DOCSLIB.ORG

Draft Branch County Hazard Mitigation Plan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Draft Branch County Hazard Mitigation Plan DRAFT BRANCH COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN JanuaryJuly 16, 27, 2020 2020 BRANCH COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................... iii PLAN ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION .............................. 1 BRANCH COUNTY PROFILE & HISTORY .............................................. 7 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT ....... 25 HAZARD MITIGATION STRATEGIES ............................................... 215 PLAN MAINTENANCE ..................................................................... 223 DEFINITIONS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ................................ 225 SCENARIOS ................................................................................... 233 ATTACHMENT 1: Vulnerable Critical Facilities ................................ 267 ATTACHMENT 2: Critical Resource Dependencies on Other Jurisdictions .................................................................................. 271 ATTACHMENT 3: Characteristics and Policies of the EOP Jurisdiction that May Affect Response ........................................... 273 ATTACHMENT 4: Typical Sequence of Emergency Activities ........... 274 ATTACHMENT 5: Graduated Response Approach ............................ 275 ATTACHMENT 6: Emergency Action Levels ..................................... 276 ATTACHMENT 7: Local Community Subsections ............................. 278 BRANCH COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2020 ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Hazard Mitigation Plan defines a process for identifying, quantifying, and reducing risk in Branch County. The plan is the product of utilizing community process to form hazard and vulnerability analysis, risk reduction planning, action items, and implementation process identification. This plan includes a community process that describes development, maintenance, implementation, and adoption activities. It requires the participation of both the resource agencies and the public. The plan also includes a Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis (HIVA) that describes qualitative and quantitative risks and drives the goals, objectives, and development of action items. The plan also presents the vision of Branch County, as described in the Comprehensive Plan, in terms of risk reduction goals, objectives, and action items. The plan has been crafted so that future maintenance activities are captured within the pre-existing County processes. The Branch County Hazard Mitigation Plan was created to document the process by which the County and its individual units of local government can protect the health, safety, and economic interests of the Branch County residents and businesses. This is done by reducing the impacts of natural and technological hazards through hazard mitigation planning, awareness, and implementation. The plan serves as the description of the ongoing hazard mitigation activities within Branch County. Implementation of the recommendations outlined herein is intended to reduce loss of life, destruction of property, and economic losses due to natural and technological hazards. The plan provides a path toward continuous improvement, and the proactive reduction of vulnerability to hazards that result in repetitive and oftentimes severe social, economic, and physical damage. The ideal end state is full integration of hazard mitigation concepts into day-to-day governmental and business functions and management practices. The creators of this plan intend that it will, in fact, be maintained as an ongoing operation in the most logical forum for the County. Where circles of responsibility and interest intersect and are exemplified by ongoing regularly scheduled group and ad-hoc team activities using FEMA guidelines as a reference, a collaborative planning effort took place, involving the Branch County officials, representatives from the respected jurisdictions within the county. The state-level Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Michigan State Police also provided valued input for this Plan. Interested agencies and members of the general public were able to review draft materials, attend open meetings, and provide feedback about the plan or its process. The goals and objectives outlined later in this plan serve as a BRANCH COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2020 iii standard that is ideally part of an established continually updating process of plan review, evaluation, implementation. This plan employs a broad perspective in examining multi-hazard mitigation activities and opportunities in Branch County. Hazards that threaten to public health, safety, and welfare, as well as the social, economic, and physical fabric of the community, have received emphasis in this plan. The plan addresses such hazards as floods, tornadoes, windstorms, winter storms, forest fires, structural fires, hazardous material incidents, and secondary technological hazards that result from natural hazard events. Hazards are analyzed from a historical perspective as well as from individual community perspectives and are evaluated in terms of their potential chance of occurrence and their likely impacts, when being considered and prioritized for possible mitigation actions. The plan also lays out the legal basis for planning and the tools that can be used for its