Hello and Welcome to The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business. The authors are David J. Smith and Mark D. Silinsky. This is a Rothstein Publishing product. These are a series of podcasts analyzing the intersection of today’s business practices and international terrorism. They are brought as a courtesy of Kensington Security Consulting, which brings education to national security. In the next several podcasts, we will broadly cover terrorism and its impact on businesses. In this series of podcasts, you will learn, among many other lessons: • The historical perspective of terrorism. • How different people define terrorism. • The interrelationship between terrorism and crime. • When workplace violence becomes terrorism. • How terrorism affects business and why businesses are targeted. • The influence of politics in driving terrorism. • Mental health issues and personality traits of terrorists. • Some steps you can take to identify terrorists. • If it is possible to build a profile for the “typical” terrorist. • What defensive measures can you take to reduce the probability of a terrorist attack and mitigate an attack, if it occurs? • How to behave in an active-shooter situation. 1.1Historical Perspective You may have heard the old saying, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” Throughout recorded history, there have been individuals or groups who used violence or the threat of violence to reach political goals. If you call someone “overzealous,” you might, without meaning to, be referring to a group of Jewish militants who, 2,000 years ago, attacked Romans to drive them out of what is now Israel. The Romans saw the militants as terrorists and killed them. A thousand years later, in the Islamic world, a Muslim sect called the “Assassins” killed their religious rivals to gain power and influence. From a British point of view, the Sons of Liberty was a terrorist group when its members tarred and feathered local tax collectors and dumped valuable tea from a British ship into Boston Harbor. Fidel Castro became a hero of the Third World after overthrowing the Cuban dictator and the organized crime syndicate of the 1950s. During the Cold War, Western leaders and businessmen labeled him a terrorist. Across the Atlantic, starting in the late 1960s, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which was Roman Catholic, attempted to destabilize Northern Ireland and weaken the Protestants' resolve to remain part of Britain. The IRA also carried out bombings and ambushes against the British government in Northern Ireland and England. These are just a few examples of terrorism throughout history. But, as a businessman, you still face terrorist threats today. 1.2 Characteristics of Terrorism Regardless of the period, terrorism has maintained several core characteristics that distinguish it from other criminal acts or acts of war. First, it is an efficient form of warfare involving limited risk for potentially large gains. Today, groups like the Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL) or the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS), can command individuals worldwide to kill for their cause without deploying their own fighters. This was evident in Europe during 2015 and 2016, and these cases will be discussed in this and future podcasts. A key trait of terrorism is reflected in its name. Terrorists aim to instill widespread fear among nations and their societies. A relatively small number of individuals can hold an entire country hostage if that country is unprepared to counter terrorism. Some nations have adapted to the ongoing terrorist threat. Israel has faced terrorist threats since its founding. In Europe and the U.S., governments are implementing both defensive and offensive measures to prevent terrorists from spreading fear to the public. The threat has grown in Europe, especially after a series of mass-murder attacks by ISIL and its supporters in 2015 and 2016. Additionally, terrorism is almost always used in a negative and criminal way. Those who commit political violence rarely call themselves terrorists. Instead, they tend to use terms like "freedom fighters," "Jihadists," or other phrases that suggest a political or religious motive. Terrorist Membership Levels Many terrorist groups share a common basic structure. These organizations usually have different levels of members, resembling political or social groups. There is the core leadership that issues commands and produces propaganda; an active cadre that makes key political and military decisions; and foot soldiers who execute attacks. This has been the typical model during the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the rise of ISIL has increased the prominence of the lone wolf terrorist. This presents an extra challenge for law enforcement and security agencies. The terrorist group’s support network includes active supporters who provide reconnaissance, funding, build and maintain safe houses, and supply weapons and equipment. Many terrorist groups are organized into cells to enhance security. The Terrorist Cell Aside from lone wolf operatives, most terrorist organizations operate using a cell system. The modern concept of cellular organization was developed by Louis Auguste Blanqui, a socialist revolutionary of the Napoleonic era. Blanqui brought together several leaders, each responsible for a group of male revolutionaries. These group leaders were the only ones with detailed knowledge of the planned insurrection. The members of the group were not given final instructions until the start of hostilities. This cell structure was adopted and used by anarchists and revolutionaries in the 1880s, before the Russian Revolution, and it remains in use today. The modern terrorist cell usually has two to ten members, including a leader who works with local leaders of the group. The smaller the cell, the more secure it is. Members of a cell do not know about other cells in the organization. Each terrorist cell might focus on specific tasks, such as bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, extortion, or ambushes. When several cells take part in an operation, members are typically only told about their own part in the mission. Often, the leaders of a terrorist group don’t know the actual membership of the cells. Because of the small size of a cell, its members are very familiar with each other. They tend to be highly suspicious of any new member or outsider, making it difficult to infiltrate an active cell. The weak point in this structure is that someone must act as a bridge between different cells. If the messenger can be identified, he or she could come under surveillance, and authorities might track the locations and leaders of the various cells within a terrorist network organization. This concludes the first episode of The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business. The full book is available for purchase online from Rothstein Publishing. Nothing in this podcast reflects the official position of the U.S. government. On behalf of Kensington Security Consulting, thank you for listening.
