5 Reasons Why Terrorists Target Tourists
This question is always at the back of our mind. Why are tourists among the favorite prey of almost all terrorists? Let me give you 5 of the many reasons why terrorists target tourists.
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Firstly, it is a common knowledge that tourists are easy to attack. Like any other undertaking, terrorism needs precision which in turn requires predictability. Take into account the travel time of a group of tourists who will be ferried from one place to another via tour bus. From the time of the departure from their hotel to the time they reached the tourist spot that they are going to visit is something researchable to the terrorists. Say with a daily schedule, five or seven days a week is an ideal target because knowing these data, a perfect plan can be made.
Secondly, tourists are better targets than the locals. More often than not, terrorists reside on the place where the attacks took place and the public knew of their existence. While it is true that targeting the tourists can cause anxiety among other members of the society, targeting the locals would likely enrage the public, a situation wherein terrorists avoid to happen.
Thirdly and among the more important reasons is that targeting of tourists, particularly international tourists can generate a big deal of attention, causing tourists to avoid travelling to that part of the globe.
Experienced terrorists continuously evaluate their status; as to whether it is satisfying or unsatisfying; depending on the goal they wish to achieve.
Fourthly, another reason is political. Attacking foreign tourists can bring world attention to bear on a cause. Economically, scaring away potential visitors can hurt an economy. Thus, it can be said that tourists are used as pawns to wider political struggles.
Another interesting reason is that simply terrorists wanted to spread fear among enterprising tourists just to draw international attention; letting the world know that situation in there is not normal.
One more reason among terrorists is to trade prisoners. They held as hostage some of the tourists so they can make demands like letting go of some prisoners who belong to their group.
Obviously, terrorism is not new. It has been used since the time history has been. Terrorism has been described variously as both a tactic and strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable outrage. Terrorism has often been an effective tactic for the weaker side in a conflict. It confers coercive power with many of the advantages of military force at a fraction of the cost. Terrorism, in many cases, has been a means to carry on a conflict without the adversary realizing the nature of the threat, mistaking terrorism for criminal activity. Because of these characteristics, terrorism has become increasingly common among those pursuing extreme goals throughout the world. But the truth of the matter, terrorism is a criminal act. The strategy of terrorists is to commit acts of violence that can draw the attention of the local populace, the government, and the world to their cause. The terrorists plan their attack to obtain the greatest publicity, choosing targets that symbolize what they oppose. The effectiveness of the terrorist act lies not in the act itself, but in the public's or government's reaction to the act.
Summarily, there are three other perspectives of terrorism: the terrorist's, the victim's, and the general public. The phrase "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" is a view terrorists themselves would accept. Terrorists do not see themselves as evil. They believe they are legitimate combatants, fighting for what they believe in, by whatever means possible. A victim of a terrorist act sees the terrorist as a criminal with no regard for human life. The general public's view is the most unstable. The terrorists take great pains to foster a "Robin Hood" image in hope of swaying the general public's point of view toward their cause. This sympathetic view of terrorism has become an integral part of their psychological warfare and needs to be countered vigorously.
cqn62j7uwi
Firstly, it is a common knowledge that tourists are easy to attack. Like any other undertaking, terrorism needs precision which in turn requires predictability. Take into account the travel time of a group of tourists who will be ferried from one place to another via tour bus. From the time of the departure from their hotel to the time they reached the tourist spot that they are going to visit is something researchable to the terrorists. Say with a daily schedule, five or seven days a week is an ideal target because knowing these data, a perfect plan can be made.
Secondly, tourists are better targets than the locals. More often than not, terrorists reside on the place where the attacks took place and the public knew of their existence. While it is true that targeting the tourists can cause anxiety among other members of the society, targeting the locals would likely enrage the public, a situation wherein terrorists avoid to happen.
Thirdly and among the more important reasons is that targeting of tourists, particularly international tourists can generate a big deal of attention, causing tourists to avoid travelling to that part of the globe.
Experienced terrorists continuously evaluate their status; as to whether it is satisfying or unsatisfying; depending on the goal they wish to achieve.
Fourthly, another reason is political. Attacking foreign tourists can bring world attention to bear on a cause. Economically, scaring away potential visitors can hurt an economy. Thus, it can be said that tourists are used as pawns to wider political struggles.
Another interesting reason is that simply terrorists wanted to spread fear among enterprising tourists just to draw international attention; letting the world know that situation in there is not normal.
One more reason among terrorists is to trade prisoners. They held as hostage some of the tourists so they can make demands like letting go of some prisoners who belong to their group.
Obviously, terrorism is not new. It has been used since the time history has been. Terrorism has been described variously as both a tactic and strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable outrage. Terrorism has often been an effective tactic for the weaker side in a conflict. It confers coercive power with many of the advantages of military force at a fraction of the cost. Terrorism, in many cases, has been a means to carry on a conflict without the adversary realizing the nature of the threat, mistaking terrorism for criminal activity. Because of these characteristics, terrorism has become increasingly common among those pursuing extreme goals throughout the world. But the truth of the matter, terrorism is a criminal act. The strategy of terrorists is to commit acts of violence that can draw the attention of the local populace, the government, and the world to their cause. The terrorists plan their attack to obtain the greatest publicity, choosing targets that symbolize what they oppose. The effectiveness of the terrorist act lies not in the act itself, but in the public's or government's reaction to the act.
Summarily, there are three other perspectives of terrorism: the terrorist's, the victim's, and the general public. The phrase "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" is a view terrorists themselves would accept. Terrorists do not see themselves as evil. They believe they are legitimate combatants, fighting for what they believe in, by whatever means possible. A victim of a terrorist act sees the terrorist as a criminal with no regard for human life. The general public's view is the most unstable. The terrorists take great pains to foster a "Robin Hood" image in hope of swaying the general public's point of view toward their cause. This sympathetic view of terrorism has become an integral part of their psychological warfare and needs to be countered vigorously.
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