implementation. This plan focuses heavily on process. The approach involves assembling the proper individuals, groups, and functions, and the use of viable teams, focusing upon the Branch County Disaster Committee and the participating communities within the County. Hazard Inventory and Vulnerability Assessment The Hazard Inventory and Vulnerability Assessment (HIVA) identify risk and vulnerability within Branch County. Risk was defined as a function of hazard and vulnerability. After defining risk, the vulnerabilities of Branch County to a variety of hazards, including severe winter storms, severe thunderstorms, flooding, terrorism, etc., were identified. Vulnerabilities to Branch County were found to include: the residents, small businesses, major businesses, regional lifelines, local government infrastructure and the historic district. Risk Assessment, Profiling Hazard Events, Assessing Vulnerability These areas are well documented in the Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Assessment (HIVA). The document includes a description of all hazards in the jurisdiction; provides a description of all vulnerabilities in the jurisdiction; addresses the impact of hazards in the community; identifies types and numbers of vulnerable buildings; addresses vulnerability of future buildings; identifies the sources used to determine the hazards and vulnerabilities; indicates the data limitations; justifies the elimination of hazards as appropriate; identifies and profiles manmade hazards; identifies vulnerable assets; estimates potential dollar loss; describes methodology for estimate; describes land use and development trends; and describes related vulnerability. Branch County is susceptible to many natural, technological, and human-caused hazards. Knowledge of these hazards, their frequency and the community’s vulnerability to them allows the community, emergency management, police, fire and medical agencies to better assess their risks associated to the present hazards and to plan and prepare for their consequences. BRANCH COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2020 iv The purpose of the Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Assessment (HIVA) is twofold: 1. To provide a basic level of knowledge and limited analysis of the hazards posing a threat to Branch County. 2. To serve as a base document for the Branch County and communities Land Use Plans, the Hazard Mitigation Plan, and the Emergency Operations Plan. This document represents an elementary review of available published material. It is a summary of the relevant information needed to allow a subjective evaluation of the risk posed by certain hazards. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a rigorous or scientific analysis. Relative Risk Assessment Based on the individual hazard profiles and risk assessments contained herein, below are the Potential Hazards as determined during the creation of the Risk, Threat and Vulnerability Assessment by Branch County Emergency Operations in 2019 (rating in parenthesis): 1. Thunderstorm Hazard: Lightning (8.75) 2. Thunderstorm Hazard: Hail (8.75) 3. Thunderstorm Hazard: Severe Winds (8.75) 4. Thunderstorm Hazard: Tornado (8.75) 5. Energy Emergencies 6. Infrastructure Failure (7.25) 7. Terrorism or Other Criminal Activity (6.5) 8. Invasive Species 9. Nuclear Power Plant Activities (6) 10. Winter Weather Hazards (6) 11. Pipeline Accidents: Oil/Gas (5.75) 12. Extreme Temperatures (5.75) 13. Hazardous Materials Incident: Transportation (5.75) 14. Hazardous Materials Incident: Fixed Site (4.5) 15. War/Nuclear Attack/WMD (4.5) 16. Structural Fires (4) 17. Transportation Accidents (3.75) 18. Wildfire (3.75) 19. Dam Failures (3.75) 20. River Flooding (3.5) 21. Urban Flooding (3) 22. Drought (2) 23. Subsidence 24. Geomagnetic Storms 25. Civil Disturbances (1.75) 26. Earthquake (1) BRANCH COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2020 v Since Thunderstorm Hazards are very probable in Branch County within the next 25 years with anticipated severe impacts to the area, including the entire population, this hazard is given the highest risk rating. The historical significance of Lightning, Hail, Severe Wind or Tornado events have indicated that thunderstorm hazards will occur several times annually. Severe Wind,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • MHMP 2014 UPDATE PART 3 III Humanrelated
    III. HUMAN-RELATED HAZARDS The following list summarizes the significant human-related hazards covered in this section: 1. Catastrophic Incidents (National Emergencies) 2. Civil Disturbances 3. Nuclear Attack 4. Public Health Emergencies 5. Terrorism and Similar Criminal Activities These hazards all tie in with each other in various ways, and by placing them all in the same section of this document, this updated 2014 edition of the Michigan Hazard Mitigation Plan intends to make it easier for planners and emergency management personnel to learn about and consider the many aspects of these threats, risks, activities, conditions, and incidents. The new hazard section, Catastrophic Incidents (National Emergencies), was primarily inspired by some of the states of alert and response activities that Michigan had to adopt in the past decade for incidents that primarily took place outside of its own borders. The main examples were the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks (and subsequent anthrax incidents and threats), and the Gulf Coast disaster involving Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. It makes sense to consider, in advance, these types of incidents as well as other types of large-scale disasters that could occur in the future, which require a large-scale national response even though the actual incident itself may occur only within the borders of a few states outside of Michigan’s immediate environment. Preparedness, planning, exercising, and mutual aid arrangements are the main “mitigation” activities proposed for this hazard during its initial phase of consideration in this 2014 edition of the Michigan Hazard Mitigation Plan. Some catastrophic incidents may involve other types of human-related hazards.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrorismterrorism
