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Targeted Killing as a Counterterrorism Instrument: Evaluating Impacts on The Islamic State and Al Qaeda
Štěpán, David ; Bureš, Oldřich (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
This study analyzes targeted killing as a counterterrorism instrument and evaluates its impacts on the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in two separate case studies, one analyzing the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi while the other assesses the impact of the killing of Osama Bin Laden. The theory of leadership decapitation is applied in this thesis and the academic discourse on this theory is discussed. Additionally, moral and legal aspects of targeted killing are also briefly considered. The analysis combines a quantitative approach in the form of descriptive statistics of data regarding terrorist attacks with qualitative evaluation of other counterterrorism policies and political as well as societal aspects surrounding the operations. There are some general suggestions regarding leadership decapitation that are validated in this study. Various factors need to be considered when employing targeted killing in counterterrorism, such as the structure of the terrorist group as well as its age. This study presents evidence that targeted killing of high-ranking terrorist leaders is likely to increase the use of suicide bombing in the short-term period after leadership decapitation. It also points out evidence that there is no correlation between targeted killing and the decrease of casualties from terrorism....
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The Impact of September 11 on US Foreign Policy
Kurash, Roman ; Raška, Francis (advisor) ; Hornát, Jan (referee)
The September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States of America had a significant impact on US foreign policy and security standards worldwide. Before the attacks, President Bush paid little attention to foreign policy, even in his election campaign and public speeches. After the attacks, foreign policy, and the war on terror as part of it, became a major concern of the Bush administration. The production of weapons of mass destruction by non-democratic regimes in the Middle East and their links to terrorist activities were identified as a major threat to the security of the United States. The democratisation of the Middle East and the peace in the region became the priorities of the US global policy. This paper is qualitative historical research and it examines the changes in US foreign policy after the attacks. It describes the differences and similarities in US foreign policy in periods before and after the attacks, the use of force against Afghanistan and Iraq, and cooperation between the USA and international organizations, such as NATO and the United Nations, on countering the terrorist threat. The subject of the study is the transformation of foreign policy of the USA in the period from 2001 to 2003, which was crucial for framing the relations between the USA and the rest of the world for...
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An Endless War: A Comparison of Three American Presidential Administrations during the Afghan War
Seemann, Šimon ; Raška, Francis (advisor) ; Sehnálková, Jana (referee)
The bachelor's thesis "Infinity War: A Comparison of Three US Presidents' Administrations on the War in Afghanistan" analyses and then compares the policies of the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump towards the war in Afghanistan, between 2001 and 2021. The focus is on the aspects that have made it difficult, even impossible, for the United States to try to build a strong state capable of functioning independently. The aim of the thesis is to create a comprehensive picture of how each administration approached the conflict in Afghanistan, how they acted, and what stood in the way of a successful ccompletion of the mission. Through a detailed look at all three policies, the thesis attempts to answer the stated research questions, to find out what are the main aspects of each administration's failure in the war in Afghanistan and define some similarities. The first three chapters of the thesis describe the visions, strategies and their subsequent implementation in the conflict. Each administration approached the conflict in a different way, which often shifted and changed during its tenure as the conflict evolved. The final, fourth chapter reveals the realities of the conflict in a different light, thanks to published government documents, and looks at the reasons that...
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Methods of Recruitment and Propaganda Activities Carried Out by Terrorist Groups Inspired by the Ideology of Salafi Jihadism
Kubrina, Ekaterina ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Ludvík, Zdeněk (referee)
The diploma thesis is focused on the issue of radicalization of young people, who join terrorist organizations inspired by the ideology of Salafi Jihadism. Terrorist groups are one of the greatest global threats of the 21st century, and the recruitment of new fighters is their basic factor of success and growth. Therefore, the aim of the thesis is to compare the methods and techniques of recruitment used by Salafi Jihadist groups and to identify successful strategies of terrorist groups, leading to the radicalization of certain populations. The work deals with two concrete terrorist groups - the "Islamic State" and Al-Qaeda, because these groups operate globally, have sympathizers around the world, and attract different people to join them. The basis of the research is an application of different radicalization models that have been developed up to now on the observed methods and strategies of terrorist recruiters. The result of this research is a revealing of the most used methods of recruitment, the reasons of successful recruitment cases and a summarizing of the qualities of potential recruits and the factors facilitating radicalization of these persons.
