principle and explain your reasoning.
  • As a class activity make a pro/con chart concerning the effects of the U.S.–Iraq war (2003–04) on worldwide terrorism. Is the United States and its interests less likely or more likely to suffer terrorists attacks?

Bali to Grozny to Mombasa: The island of Bali in Indonesia to the capital city of Grozny in Chechnya (a province of Russia) to the port city of Mombassa in Kenya.

Liberation: Free from harsh rule.

Expulsion: Forced out.

al-Qaida: Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden.

Taliban: Radical Islamic religious and political group in Afghanistan.

Infrastructure: Network of camps and training facilities.

Transitional government: Temporary appointed rulers preparing the country for a permanent government.

Detained: Held in custody.

USS Cole: U.S. naval ship attacked by a small boat full of explosives while docked at a port in Yemen, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39.

U.S. Embassies: U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya attacked with explosives, killing 378.

Global antiterrorism coalition: Alliance of nations worldwide that cooperates to fight terrorism.

Diplomatic: Skilled handling of relations between countries.

Intelligence: Gathering information on an enemy.

Financial: Halting the flow of money to terrorists.

Cultivated: Grown and nurtured.

Collaboration: Cooperation.

Enemy combatants: Term used by U.S. authorities for individuals engaged in battle against the United States.

Exploited: Used.

Dragnet: Network for police to find a criminal.

Operatives: Active members.

Cells: Groups or units.

Richard Reid: Person who attempted to blow up a commercial airliner with explosives hidden in his shoe.

John Walker Lindh:

American who was captured in Afghanistan fighting against American forces.

Jemaah Islamiya: A radical Islamic group in Egypt.

Lashkar I. Jhangvi: A radical Islamic group based in India.

Daniel Pearl: American journalist captured and killed by terrorists in Pakistan.

Visas: Documents a person must have to enter a country.

Financial assets: Money and property.

Money laundering: Placing money gained through crime into financial institutions where it is concealed from authorities.

G-8: A group of eight industrialized nations coordinating worldwide economic development.

Executive Order 13224:

Presidential directive authorizing law enforcement agencies to tie up any terrorist money held in U.S. financial institutions.

Usama Bin Ladin: Leader of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Facilitators: Those who provide support to terrorists enabling them to carry out actions.

Finite: Limited.

Exhortations: Encouragement for.

Capacity building: Increasing the ability of nations to fight terrorism.

Proliferation: Rapid increase in number.

Unprecedented: Never before experienced.

Ransom: Payment of money for the return of a hostage.

State sponsors: Those countries that actively support terrorists in some way; restrictions include bans of arms sales to the countries, no economic assistance from the United States, and international trade restrictions.

Financial underpinnings: Monetary support.

Vulnerabilities: Weaknesses.


Additional topics

Law Library - American Law and Legal InformationCrime and Criminal LawU.S. State Department - Things To Remember While Reading Excerpts From "patterns Of Global Terrorism—2002":, Excerpt From "patterns Of Global Terrorism—2002"