Afghan And The Terror Trend
Although suicide bombing is widely regarded by many as ‘un-Islamic’ and ‘un-afghan’, Taliban insurgents are slowly but gradually viewing it as a symbol of supreme devotion, as opposed to a taboo. Suicide bombing is now regarded as a cultural change by the Afghan insurgents, who also view it as a strategic as well as an ideological defeat in as far as war on terror is concerned (Gordon 2010). The afghan fighters, popularly referred to as mujahedeen, would fight with the hope of seeing another day. They took joy in fighting and experience the glory that comes with victory. As such, suicide was never a factor of this game plan. However, the Taliban eventually accepted suicide bombing in 2003 following the overthrowing of their regime in a bloody coup. This acted as the change agent (Gordon 2010). The Iraq foreign fighters and the Al-Qaeda were immediately identified as the likely sources of the suicide bombing act, seeing that both were already using the tactic with lethality and on a scale never before witnessed in the region (Chandrasekaran 2010). The role of a suicide bomber links the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict in that the Iraqi kill videos that were released in 2003 acted as a source of inspiration to the Taliban bombers.
The videos featured IED attacks and gory beheadings of US troops. According to the article, there is no general consensus in Afghanistan regarding how the role of a suicide bomber evolved. For example, there are reports that show that the Afghanistan trained fighters were initially opposed to suicide bombings as it was against Islam. However, the Salafists extremists finally convinced the Al-Qaeda to embrace suicide bombings. Also, the Taliban did not initially use suicide bombing against their enemies. However, ‘Afghan Arabs’ were more likely to partake in suicide attacks. The future trend of suicide bombing will involve demonstration and importation as tools for spreading the tactic (Gordon 2007). Also, the Al-Qaeda and Taliban groups are more likely to train children as suicide bombers.
Chemical Agent
A chemical agent refers to any chemical capable of causing temporary incapacitation, death, or permanent harm to both animals and humans. Chemical agents can be classified as either “nonperesistent” or “persistent”, based on the duration of time they remain in a certain area (Tucker 2000). In the same way, their effects could be immediate or delayed. Chemical agents can be categorized based on their physiological actions (U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps 2005). For example, choking agents result in irritation to the eyes, cause pulmonary edema, and infect the respiratory tract. On the other hand, nerve agents are known to inhibit cholinesterase enzymes.
As a result of the inhibition, acetylcholine is able to settle at the different sites of action. This is the hormone that is responsible for transmitting most nerve impulses. Consequently, this results in overstimulated body glands and muscles owing to high levels of acetylcholine. When the body is faced with high doses of its hormone, it is unable to sustain breathing. The other types of the chemical agents include blood agents. These agents are normally transported to the various body tissues by the blood (U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps 2005).
Cyanogens chloride and hydrogen cyanide are among two of the leading cellular poisons, and they have the capability to offset oxidative processes at the cellular level.
Lack of oxygen compromises the central nervous system, while cardiovascular and respiratory systems are likely to collapse due to hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride poisoning. On the other hand, blister agents result in the blistering and reddening of the skin. Since the respiratory tract and the eyes tends to be more sensitive compared with the skin, exposure to the eye can lead to temporary blindness and in severe cases, permanent blindness(U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps 2005). In contrast, incapacitating agents can cause temporary mental or physiological effects. As a result, an individual can no longer carry out the duties assigned to him/her.
Potential Targets
If I were a hacktivist, I would select the website of a government to a third world country that is opposed to the issue of same sex marriage. My actions would be directed towards defacing the website of the government identified. In addition, I would also use tools that redirect traffic from the website, as well as initiating denial-of-service attacks. By hacking the website, my intention would be to draw the attention of the media and activist groups to underscore the fact that all of us have a right to choose the kind of sexuality that we would want be identified with, without any form of discrimination.
The reason why I would go for a third world country as opposed to either a developing or developed country is because the latter are likely to have high level of sophistication with regard to the latest technology. This would therefore make it very hard to undertake the intended cyber attack. Other forms of attacks such as the biological and chemical attacks would not be easy to undertake as an individual because accessing the required chemical and biological weapons may attract a lot of attention, not to mention that it would be very easy to trace them.
On the other hand, a hacker can remain anonymous, unless sophisticated technology is applied to detect him/her. I believe that once I have undertaken such an attack, going public abut it would ensure the effectiveness of the attack. This is because I would get to spell out the motive behind the attack, something that those affected may not be able to do. Although there is the risk of facing the consequences o for my actions, on the other hand, I shall have aired my grievances and at least people will have noticed the issues behind the attack and hopefully, they will do something about it.
References
Chandrasekaran, R 2010,’U.S. eager to replicate Afghan villagers' successful revolt against
Taliban’, viewed 15 March 2012,
Gordon, J 2007,’ Al-Qaida training children as suicide bombers in Pakistan’, viewed 15
March 2012,
Gordon, J 2010,’ Suicide bombings in Afghanistan’, viewed 15 March 2012,
Tucker, J.B., 2000. Toxic Terror: Assessing Terrorist Use of Chemical and Biological
Weapons.
U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps., 2005. Potential Military Chemical/Biological
Agents and Compounds. FM 3-11.9, MCRP 3-37.1B, NTRP 3-11.32, AFTTP(I) 3-2.55, Ch
1 and 2, and Appendices D, F, and G.