    U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA VOLUME 6 AN ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE NUMBER 3 TERRORISMTERRORISM Threat Assessment, Countermeasures and Policy November 2001 TERRORISM: THREAT ASSESSMENT, COUNTERMEASURES AND POLICY On September the 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country. Americans have known wars — but for the past 136 years, they have been wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941. Americans have known the casualties of war — but not at the center of a great city on a peaceful morning. Americans have known surprise attacks — but never before on thousands of civilians. All of this was brought upon us in a single day — and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack... This is not, however, just America’s fight. And what is at stake is not just America’s freedom. This is the world’s fight. This is civilization’s fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom. We ask every nation to join us. We will ask, and we will need, the help of police forces, intelligence services, and banking systems around the world. The United States is grateful that many nations and many international organizations have already responded — with sympathy and with support. Nations from Latin America, to Asia, to Africa, to Europe, to the Islamic world. Perhaps the NATO Charter reflects best the attitude of the world: An attack on one is an attack on all. The civilized world is rallying to America’s side.
    [Show full text]
  • Palestinian Women: Mothers, Martyrs and Agents of Political Change
    University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2011 Palestinian Women: Mothers, Martyrs and Agents of Political Change Rebecca Ann Otis University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Gender and Sexuality Commons, Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons, and the Politics and Social Change Commons Recommended Citation Otis, Rebecca Ann, "Palestinian Women: Mothers, Martyrs and Agents of Political Change" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 491. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/491 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. Palestinian Women: Mothers, Martyrs and Agents of Political Change __________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________ by Rebecca A. Otis June 2011 Advisor: Dr. Martin Rhodes ©Copyright by Rebecca A. Otis 2011 All Rights Reserved Author: Rebecca A. Otis Title: PALESTINIAN WOMEN: MOTHERS, MARTYRS AND AGENTS OF POLITICAL CHANGE Advisor: Dr. Martin Rhodes Degree Date: June 2011 ABSTRACT This dissertation seeks to understand the role of women as political actors in the rise of Islamo-nationalist movement in Palestine. Using a historical and ethnographic approach, it examines the changing opportunity structures available to Palestinian women in the nationalist struggle between 1987 and 2007.
    [Show full text]
  • Interdisciplinary Review for the Humanities
    Interdisciplinary Review for the Humanities Are so-called suicide bombers our “ritual others”? Stamenkovic, Marko. estrema: Interdisciplinary Review for the Humanities 5 [ Fall 2014 ] / Special Issue: Insecurity and Global Terror(s). Edited by Nuno Marques, Igor Furão and Susana Araújo. A project of the Center for Comparative Studies of the University of Lisbon / Special Issue in collaboration with the project City and (In)security in Literature and the Media (CILM). For further information CILM project official website 1 Are so-called suicide bombers our “ritual others”?1 Marko Stamenkovic2 Abstract Within the First World scholarship, the concept of “suicide missions” has occupied an uneasy place in relation to the issues of risk and security for Western neoliberal democracies. As part of colonial humanism, these and related concepts have been contested by mediated (ideological, gendered and racist) perspectives growing within a single, imperial epistemic paradigm. This paper challenges such a paradigm by centering on the most recent neuralgic points surrounding the ‘universalist’ and ‘rationalist’ imaginaries of “suicide terror.” It approaches “suicide bombers” as theoretical figures from an interdisciplinary perspective, focused mainly on contemporary decolonial philosophy and post-Eurocentric social and cultural theories. This paper aims to break away from normative exercises of discursive power through which an ethical interruption of the epistemological becomes my primary task, in particular with regard to the notions of ritual otherness, death-politics, colonial matrix of power, sovereignty, resistance, and self-sacrifice. Keywords: epistemic violence, ‘suicide bombing,’ ritual others, necropolitics, decolonial thinking. 1 STAMENKOVIC, Marko. 2014. “Are so-called suicide bombers our ‘ritual others’?” Special Issue: Insecurity and Global Terror(s), estrema: Interdisciplinary Review for the Humanities 5 (Fall).
