"Real strength of terrorism lies, in the ability of an individual element to be ready to die for a perceived cause, which, he accepts as true, is threatening his belief or faith, be it religion economic disorder or otherwise"
My dear readers after debating over my OEM theory and various causes of terrorism, in this article I would discuss the individual qualities which a terrorist should have or various terrorists have exhibited in the past. I would also analyze different other traits of so called terrorists or freedom fighters behavior when they operate in disturbed areas. As I believe that it is not difficult to identify and isolate a terrorist, but it is nearly impossible to find out, as to who is a terrorist? The Government of India (GOI) is fighting a never-ending war of terrorism ever since her independence, but many countries of the world have just felt the heat of rising flames of FOTI. Latest upsurge in suicide attacks in Iraq, Pakistan and some other third world countries, where USA and her allies are involved, itself speak about the importance of the issue of debating about the Characteristics and Traits of Individual Terrorists (CTIT).
I would divide the debate in to two segments which, if analyzed and understood well, would be able to make the readers understand as to why an individual is ready to make the supreme sacrifice of his life?
In the first segment, I would deal with certain tangible factors, which one can make out and decipher after interacting with a human; and the second would be intangible traits which I would debate later. What I believe that it is the apogee of unstable state of mind due to which a human ultimately undertakes such suicidal missions. In addition, I also believe that any human can be motivated enough to undertake such operations unrelenting and sustained motivation. I have termed this hypersensitive state of Mind of Human when he is going to execute such criminal mission without repentance as "Mind's Apex Delusionary Destructive State (MADDS). If one becomes mad after MADDS, he can do whatsoever he desires.
It is, therefore, under this state of mind MADDS when an individual attacks and kills numerous innocent, armless and helpless citizens on street without showing the sign of remorse. Infact, most of the terrorists or patriotic leaders praise such attacks. As I believe that two traits are most important for a human to do anything. One, will; and second, sky high dreams, or ambition, or hallucination, or illusion, or phantasm vision and what not. One might call it by any name; but if a terrorist aspires and exhibits strong willpower, he can execute any operation and make others lives miserable as per his terms. It is this trait, which every terrorist leader concentrates and limits his choice of Suicide Attacker and Bomber (SAB), while selecting a Willing Life Sacrificer (WLS) (new word) or Death Embracer (DE). A WLS, I would not say terrorist but a Man of Individual Mission (MIM), despite knowing well that he would be blown up into hundreds of pieces, he still undertakes mission happily.
I am sure that most of you would agree with my views that one country's terrorist might be other country's Freedom Fighter and Patriots (FFP), therefore, to say that whom USA and her allies perceive as terrorists, they are truly speaking being considered as true Soldiers of Islam and Jihad (SIJ) or Freedom Fighters of that nation.
In my view, the tangible traits, like physique bearing and others are those which can be gauged, judged and evaluated to assess an individual's life graph and his behavior with in a society or an organization to prepare his behavioral pattern, but intangible traits like morale are those which can not be fathomed by anyone at any level. However, I believe that intangible traits can be shaped to reach at the zenith of illusionary and perceived achievement state of mind MADDS of MIM for the ultimate victory of their cause of resistance. Most of the MIM generally live in their own world of hallucination and illusion thinking that, after their attack, the situations would be in their favor.
What I called such State of Mind is the Trance Impulsive Mind Stimulus Syndrome (TIMSS). I also believe that until unless one reaches the apex of TIMSS situation, he can not undertake a SAB. Various video tapes of suicide attackers and MIM released so far by terrorists or so called liberation movement leaders have often revealed that the last videoed message of most of the suicide elements ultimately lead to dejection and desperation. I termed such state of mind as Trounced Resistance Disorder State of Mind (TRDSM). TRDSM is the state of mind of an individual when he losses his own capabilities of hearing, collating, sifting, analyzing, rationalizing and taking decisions, without thinking about the good or bad effects of his actions; after repeatedly getting impregnated with the prolonged and deliberated doses of religion, society, cause and the mission. His mind is so much influenced by the leaders that he cease to use own mind..
I have observed that when terrorist leaders have exhausted all other means of achieving desired publicity and propaganda, they use such MIM to kill maximum infidels for Muslims and enemy for others. Once, I have asked a religious teacher as to why he was not sending his one son out of eight siblings for Suicidal attacks. He glared at me with burning eyes but cunning smiles; and very casually replied, sir! Jihad is for the general public and not for us? Readers can well understand that as to what these lines really convey? A MIM is made to believe that his sacrifice would bring victory to the resistance movement; and he would not only go to heaven but join the God, therefore, he/she should make supreme sacrifice of his/her life.
