It is not easy to imagine something as vile, cowardly and disgusting as terrorism. By committing terrorist acts, criminals not only intimidate civilians, but also try to influence the decisions of governments and international organizations.
Listverse analyzed a series of terrorist attacks (including the events of September 11, 2001 in the United States and November 13, 2015 in Paris) and published interesting facts about modern terrorismthat contradict generally accepted notions.
5. Not all terrorists practice Islam
No group in the history of terrorism was likely to be as large or well-funded as ISIS. It is the richest terrorist organization on Earth, according to Israeli Forbes in 2014. Her annual income is $ 2 billion.
But the stamp that all the major "exporters" of terror are associated with Islam is a myth. Some are independent of religion at all. For example, the organization "Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia", which is the third in the list of the richest terrorist organizations in the world ($ 600 million), "professes" the ideas of Marxism and Leninism.
4. Most victims of terror do not live in the West
Between 2004 and 2013, the United States was attacked by terrorists 131 times, 20 attacks were fatal. France has been attacked 47 times. And Iraq during this period suffered from 12,000 terrorist attacks, 8,000 of which were fatal.
About 50% of all terrorist attacks and 60% of deaths from terrorist attacks occurred in only three countries: in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Further in the ranking of the most dangerous countries are India, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
3. Homegrown terrorists kill more Americans than jihadists
Jihadists are responsible for the largest massacre of Americans in the history of terrorism (September 11, 2001). But here's an interesting fact about terrorism: jihadism is not the main deadly source of extremism in modern America. Homegrown terrorists killed more Americans.
For example, in 1995 a car bomb exploded in Oklahoma City, destroying the Alfred Marr Federal Building. Killed 168 people. Timothy McVeigh, a veteran of the Gulf operation, was held responsible for this act. And in 2012, neo-Nazi Wade Michael Page attacked the Sikh Temple, killing six people and seriously injuring three.
2. Research: Terrorism does not work
In 2009, George Mason's American University analyzed 457 terrorist campaigns since 1968 and found that 94% of extremist groups failed to achieve even one of the stated goals.
It can be argued that the ISIS group succeeded in creating a partially functioning, barbaric state in the Middle East.
But the exception only confirms the rule. Despite the decades of the existence of the IRA, Northern Ireland remains part of the UK. Even the Colombian guerilla, who was close to the overthrow of the Colombian government in the late 1990s, is now ready to negotiate peace with the political leaders of the country.
1. Religion or ideology is only part of terrorism
There are two points of view on why terrorists kill innocent people. One of them: terrorists just like to hurt people. Another is that terrorists are forcibly trying to spread ideology or religion. However, studies show that religion and ideology do not really care about extremists. Most of them are motivated by minor reasons.
Ohio State University conducted a study involving 52 Islamic extremists to find out what motivated them. It turned out that the overwhelming motive for the actions of modern terrorists is revenge. They wanted to punish the United States for supporting Israel or for activities in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Researchers from the University of Michigan went even further. They argue that most terrorists (and these are usually young people) act for adventure, women, camaraderie, and status.
