In the last few months we have seen one after another failed attempts of terrorist attacks - the attempted bombing of New York Time Square, the attack on Jama Masjid in October (which was foiled by a stone-throwing rickshaw driver) and who can forget the memorable underwear bomber. These stories don't exactly fit with our mental image of evil geniuses with amazing amount of training, unlimited resources and single-minded efforts towards destruction. The reality is terrorist groups have just as much (if not more) lethargy, internal politics, lack of resources and psychological problems as any other organization in the world.
It is precisely for this reason that we have to stop looking at them as these alien powerful forces and start seeing them as they really are- weak, scared and sometimes highly ineffective loose groups. Only then can one stop fearing them and face them with confidence and courage.
Inefficiency
Terrorists are not efficient. If they were efficient, ambitious and goal-oriented workaholics, they would not have chosen this line of career. While many terrorists are from rich families and are well-read, acquiring a terror-izing (?) mindset requires a certain amount of alienation from society, a certain amount of failure in the past that fuels the disgruntlement. More often than not, this happens when the guy himself is not exactly keen on hard work and diligence. In addition, let's face it. MBAs are not exactly falling over themselves to join up Al Qaeda. There is a lot of mismanagement in this industry.
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Like any other office, terrorist organizations are home to professional jealousy and fierce competition. Considering that their co-workers murder and blow up people for a living, most terrorist choose to resolve their professional dispute not by a stinker but by killing their competitor. Even the great Osama Bin Laden is not above a little office politics. It is strongly suspected that the original Al Qaeda was behind the information that led US forces to kill Al Qaeda in Iraq's leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Both factions had had a falling out some time ago.
Lack of Resources and Training
Terrorism is a sophisticated business and needs proper training and equipment. Although we may be convinced that Pakistan is flooding terrorists with the best guns and training, the reality is a little different. Many of the training camps consist of a couple of monkey bars and terrible living conditions. Terrorists are probably taught a fraction of combat training that a low-level army soldier anywhere in the world receives. And then there are the technical problems. Despite what movies would have you believe, making a bomb is a difficult job and making a bomb that does fancy stuff (like a time bomb) is harder still.
Psychological Issues
And of course there are the psychological issues. Terrorists, unlike criminals, are not on their home ground. Imagine the 9/11 attackers who lived in the US for more than a year, constantly looking over their shoulders and knowing that they are on a suicide mission. Away from all those who have brainwashed their minds into believing that theirs is righteous course. You throw a party and ten people change their minds at the last moment. And these guys are not going to a party. They are going to kill someone and may be die in the process. So the psychological factors are of critical importance.
Given these factors, it is a surprise these guys don't fail more often.
Image Credit: http://www.jroller.com, http://www.wpclipart.com
Image Credit: http://www.jroller.com, http://www.wpclipart.com
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