COMBATTING TERRORISM THROUGH THE USE OF MODERN WARFARE TECHNOLOGY

Transcription

1 COMBATTING TERRORISM THROUGH THE USE OF MODERN WARFARE TECHNOLOGY

2 Committee: General Assembly 1 (Disarmament and International Security) Issue: Combatting terrorism through the use of Modern Warfare technology. Student Officers: Mina Kocasoy, Bade Ordu Position: Deputy Chair Introduction Technology has been developing at an increasingly rapid speed over the past century, bringing along advancements that not only benefit mankind but also detriment it. As a result, modern warfare has flourished, bringing endless possibilities - as well as new alternatives - to the battlefield. The mere definition of what a weapon is has changed over the years. Fifty years ago the idea of weaponry may have been limited to explosives and armed forces, today we have cyber attacks and viruses, who knows what may be invented in fifty more years' time. Weapons today hold lots of potential, and anything can be used as a weapon. One could argue that the question has somewhat shifted from what to use, to how to use it. As such, there are now countless different methods that could be implemented in an attempt to counter terrorism, it is only a matter of time and resources to do so. Definition of Key Terms Terrorism: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion Warfare technology: military operations between enemies, backed up by technology Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): Any radiological, chemical, nuclear or biological weapon that has the potential of killing and/or inflicting significant harm to a large number of humans, and can cause considerable damage to manmade structures and the environment. Drones: Combat drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, enable troops to deploy weapons in war while safely remaining thousands of miles away from the front lines of the battlefield. As such, the lives of drone pilots are not in danger, which helps the military limit the number of combat fatalities. Fly-by-wire technology: Fly-by-wire technology replaces manual flight controls with an electronic interface that uses signals generated by a computer and transmitted by wires to move control mechanisms. The introduction of fly-by-wire systems in aircraft enabled more precise computer guidance and control. For instance, fly-by-wire systems could automatically help stabilize aeroplanes, without relying on manual inputs from the pilot.

3 Submarines: Submarines revolutionized naval warfare by introducing underwater vessels capable of attacking enemy ships. The first successful submarine attack on a warship occurred during the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to In February 1864, the Confederate submarine CSS H.L. Hunley sank the USS Housatonic in the waters off South Carolina. Today, the military uses submarines to carry missiles, conduct reconnaissance, support land attacks, and establish blockades. Tomahawk missiles: The Tomahawk is a type of long-range cruise missile designed to fly at extremely low altitudes at subsonic speeds, enabling the weapons to be used to attack various surface targets. Stealth aircraft: Stealth aircraft, as their name suggests, help pilots evade detection in the sky. While planes cannot be completely invisible to radar detection, stealth planes use a range of advanced technologies to reduce the aircraft's reflection, radio frequency spectrum, and radar and infrared emissions. Stealth technology increases the odds of a successful attack since enemies have a harder time finding, tracking and defending against these aircraft. Nuclear weapons: Nuclear bombs are humankind's most destructive weapons. These warheads draw their destructive force from nuclear reactions, which release enormous amounts of explosive energy. Focused Overview of the Issue While terrorism is not new, today s terrorist threat is different from that of the past. Modern technology has enabled terrorists to plan and operate worldwide as never before. With advanced telecommunications, they can coordinate their actions among dispersed cells while remaining in the shadows. Today s terrorists increasingly enjoy a force-multiplier effect by establishing links with other like-minded organizations around the globe. Now, with a WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) capability, they have the potential to magnify the effects of their actions many folds. The new global environment, with its resultant terrorist interconnectivity, and WMD are changing the nature of terrorism. As stated by the UN official website, the Office of Counter-Terrorism has five main functions: provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to me from across the United Nations system; enhance coordination and coherence across the 38 Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the Strategy; strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to the Member States; improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and ensure that due priority is given to counterterrorism across the United Nations system and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

4 Keeping this in mind, states must remain in solidarity with each other in their attempts to counter terrorism, as well as forming partnerships in an effort to strengthen their forces. It is worth noting that, however, not just any type of teamwork will do. Any new coalition must be founded on a global, overarching solidarity. As indicated in the above graph, there has been a rise in terrorist incidents and their effects over the years. The question of handling this issue falls upon member states, and thus depends on how they will utilize their weaponry. Fortunately, modern warfare has come to a point where it is definitely possible to combat terrorists without jeopardizing the lives of innocent civilians, not to mention those of combatants. Timeline of Events During the first world war, the British army introduces the first tanks The Manhattan Project, the United States attempt to build the first nuclear bomb, begins under the direction of J. Robert Oppenheimer The first successful test of a nuclear bomb is carried out in New Mexico, on 16 July The first fusion, or hydrogen, bomb is tested by the US in the Marshall Islands The first maser (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is built at Columbia University. It produces a tight beam of microwaves. Originally hailed as a ray gun, it proves impractical as a weapon The laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is demonstrated for