I strongly oppose and condemn such blindfolded suicidal acts which kill hundreds of innocent citizens. I believe that if;
quote" one can not enjoy the actual heaven on the planet earth; which he can see with his own eyes, than what is the guarantee that after killing so many innocent people; he would not go to the hell; than the heaven" unquote. Anyhow, as per my interpretations, I call a person terrorist who undertakes heinous and brutal crimes such as general shooting, bombing, blasting or massacring against naïve, innocent, armless and vulnerable simple citizens who have nothing to do with any movement. The twin tower grounding in USA, Akhshardam Temple attack in Gujarat, India, peaceful praying people bombing in Mosque Peshawar in Pakistan and Iraq are all the examples of such attacks. He might be launched by any patriotic group, freedom fighter or self acclaimed protector of religion but I perceive is a terrorist attack because all the people who died were weak, feeble and unable to defend as per all the religion of world including Islam. Infact, the Prophet and the Holy Quran had gone a step farther in protecting women, children and aged even under extreme war environment; what to talk about peaceful circumstances. If such operations are launched against armed soldiers, it merit the claims; but blowing up women, children and aged moving in markets, journeying in trains and buses; and waiting at places to reach home is really an act of terrorism and must be renounced as such.
After analyzing about mental state let me share my views on the tangible traits of a MIM and the terrorist elements:
· One; Physical Bearing Appearance (PBA). The terrorist mentors while selecting an elementary member, I call them "Element" take full care. Terrorist leaders, first analyze the mission, task and methods to do; and thereafter search to enroll recruits to accomplish their mission.
· Well established liberation movements and so called terrorist groups like Al Qaida, Fateh, Hamas, Irish Republican Army (IRA), United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and many others have well coordinated core organizations to undertake various terrorist's acts. Therefore, three different types of PBA attribes are essential for different tasks such as killing, extortion, kidnapping, smuggling courier services, intelligence gatherings and military wing operation. If you review the PBA of various captured and killed terrorists, you will find that every member of such groups has different PBA.
· Readers can analyze that terrorist have enrolled and used all types of Elements. I have noted that terrorist leaders have not only recruited healthy adults but also used completely physically challenged, blind and armless Element as well. The PBA of all of them differed as per task.
· They generally used the aged, females, girls and children as couriers or to gather informations of Security Forces where as well build and masculine adults are selected for military wing.
· I suggest that there may by a different BPA of any terrorist but all terrorists have a common symptom of suspicion through PBA movement. The remedial measure I recommend to an alert soldier to look for suspicious movement. A terrorist can easily detect with different PBA just observing the movement for a day or two.
· Two; Communication and Conversation Scarceness (CCS). The most important aspect of identifying a terrorist is his fear of exposure while communicating or conversing with third person. To avoid suspicion, these Elements acts as follows:
o 1) talk less, brisk, short and fast but always in hurry;
o 2) talk to the point;
o 3) very scary to reply unwanted questions;
o 4) do not want to be friend immediately;
o 5) very polite and sober while interacting;
o 6) generally found out to be short tempered and irritating if delayed beyond a time limit;
o 7) Talk around the bush exhibiting ignorance and lack of knowledge of the area or talk like foreigner who wants help. However some of them are conversely intelligence. Other Elements, other than suicide and military wing recruits are very polite, sweet, social and cordial while talking and would often win over your heart through various talks which suits you.
o 8) Generally noted these elements avoid any discussion while traveling but if involved would always lead their conversation towards their point, religion or ideology to debate.
o 9) Often heard spitting venom against their enemy, government or challengers.
o 10) As and when an element realizes some mistake in the public place, he would immediately say sorry and would also begin to beg, plead for pardon and mercy. He can go to the extent of touching down anyone's feet to avoid drawing attention of others. My husband once informed that he had captured more than a dozen terrorists of different outfits due to this secret trait of their reaction. How, I would discuss later?
Most important remedial measure is to trained Security Forces personnel to be at various ticket booking places to detect terrorists.
