NFA Lincoln-Douglas Topic Paper 2001-2002: International Terrorism

On October 12, 2000, the USS Cole was bombed by what we can only assume was a terrorist organization. In fact, there have been no less than three organizations that have claimed responsibility for the attack and the loss of life. Seventeen US military personnel loss their life in the explosion, which rendered the USS Cole useless. Unfortunately for the United States and its citizens, this is not the only threat that has or could be mounted by more and future terrorist groups. Unfortunately for citizens and nations around the world, a threat of more violence and bloodshed is seeking to become reality.

Statement of Intent:

This paper is intended to bring about a debatable resolution that would change, strengthen, or create policies to decrease international terrorism. I would like to take an opportunity to clarify international terrorism from domestic terrorism. Domestic terrorism tends to deal only within the United States. An example of this would be the World Trade Center bombing. International terrorism, on the other hand, deals with violence outside of the United States, but can include the US as a target for destruction. This is not a paper for domestic terrorism or fighting terrorism in general, but it is rather a paper focused on a specific issue of terrorism that deserves our attention and debate.

Statement of Interest, Provocativeness, and significance:

This topic screams for a discussion on the reasons why terrorist terrorize, the way the United States deal with terrorists, and what preventative operations the US might have in place to circumvent terrorism. International terrorism is provocative because it would finally allow our community to debate an international topic of importance and interest. After three years of domestic topics, it is most likely time for a new change of pace. I also believe the topic to be quite interesting as there are a number of scholars and politicians dealing with the matter. International terrorism also seems a lot more fun to discuss than bio-tech and the intricacies of the legal system. I also do not think I have seen such a more significant topic than that of international terrorism. The timeliness of events and the ongoing investigations to terrorist attacks that have occurred in the past year prove that this is significant.

Statement concerning Education:

This topic has broad educational value on both pragmatic and ethical standpoints. Ethically, we will challenge ourselves to discuss the values our leaders do and should use to create policies on the international level that are meant to control or circumvent others due to political differences. Pragmatically, I think there will be more room for specific disadvantages that do not end up in a nuclear holocaust. Additionally, I believe that learning the intricacies of our international policy regarding this area is crucial to the understanding of how we even deal foreign nations in the first place. By debating this area, debaters will be able to construct arguments that will encourage a more worldly view.

Selected Bibliography:

1. www.fas.org/irp/threat/commission.html ...this is an awesome link to the National Commission on Terrorism's Report.

2. www.ict.org.il ...this a nice site on counter-terrorism in the international community

3. Unholy wars: Afghanistan, America, and international terrorism by John K. Cooley... London; Sterling, Va.: Pluto Press, 1999... LC Control Number 98050370

4. International terrorism & American foreign relations, 1945-1976 by Robert Kumamoto... Boston: Northeastern University Press, c1999...LC Control Number...98047854

5. http://www.nixoncenter.org/publications/Program%20Briefs/vol6no19Bremer.htm ...this is a nice site that explains our current position on international terrorism.

I think these sources can give anyone a jumpstart on to the topic proving this not to be a necessarily laborious research-intensive topic and resolution.

Sample Resolutions:

This year, I think we found a big problem with placing terms into the resolution that are difficult to find in the supporting literature. I recommend to the LD Committee these sample resolutions that have been researched for clarity and literature use.

1. Resolved: The USFG should change an aspect or aspects of its policy to substantially decrease international terrorism.

2. Resolved: The USFG should create a program to significantly protect the United States and its citizens from international terrorism.

3. Resolved: The UN should create a policy to significantly decrease international terrorism.

If this paper is chosen as the topic for next year, I recommend to the committee that the words international terrorism be used as the problem area. I believe the phrase is defined frequently in several texts and abounds in the topic literature. If you have any questions concerning this topic or the sample resolutions, one can contact me at...