Terrorists and Suicide Attacks (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Aug. 28, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RL32058 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Audrey Kurth Cronin, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Suicide attacks by terrorist organizations have become more prevalent globally, and assessing
the
threat of suicide attacks against the United States and its interests at home and abroad has therefore
gained in strategic importance.
This report focuses on the following questions: What are suicide attacks? What have been the
patterns and motivations for terrorist organizations using suicide attacks in the past? What terrorist
groups and other organizations are most likely to launch such attacks? How great a threat are
terrorist suicide attacks to the United States, at home and abroad? How can the United States
counter such a threat? It analyzes the key lessons of the international experience with suicide attacks
and examines their relevance to the United States.
Important conclusions include evidence that suicide attackers generally make choices and are
not impulsive or "crazy." They are usually carefully recruited, indoctrinated and then targeted by
organizations. It is important, therefore, to concentrate on analyzing the culture and structure of the
organization when fashioning a response. Historically, suicide attackers have been used by both
secular and religious groups. The Tamil Tigers, a secular group, carried out the most ruthless
campaign of suicide attacks in the 20th century; but there has been an increasing number of
casualties
internationally, notably as a result of attacks by Palestinian groups against Israelis and by
organizations in various countries believed associated with or incited by Al Qaeda. The use of
women as suicide attackers is not historically unprecedented, but its frequency among groups such
as the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers (or LTTE), the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and now
the Palestinian Fatah-affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and the Chechens, may indicate a social
broadening of the phenomenon. While the organization is predominant in the execution of the attack,
over time it cannot recruit and sustain itself without the acquiescence of the larger society.
The greatest threat to U.S. citizens comes from the possibility of further attacks orchestrated
or inspired by Al Qaeda, either in the U.S. or abroad. Furthermore, suicide attacks on U.S. citizens
and civilians in Iraq are a mounting concern. To counter the threat, the United States may use both
offensive and defensive measures. Offensive measures include counterterrorism efforts such as
preemptive strikes against terrorist organizations, vigorous intelligence collection, and longer term
efforts to reduce the ability of terrorist organizations to recruit suicide candidates. Defensive
measures include physical protection of U.S. assets, psychological preparation of the population,
and the full range of anti-terrorism efforts required for a robust homeland defense.
The report concludes with a discussion of the implications for Congress of the increase in
suicide attacks, and a range of options for meeting the threat. It will not be updated.
