January, 2002

A New Form of Terrorism

Ahmed Ibrahim Mahmoud

The 11 September attacks on New York and Washington changed the manner in which terrorism is viewed. The current wave of terrorism is characterised by new features, which differ totally from those of past decades in terms of organisation, armament and objectives. It is no exaggeration to say that 11 September constitutes a real turning point in the world order. This shift not only constitutes a new threat to international security, but also has serious repercussions for the United States and the world.

US foreign policy has drastically changed since then. It is now almost entirely centered around the combat of terrorism, and there has been a reallocation of human and financial resources as well as a reformulation of US foreign alliances.

The attacks of 11 September, in which civil aircraft were turned into flying bombs, reflect a substantial advancement in the mechanisms and tools used by terrorists. The attacks also confirmed the ability of terrorists to strike right at the heart of the United States. The perpetrators of the attacks used complex techniques and were able to keep their mission hidden from US security bodies, a matter that provides a real challenge to the previously accepted superiority of the United States.

The events of 11 September have forced the United States to review its foreign policies, as well as the tools of these policies, and especially the military one. The strong reactions to the attacks around the world allowed the United States to start and lead an international campaign against terrorism. Terrorism is now the prime international concern, which means that there is a lesser chance for terrorist groups to sustain their activities or even their existence on the organisational level.