5 the first time. It produces a beam of red light to The Soviet Union begins developing a supercavitating torpedo in the 1960s. By exploiting the way water forms bubbles around fast-moving objects the Shkval can travel at 500 kilometres an hour. It is only completed in the early 1990s The first Taser is built after five years of work by NASA researcher Jack Cover The US carries out its first test of an anti-satellite laser Experiments with radioactive hafnium are used to argue it is possible to make a simple device that releases a massive amount of gamma rays comparable to a nuclear bomb. No definitive evidence to back up the theory has been released, despite millions of dollars invested by the US military US President George W Bush proposes a national missile defence shield. The scheme meets with stinging criticism and the technology repeatedly fails to deliver in tests For the first time, a high-energy laser is used to shoot down artillery fire. The Pulsed Energy Projectile (PEP), a laser that can knock you off your feet, is developed Australian weapons company Metal Storm files a key patent for its gun, which fires a million rounds a minute In another milestone for high-energy lasers, the Airborne Laser is fired from an aircraft for the first time. Conventions and Treaties On 7 December 1988, the first resolution on the issue, 43/77 A was adopted. By this resolution, the UN Secretary-General was requested to follow future scientific and technological developments, especially those which had potential military applications, and to evaluate their impact on international security, and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session in The broad aspects of technology covered in the report (A/45/568) were determined at a consultative meeting, held in May 1989, as nuclear technology; space technology; materials technology; information technology; and biotechnology. To assist in effecting the study, arrangements were made with appropriate experts to submit individual papers assessing the impact and military potential of developments in those fields. A/71/122 A/69/138 A/69/138/Add.1

6 Major Parties Involved United States: The US is a country that has taken severe measures against terrorists. This is evident when one investigates their past actions - such as laws implemented and treaties formed. What is especially significant is the establishment of the anti-terrorism organization by the Department of Homeland Security, which was done in response to the September 11 attacks. The US is definitely keen on cooperating with a broad range of international partners in order to initiate policies that will aim to meet the challenge of global (and local) terrorism. France: The French government is one that has taken many anti-terrorist actions, including measures that have been implemented in recent years such as; -a travel ban on anyone believed to be travelling to join a terrorist group abroad -creation of new offenses and new punishments for terrorists believed to be acting alone -the power for authorities to block websites that "glorify terrorism" without the intervention of a judge Australia: Over the years Australia has established many laws in order to counter terrorism, such as ones making it a crime to advocate terrorism or travelling to areas designated as being of "terrorist activity" (with some exceptions). Other laws include life sentences to those who engage in hostile activities in their overseas travels, and requirements of telecommunications companies to retain customer's phone and computer metadata. United Kingdom: The United Kingdom is among one of the leading countries when it comes to combatting terrorism, and they've proven so with their introduction of the Terrorist Act of 2006, followed by a further suite of legislation in late Furthermore, countries such as Syria, Nigeria and Pakistan, who have been heavily affected by terrorist attacks and the like are closely related to this cause. Previous Attempts At Solving The Issue Countries such as the United States have focused primarily on methods involving the application of their national power and influence in an attempt to combat terrorist parties. Employing military power as well as using diplomatic, financial, intelligence and law enforcement activities to protect their land and extend their defenses, disrupt terrorist operations, and deprive enemies of the resources necessary for them to continue operating. Possible Solutions Before conjuring up any plans to defeat terrorism, one must keep in mind that there is no such thing as eliminating terrorism once and for all. Terrorism will exist - in various forms - for as long as there will be global diversity - this could be in any shape, be it race, religion, ethics...

7 Depicting the current state as the world being at war with terrorism would be a dogmatic viewpoint. What is being faced today is, in fact, a state of emergency, and any actions taken should be done so with this fact in mind. That being said, relieving this state of emergency with the use modern warfare could be done in a number of ways. Arguably one of the most important things to pay attention to while combatting terrorism is ensuring the safety of civilians as well as making sure to minimize casualties of armed forces. Remote controlled devices such as drones and machinery using fly-by-wire technology is ideal in this aspect. Furthermore, utilizing stealth aircrafts can help prevent being spotted by enemies, thus reducing chances of retaliation. Space weapons are efficient in terms of intercepting and disabling missiles, which can prove to be instrumental in the protection of civilians from terror attacks. It is also worth reading through the definition of key terms to get a grasp of some important examples of modern warfare and develop ideas on how to use them in the most efficient manner possible. Note from the chairs You can find enough information about this issue in UNODA and NATO website. Bibliography Chow, Denise. "7 Technologies That Transformed Warfare." LiveScience. Purch, 19 Nov Web. 08 July Nato Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 July Carafano, James. "The Future of Anti-Terrorism Technologies." The Heritage Foundation. N.p., 12 Apr Web. 08 July Terrorism technology timeline from NATO." N.p., n.d. Web. "NATO LibGuides: Science and Technology to Combat Terrorism: Home." Home - Science and Technology to Combat Terrorism - NATO LibGuides at NATO Multimedia Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 July "Combating Terrorism." CIA. N.p., n.d. Web.

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