Terrorism's Evolution Subject of IOP Lecture

Since the end of the Cold War, international terrorism has shifted from acts of sheer violence to economic warfare, the president of the American International Security Corporation said last night.

Addressing a group of about 25 people at the Institute of Politics, Michael Taylor discussed the "Contemporary Evolution of Near East Terrorism."

"In the post-Cold War, the intellectual and economic support has dried up. The face of terrorism begins to evolve and change," Taylor said. "It has changed to economic warfare."

Counterfeiting U.S. money is one of the major methods of the current economic war, Taylor said.

"They can counterfeit U.S. dollars that pass though the Federal Reserve undetected," Taylor said. "Essentially, this can alleviate their dire need for cash. And if it does devalue the dollar, they've achieved their goals."

Taylor also described many "televised, heavily debated" incidents of terrorism, including the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beriut and the taking of hostages like Terry Anderson and Massachusetts resident Bill Buckley.

"They [the terrorists] are very, very intellegent people," Taylor said. "They have good resources. They have the networks, they have the capabilities."

But Taylor noted that terrorism includes eventsother than well-known kidnappings and bombings.

"It's turning into an economic war--it'sevolving slowly into economic warfare," he added.

A student from Tulsa, Oklahoma asked whetherthe U.S. can do anything differently to protectfederal buildings in the wake of the bombing ofthe Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

"The buildings are not architecturally orengineeringly built for terrorism," Taylor said."Our country is very soft and a bit spoiled in thefreedoms that we've had. Hopefully, it [the U.S.]doesn't turn out to be a melting pot ofterrorism."

Taylor said protecting people from bombs likethe one used in the Oklahoma City tragedy isdifficult.

"I don't know how we'll be able to controlammonium nitrate, which farmers use to growcrops," Taylor said. "It's impossible. How do youcontrol fertilizer? I have no idea."

The media, especially television, haveunwittingly aided in the spread of terrorism,Taylor said.

"Without television, I don't think TimothyMcVeigh would know the techniques he does."

"I'm not knocking the media," he said. "How canyou control it?"

The First Amendment protects the press, Tayloradded.

Taylor said he is opposed to a rigid U.S.policy for dealing with terrorism, such as theState Department's insistence that they notnegotiate with terrorists. Taylor said he is evenwilling to exchange money for hostages.

"I'm not opposed to negotiating withterrorists," he said. "Give them the money, let'sget the person back."

Taylor said solving issues of terrorism in theMiddle East is especially difficult.

"It truly is a quagmire," he said. "No matterwhich way you turn, there's a new problem. Youcan't always fit a square block into a roundhole.

But Taylor noted that terrorism includes eventsother than well-known kidnappings and bombings.

"It's turning into an economic war--it'sevolving slowly into economic warfare," he added.

A student from Tulsa, Oklahoma asked whetherthe U.S. can do anything differently to protectfederal buildings in the wake of the bombing ofthe Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

"The buildings are not architecturally orengineeringly built for terrorism," Taylor said."Our country is very soft and a bit spoiled in thefreedoms that we've had. Hopefully, it [the U.S.]doesn't turn out to be a melting pot ofterrorism."

Taylor said protecting people from bombs likethe one used in the Oklahoma City tragedy isdifficult.

"I don't know how we'll be able to controlammonium nitrate, which farmers use to growcrops," Taylor said. "It's impossible. How do youcontrol fertilizer? I have no idea."

The media, especially television, haveunwittingly aided in the spread of terrorism,Taylor said.

"Without television, I don't think TimothyMcVeigh would know the techniques he does."

"I'm not knocking the media," he said. "How canyou control it?"

The First Amendment protects the press, Tayloradded.

Taylor said he is opposed to a rigid U.S.policy for dealing with terrorism, such as theState Department's insistence that they notnegotiate with terrorists. Taylor said he is evenwilling to exchange money for hostages.

"I'm not opposed to negotiating withterrorists," he said. "Give them the money, let'sget the person back."

Taylor said solving issues of terrorism in theMiddle East is especially difficult.

"It truly is a quagmire," he said. "No matterwhich way you turn, there's a new problem. Youcan't always fit a square block into a roundhole.