· Three; Movement Activities Posture/s (MAP). It is the most important trait through which SF can nab every terrorist who ventures out of his camp. My husband has revealed that every time he went out for an operation with troops, he apprehended nearly ten to twelve terrorists, their overt and covert supporters and various other elements due to strict movement code analysis. I believe that I SF only pays attention on MAP characteristics of terrorists; they can apprehend every suspicious moving individual. I after lot of debate with my husband has jotted down the following commandments to watch such as;
o A) Suspected Element of Terrorists (SET) will always walk very fast, briskly and would seems to be nearly running;
o B) SET would often be jumping small drains, broken road patches and dirty road patches rather than crossing like a normal citizen;
o C) He would mostly seen moving his/her arms two and fro rapidly;
o D) SET would generally move with care and safety, thus, ensuring that he does not touches any one in the crowd. If by chance any one touches or he pushes someone, he would immediately plead guilty and seek forgiveness or say sorry repeatedly to avoid SF attention;
o E) Enters railway platforms, airports and bus stands just before the end of last minute scheduled time entry, and expresses his urgency through brisk walk and hand movements;
o F) Often noted seen catching or boarding trains while sliding out of platform or just before closer of doors like UK and Europe trains;
o G) Walks aimlessly away from the main crowd at a corner or uncommon place;
o H) He would walk initially some distance very fast as if someone is chasing him or SET is getting delayed; but after traversing for over 200 to 300 meters, he would just slow down for time being to look behind, act like doing something and again begin walking. I termed such walk as Toe Jumping Walk (TJW);
o J) He would minimum look back once after every 75 to 100 meters of his pacing to avoid Trail Pursuers (TP);
o K) Often seen slowing down and stopping after reaching at Selected Place of Action (SPA) and loiter aimlessly for time being;
o L) SET sometimes seen walking with slanting body to wade through crowd. One can easily detect such people in public places. A common citizen does not walk like them;
o M) I have observed yet another important walking attrib of two elements walking for a mission. They would walk one behind other with same pace and speed if moving in pair but maintaining a safe distance to avoid being captured, Good Eyes can identify and pinpoint such movements;
o N) Often in queues, SET elements continue to make movement restlessly to hurry the things. Often seen shouting at the control clerks or others to hurry up to avoid inconveniences to others but actually he exhibits sign of nervousness and fear of getting stranded even for ten minutes;
In addition to the above MAP, I would also discuss a few other common habits and signs which SET elements exhibit;
o 1) While walking continue to tighten fists and jaws repeatedly to control anger and hatred;
o 2) Most important but common, SET walking attrib (characteristic) is that he would often walk with eyes glaring and scanning all around thus making his head movement very uncommon in the crowd;
o 3) Lastly, I would say that he walks to prove innocence and urgency with least exposure to SF and TP.
o 4) The only difference when some terrorist operatives walks slow is that when a women courier and intelligence operatives work. They generally walk slow showing pregnancy or illness to gain sympathy and information or transport required arms and other material while walking; otherwise most of the SET Elements make movement as I have debated for the benefit of a common citizen and various state and international agencies.
· Apparent Exceptional Activities Traits(AEAT) In addition to the above, I would list out certain AEAT which every citizen can identify to alert various Terrorist Counteraction Think Tanks (TCTT) and SF if need be:o 1) Most of the terrorists would like to remain isolated from main crowd. They do not mingle up with people and behave as such. Though it is very common with terrorist but uncommon amongst masses and public;o 2) SET does not initiate a conversation and try to avoid if someone initiates. Infact, they often rebuke fellow passengers and order them to keep quite;o 3) mostly SET element would pretend to be reading something; but most fanatic terrorists often seen reading religious books in public or some other irrelevant books but common amongst terrorist;o 4) SET if not reading would always make believe to be sleeping to avoid attention but always look from the side corner of eyes to remain alert about any movement around him;o 5) Generally cover their face while traveling in plane, trains or buses with magazine or book thus exposing their facial identity minimum. I have observed that such Elements even partially cover their faces while checking in for boarding ;o 6) The hard core terrorists have often been found grinding teethes, tightening jaws and fists;o 7) Normally seen kicking anything lying on their way with anger and energy of success while walking;o 8) Set would normally stand and wait alongside a queue or at the corners of any queues without disturbing general public; o 9) Most of the SET Elements often seen standing a little away from their luggage at railways stations, airports and bus stands; and
o 10) SET would often exhibit conspicuous in behavior, signs of politeness, empathy and alertness.
What I believe that "the real strength of terrorism lies in the ability of an individual element to be ready to die for a perceived cause, which, he accepts as true, is threatening his belief or faith, be it religion economic disorder or otherwise" My endeavor to bring out various tangible factors would hope to educate all the
citizens, but I would cover intangible factors in next part. I have dedicated these series of article to all the innocent people who lost their lives in various conflicts without any outcome. Had we used peaceful means none of my beloved human being would have been killed. God's will prevails and nasty people would continue to create unrest and instability in and around you.
I, S Kalpna Sharma, am a freelance journalist who frequently write on various issues relating human values. My impetus of debate has been always focused on current issues which affect human beings life and social behavior. In this series I would be sharing my views on rising menace of terrorism or patriotic movements world over. As always try to bring out debates on human values, my readers support base become large.