METAGEOGRAPHIES

OF TERRORISM

REPORT on GEOPOLITICS, BY:

DUPO, LHENDEL ABOBOT

2 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A
METAGEOGRAPHY OF A NETWORK:
1. NODES/ CELLS
2. CONDUITS

THE DIFFERENT NODES IN A

NEWORK WILL PERFORM
DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS :
SUCH AS:
TRAINING, GATHERING
INFORMATION, PLANNING,
FINANCE, AND EXECUTION OF
TERRORIST ACTS.

EXAMPLES:
BOMBINGS AT BRITISH
MAINLAND BY IRA.
AL QAEDA

In this report we will be able to identify

the following:
1. What are the types of cells in a
terrorist network?
2. In what types of places are they
located?
3. how are the cells connected?
- Combination of the architecture of
networks and geography of places.

STRUCTURE OF THE
NETWORK:

CORE NODES

Cells that provide the highest level of planning

and purpose of the network.
PERIPHERAL NODES
Cells that undertake the attacks, the bombers,
hijackers, kidnappers, etc.
JUNCTION NODES (In between)
Cells that translate the plans into action by
coordinating funding, training, recruitment, and
equipping of the peripheral nodes.

Hoffman, 2002
Identifying and Destroying the Junction
nodes will maximize the disruption of the
network, because they are the most
connected of all the nodes.

CATEGORY OF PLACES:
CORE NODES
May be located in territories where state
authority is either weak or sympathetic to
the terrorists ideology.
Ex. Al Qaeda Southern Afghanistan and
Northern Pakistan.

 PERIPHERAL NODES
Exists and operate in relatively expose
spaces, or those whose security is very
high, such as :
Airports, Borders, Secure Government and
Public buildings, etc.

Though, destroying the peripheral node

will prevent terrorist attacks but the impact
on the whole network is limited.
JUNCTION NODES
Most exposed nodes. They must have a
degree of permanency in relatively
exposed spaces.
Why? Because they must coordinate the
logistics of network : contacting forgers,
arms sellers, smugglers, financiers and etc.
They must maintain a stable presence on
border zones and cities.

Hoffman, 2002
Identification of a hierarchy of al-Qaeda
operatives does not explicitly address the
geography of the network, but does point to
the differential role of particular nodes.

4 level of Operational Styles:

PROFESSIONAL CADRE
The well-funded and most dedicated,
committed and professional element of the
group who are tasked with the most important
missions.
TRAINED AMATEURS
Who may well be recruited from other terrorist
organization and have received some training.
Their funding is limited and are tasked with
open ended missions. Ex. Target US
commercial aviation rather than a specific
target.

 LOCAL WALK-INS
Locally based Islamic radical groups who
seek al-Qaeda sponsorship for their own
projects.
Like MINDED INSURGENTS, GUERILLAS
AND TERRORISTS.
The beneficiaries of bin Ladens financial
revolutionary philanthropy and spiritual
guidance.

Counter terrorism ;
(hoffmans recommendation)
First, target mid-level leaders.
Hoffman is proposing the targeting of
the junction nodes that once was gone
negates the efficacy of all other nodes.
Second, to delegitimize- do not just
arrest or kill- the top leaders of
terrorist groups.
Third, to focus on disrupting the
support networks, and trafficking
activities.

 Fourth, to establish a dedicated counterintelligence centre specifically to engage

terrorist reconnaissance.

 It is not just the function or type of the node

that is crucial, it is also the geographic
context in which it operates.
Ex. Hoffmans recognition of reconnaissance activities is
given importance because of the need for a terrorist to spend
time in a well-policed location.- role of mid-level leaders.

The ideological function of leaders allow

them to retreat to geographical areas that are
hard to police: Ex, tribal areas of Pakistan.
The merging of terrorist networks with other
criminal activities, such as smuggling,
requires terrorist network to operate in border
zones that may facilitate counter-terrorism.

Flint, 2003
Terrorists have created a metageography
of the terrorist network in order to fight
power organized in a different and
established metageography, territorial
sovereign states.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND

GODBLESS!!!!