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Comparing U.S. Counterterrorist Policies against Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State
Kopecká, Anna - Marie ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
The thesis deals with comparison of the United States counterterrorist policies against al- Qaeda and the Islamic state. It compares the approaches of two U.S. administrations in period from 11th September 2001 to end of the year 2014, when the Operation Enduring Freedom came to its end, and in period from July 2014, when the Operation Inherent Resolve was launched, to the end of the year 2016. The thesis characterizes similarities and differences between both strategies. It also aims to answer the question whether the U.S. approach to al- Qaeda was tougher than the one to the Islamic state. Counterterrorist policies are being compared here based on three criteria: military means employed, cooperation with international actors and extra-legalism. The first part of the thesis copes with concepts of terrorism and counter-terrorism. In the next part both approaches are analyzed separately and compared subsequently. In the conclusion the results are summarized and causes of differences between approaches are interpreted.
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The Approach of the Bush and Obama Administration to Fighting Terrorism in Afghanistan
Mikšovská, Kristýna ; Hornát, Jan (advisor) ; Raška, Francis (referee)
The Bachelor's thesis deals with the changes of the U.S. counterterrorism strategy during the presidency of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The main purpose is to compare the pre-emption strategy with the diplomatic one, regarding the fight against terrorism. After the 11/9/2001 attacks, the threat of terrorism became the number one priority to all U.S. federal institutions responsible for ensuring security. The terrorist organization responsible for the events of 9/11 was Al-Qaeda, therefore it's activity is main subject for this analysis. Since then, the American counterterrorism strategy went through major changes and during the analysed period it went through further development. The text records mainly the period of 2001 - 2015. The main sources are doctrinal documents published frequently by each administration, and legislation released as a response to 9/11. The conclusion tries to evaluate, which part or parts of counter-terrorism strategy of each president were different from their rhetoric and whose approach was more convenient. Keywords counterterrorism, president, Bush, Obama, Afghanistan, security, threat, Al- Qaeda
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Guantánamo: have all international legal questions been answered?
Smržová, Sabina ; Trávníčková, Zuzana (advisor) ; Burešová, Jana (referee)
Through tragic events of September 11, 2001, the United States has adopted unprecedented measures regarding the treatment and detention of captured terrorists. The thesis deals with international legal questions associated with operation of detention centre Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The main aim is to find out how have these questions been answered by examining academic writings and provisions of international law, in particular provisions of International humanitarian law and International human rights law. As a historical introduction, this thesis starts with a brief overview of the history of Guantánamo Bay. The second part focuses on four topics: the definition of conflict, status of detainees, indefinite detention and torture and enhanced interrogation techniques. Each of the topics is being viewed through the lenses of international law as well as US domestic law while describing the development of the problem and current situation.
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Wahhabi/Salafi Rhetoric in the Northern Part of the Caucasus Region
Kováčiková, Zuzana ; Ťupek, Pavel (advisor) ; Beránek, Ondřej (referee)
Salafism is considered a powerful mobilising ideology used by many Islamist and terrorist movements worldwide. This ideology was also adopted by the Caucasus Emirate, a once influential terrorist organisation that used to operate in the mountains of Russian Northern Caucasus. This paper thoroughly analyses religious ideas and trends behind North-Caucasian Salafism, as the body of academic sources concerning this issue is quite limited up to now. The analysis deals with main topics and narratives of the Caucasus Emirate Salafist propaganda, but also considers religious authorities that grant theological legitimacy to these ideological concepts. Both Arab and North-Caucasian spiritual leaders and ideologues are under scrutiny of this analysis. Concluding part of this paper outlines shifts in the rhetoric, which are caused by the conflict between the Caucasus Emirate and the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. Analysis of the rhetoric draws conclusions using previously published academic work as well as the authentic internet sources, i.e. jihadist websites and videos in the Russian language. The paper suggests that the rhetoric of North-Caucasian Salafists is generally similar to the rhetoric of any other jihadist movement, but at the same time it contains number of inconsistencies as it...
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Legitimization methods employed by George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden- discourse analysis
Klincová, Lucia ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
This diploma thesis focuses on the legitimization methods in case of George W. Bush's war on terror and Osama bin Laden's terrorist attacks. It takes into consideration the time period from the 9th of September 2001 (the date of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.) until the 20th of March 2003 (the beginning of the USA's invasion in Iraq). Using the discourse analysis methodology, the thesis presents the different legitimization approaches, which were used frequently, or not at all. The analysis itself is based on a database of the official statements of the two leaders or their close fellows. The interpretation of these approaches and the analysis of the societal, political, cultural or religious context, highlight the common and different features of these two cases. The aim of this thesis is to argue that despite very different political roles George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden played, their legitimization approaches were, in fact, very similar.
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