Modern life and the threat of terrorism

COMMENT

Last week’s US terrorist bombing which killed three spectators at the Boston Marathon and injured hundreds outlines the ongoing threat of so-called “grassroots terrorism” in modern society.

The attack was the most spectacular act on American soil since September 11, 2001. Spectacle is a primary objective for terrorist attacks, and nothing captures news media attention like explosions at heavily attended events.

A common trope in movies and television shows depict similarly spectacular events or drama to draw in the excitedly curious crowds to sell tickets. Terrorists choose their own targets with a rationale similar to that of Hollywood directors.

That New Zealanders were glued to TVs or iPhones watching as the bombing and manhunt played out is an example of an important trait emerging from a potent mix of spectacular terrorism and the 24/7 news cycle.

While the attack took place thousands of kilometres away, the distance was shrunk by technology. Worrying or talking about the bombings, as people did over the week afterwards, creates what are known as secondary victims.

The terror people feel dissipates the further away they live from the blast zone. While just a few hundred were present at the blast site, millions experienced it worldwide. Humans are good at putting themselves in another’s shoes, so to speak.

Terrorism leverages this natural trait by amplifying the attack far beyond where it takes place.

To put the attack in perspective, more than 70 New Zealanders have been killed on the roads so far this year. These deaths all involved vehicles. While the occasional news story reports car crashes, they do not get the coverage of a terrorist attack, and for good reason.

Vehicle accidents are common in our society, terrorist attacks are rarer. Herein lies the reality of modern life.

Grassroots attackers

Terrorism is an extremely effective tactic for militants or the disaffected, who do not need large networks to create panic. All it takes is homemade explosives, a cellphone and personal motivation.

The United States was seriously thrown off balance by the events of 2001. Washington reacted strongly, and some would say overzealously, to the twin towers attacks in New York and is only just emerging from a decade of fighting a very expensive war on terrorism.

Until last Monday it seemed the US and its allies had won. The perpetrators of the 2001 attacks have been crushed, and what remains of the al Qaeda core is either in hiding or dead.

Yet terrorism still occurs throughout the world, despite vast resources dedicated to strangling the threat. Attacks still occur, even though surveillance has increased, highlighted by the recent controversy surrounding New Zealand’s GCSB.

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, whose brother Tamerlan was later killed in a shootout, told investigators that he and his brother read about al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's Inspire magazine which has instructions on how to build bombs.

Themagazine has been in circulation on the internet for years offering English-language articles for anyone interested in pursuing a usually short-lived (literally) career of terrorism.

Inspire has encouraged its readership to conduct attacks using homemade explosives or weapons. It warns against working in groups, which increases the risk of discovery by law enforcement and emphasises simple attacks on “soft targets” such as schools, shopping malls or even marathons.

A problem we have to live with

The two explosions in Boston suggest this advice has been heeded. The lack of significant attacks in the US over the past decade is a result of observant law enforcement personnel and amateurish terrorism attempts.

The latest bombing suggests that no matter how many holes are plugged such people will sometimes slip through. There is just no way to monitor everyone all the time. Grassroots terrorists, who have little or no contact with external colleagues, can remain hidden right up until they shed blood.

Terrorism cannot be defeated with conventional bombs and bullets alone. 

In modern society’s mix of radically different cultures trying to get along, disaffected people will always be a problem, albeit a minority. Sometimes, unfortunately, it will result in death and destruction. 

Bloody terrorism conducted by one or two people creating unexpected chaos will be a continuing reality.

US President Barak Obama responded to last week's events by encouraging Americans to return to their lives and not dwell on the attacks. This is a message for the world. 

Nathan Smith has a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from Massey University and has studied international relations and conflict.