The last few suitcases are being loaded on to the plane departing from Washington Dulles Airport to London. A few individuals, obviously professionals, arrive at the high-security section and load special cargo onto the plane. The stewardess approached a well-dressed Eastern-looking passenger working on his computer and told him to switch it off. The passenger smiled and apologized, but his last action is to press the enter key before turning off his computer. Only later do we realize, when the plane crashes soon after takeoff, that the passenger initiated the detonation sequence of the bomb in the special cargo when he pressed the button. This scenario is from a TV show that aired on the BBC in 2006. It is an interesting show called "The State Within" that chronicles a series of events sparked by a terrorist attack and ends with the undoing of relations between two close allies, the U.S. and the U.K.
So, why did I mention this show and this scene? First, it described the facts and the problems associated with the concept of terrorism very simply. Terrorism commits violence and creates fear. However, this concept fails to explain the aim and nature of terrorism. For example, when we say "the 9/11 attacks," it leaves much to be explained. Just think about it: When analyzed from a broad perspective, the attack on Charlie Hebdo is not much different. These are basically "deep operations." No one can deny that they are massacres. However, they cannot simply be described away with the broad label of "terrorism." They cannot be equated to attacks perpetrated elsewhere in the world either.
Second, the world needs to come to terms with the questions: Who is the perpetrator and who is the force behind the act? It is imperative that we face this. Allow me to return to the scene from the show. The well-dressed Eastern man on the plane, who detonated the bomb, is a suicide bomber who believes in his cause; this is a fact. However, there is no way the team of professionals who loaded the bomb on the plane are as dedicated. The questions presented above are equally valid for those who committed the massacre at Charlie Hebdo while making a show of it on the surprisingly empty streets of Paris.
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