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The Underlying Root Cause of Terrorism General

introduction
Terrorism is a word that might seem simple to some people, but it actually keeps to the issue.
others on alert their whole lives. It can be defined as covert attacks on non combatant targets

by so-called "terrorist" groups in order to achieve their objectives. These groups resort to

terrorism because they think that every other possible way to solve their problems or to

pursue their beliefs will not succeed. This leads us to think about the root causes of terrorism.
Introduces
Steven Martinovich, a freelance writer, in his article "Root Cause of Terrorism? The Arab author and
summarizes
World", states that the real root of terrorism is the Arab world, and he criticizes Canadian argument.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien for his statement claiming that poverty is the cause of terrorism.

Martinovich believes that the Arab world inspires hatred of the Western culture and that this

hatred leads to the formation of the so-called "terrorist" groups. According to his thesis, Presents
thesis
terrorists come only from Arab countries and all terrorist acts are directed towards Western about why
author is
countries. Although some Arabs dislike the principles that make up Western democracy, they wrong

do not hate all of these principles. Hatred of Western culture cannot be the real motive behind

terrorist acts, but indeed poverty could, somehow, be a reason for some of these actions. First point of
attack: Notice
Martinovich presents a weak claim when he insists that poverty is not the root cause a summary of
author's claim,
of terrorism and explains that all terrorist attacks are carried out by well-educated, middle- a statement of
its flaw, and a
class members of wealthy terrorist groups. Clearly, he has misrepresented the facts. First, rebuttal (or
counter claim
some of the terrorist acts are actually committed by poor and illiterate peasants who may notwith support.

completely understand the significance of their actions. Personal dissatisfaction with their life

and accomplishments may lead them to commit such attacks (Linden). As an example, in Note evidence
for hisposition
1997 more than 60 tourists were killed in Luxor during their visit to one of the temples there.
against the
author's claim.
The followers of the terrorist group responsible for this attack, Al Jihad, are mainly from Evidence is in
the form of
areas in Egypt where poverty is widespread (“Political Forces”). Although the group's examples here.

objective is to overthrow the Egyptian government and replace it with an Islamic one, the
 Doe 2

actual reason people join this group is that they are poor and unemployed. Therefore, this

implies that money can buy poor people's minds and make them commit terrifying attacks.

Martinovich also claims that terrorist attacks require high degree of coordination,

intelligence and wealth. Yet, this may not be the case always because some attacks are done

by one terrorist only. This sole criminal may not have the resources needed to perform an

attack similar to those performed by wealthy terrorist groups, but after all he can do some

damage. For example, Timothy McVeigh bombed a federal building in Oklahoma City to take
More
revenge against the federal government. This bombing did not require any kind of wealth or evidence
(examples)
special coordination; the bombing just needed a motive. McVeigh's homemade bomb was

made through advice taken from "bomb-building" manuals (Ottley).

Martinovich concludes that, since terrorist acts are not committed by the poor and they

need a high degree of wealth and intelligence, therefore poverty is not the root cause. Yet,

actually, this is not always the case because some of the wealthy terrorist groups commit their

acts on behalf of the citizens of their country. Many of these attacks are committed by people

in African countries whose citizens live in devastating poverty. In 2000, impoverished ethnic

groups in the southern oil-producing region of Nigeria continued to kidnap local and foreign

oil workers in an effort to acquire a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth (U.S Department of
Second point:
State). Consequently, poverty must not be neglected as a possible root cause of terrorism.
Summary of
author's claim, &
In the remainder of his article, Steven Martinovich claims the Arab world inspires
some concession
followed by a
hatred of Western culture and that this hatred leads to the formation of terrorist groups.
rebuttal.
Although Martinovich may be correct in saying that hatred of Western culture leads to acts of

terrorism being committed on Western countries, this hatred is not present only in the Arab

world. Many groups all over the world dislike Western culture and its principles. For

example, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) welcomed the September 11

attacks on the US and called for more attacks targeting Americans (U.S. Department of State).

Provides
evidence
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Earlier this year, in the same country, leftist rebels fired at an American aircraft trying to

make an emergency landing (Usborne). Third point:

Summary of
author's claim,
Martinovich furthers his claim by stating those Western principles that Arabs hate:
followed by a
rationality, individualism, secularism, capitalism, and democracy. However, it is hard to counterargument.

believe that Arabs hate all of these principles when some of them are reinforced in Middle

Eastern countries. Rationality and democracy specifically are encouraged by many Arab

nations. For example, in the United Arab Emirates people choose their president and members

of parliament through elections, and their individual rights are respected. Egypt has also tried,
Gives
over the years, to build a democratic regime that respects individuals' rights. evidence
Even if we assume that these principles are hated in the Arab world, which is actually

far-fetched, we must not connect this hatred to terrorism. Why would anyone kill innocentFinal point:
Further analysis
civilians just because he dislikes Western culture and the Western way of life? It is not of author's claim,
followed by a
Western freedom that these terrorist groups hate, but imperialism, exploitation and "pre- counterargument

emptivism". The western foreign policy created this hatred in the mind of every terrorist in the

Arab world. Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in

Washington, DC, says, "We […] have a terrible history of our political leaders imposing their

will, often through force and violence, throughout the globe". In such situations of political

oppression, feelings of hatred for the US government evolve and people begin to think of
Provides
terrorism as a solution to their problems. For instance, The September 11 attacks on the
evidence
World Trade Center and the Pentagon were committed by Al-Qaeda in response to the way

the US government deals with Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Therefore, hatred to the Western

culture in the Arab world cannot be taken as the only root cause of terrorism.

To conclude, Martinovich was wrong in his claims linking the roots of terrorism to the

Arab world and the hatred of Western culture. He should have paid attention to the hundreds

of terrorist attacks that have no relation with the Arab World. Moreover, there is no single
 Doe 4

root cause of terrorism because each terrorist has his or her own motive that drives him to risk

his life for pursuing his beliefs. The true war on terror should not be on terrorist groups; it

should be on the hatred in our hearts.

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Works Cited page contains ALL

Works Cited sources quoted, paraphrased, or
summarized in the paper.
NoteNova
Linden, Edward V., Ed. Focus on Terrorism.Vol. 1. New York: thereScience
are mistakes in MLA
Publishers Inc.,
format – Can you spot them?
2002.

Martinovich, Steven. "Root cause of terrorism? The Arab World." Jerusalem Post 19

September 2001.

Ottley, Ted. The Timothy McVeigh Story: The Oklahoma Bomber. Crime Library. Court TV.

18 October 2003 <http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/mcveigh/

Which access date is the correct
dawning_1.html?sect=22>. MLA format? Do you know?
"Political Forces." Economist.com. 1 Jan. 2003. 26 Oct. 2003 <http://www.economist.com/

countries/Egypt/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-Political%20Forces>.

U.S. Department of State. Patterns of Global Terrorism – 2000 – Africa Overview. 26 Oct.

2003 http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2000/2418.htm. This is wrong MLA format.

Remove the hyperlink!
U.S. Department of State. The Presence of International Terrorist Groups in the Western

Hemisphere. 18 Oct. 2003 <http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rm/2001/5674.htm>.

Usborne, David. "Colombian rebels fired at stricken American aircraft". Independent.co.uk.

< http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=379055 >.

Weisbrot, Mark. To Prevent Terrorism, U.S. Foreign Policy Must Change. AlterNet. 24 Sept.

2001. Independent Media Institute. 18 Oct. 2003. <http://www.alternet.org/

story.html?StoryID=11571>.