    [Show full text]
  • Maritime Terrorism, Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships: Southeast Asia and Africa, 2000 – 2008
    MARITIME TERRORISM, PIRACY AND ACTS OF ARMED ROBBERY OF SHIPS: SOUTHEAST ASIA AND AFRICA, 2000 – 2008 by LYDELLE AMELIA JOUBERT Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS in the Department of Political Sciences, Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pretoria Study Leader: Professor M. Hough September 2011 © University of Pretoria DEDICATION I dedicate this study to Deon Terblanche. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the following people and organizations for their assistance and contribution towards this study: My supervisor, Professor M. Hough for his support, insight and perspective, and guidance during the study. I felt privileged for this opportunity. The International Maritime Bureau for providing their Annual Reports to me. The Norwegian Council for Africa for access to African Newspaper articles. Mr Eric Frécon for making his book and lectures on pirate groups in Southeast Asia available to me. Ms M. Buys from the University of Pretoria‟s library and Ms J.M. Calitz of the South African Navy Library in Simonstown for assisting me with obtaining research material. Ms W. Martin for her administrative assistance. Deon Terblanche, Janis Peart and Ron Kessler for their help in proof reading. My fiancée, Deon Terblanche for his love and support that made this study possible. God for his blessings and my good health. ii Acronyms 5e RIAOM Fifth Regiment Interarmes d‟Outre-Mer 9/11 11 September 2001 AAIA Aden-Abyan Islamic Army AFRICOM United States African Command AIS Automatic
    [Show full text]
  • PROLOGUE Rethinking Policy and Theory in the New Era of Terrorism
    01- Martin.qxd 2/2/04 3:08 PM Page 1 1 PROLOGUE Rethinking Policy and Theory In the New Era Of Terrorism he events of September 11, 2001 awakened the international community to the reality of mass-casualty violence perpetrated by suicidal terrorists. These T terrorists were motivated by an uncompromisingly sectarian worldview that allowed for the murder of large numbers of innocent civilians in the name of their faith. The attacks confirmed warnings from experts that a new breed of terrorist would transform available technologies into weapons of enormous destructive power. In the United States, the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon imme- diately engendered a thorough reexamination and enhancement of the nation’s domestic security environment. This process occurred simultaneously with an unprecedented reorganization of government and the passage of sweeping security laws. As these measures fundamentally changed how Americans would respond to future threats of terrorist violence, they also reflected a basic adaptation of policy and theory to a new era of terrorism. Many experts revisited, and continue to revisit, the questions of which policies are best suited to address the new terrorist threat, as well as how to define and characterize terrorism in the new era. The articles in this chapter introduce policy and theoretical questions posed by the events of September 11, 2001. In “Rethinking Terrorism and Counterterrorism Since 9/11,” Bruce Hoffman explores the lessons of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The article examines the nature of the new era of terrorism, its impact on the contemporary global community, and the problem of adapting counterterrorism to the new environment.
    [Show full text]
  • European Master's Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation Awarded Theses of the Academic Year 2013/2014
    European Master’s Degree In Human Rights and Democratisation Awarded Theses of the Academic Year 2013/2014 “Blasting into fame: female terrorists make a statement.” Thesis by Mihailescu Laura European Master’s Degree in E.MAHuman Rights and Democratisation EIUC gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the European Commission which made this publication possible. © Venice: EIUC, 2015 DOI 10.7404/eiuc.ema.20132014.01 www.eiuc.org European Master’s Degree In Human Rights and Democratisation Awarded Theses of the Academic Year 2013/2014 “Blasting into fame: female terrorists make a statement” Thesis by Mihailescu Laura FOREWORD The European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democra­ tisation (E.MA) is the first Master’s course in human rights and democra­ tisation launched and financed by the European Commission that later served as model for establishing other Regional Master’s around the world. Since January 2013 these are all connected and managed by the European Inter­University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) under the Global Campus of Regional Master’s Programmes (GC). E.MA is a one­year master’s course aimed at preparing professionals to respond to the requirements of daily work in international organi­ sations, field operations, governmental and non­governmental bodies, and academia. The programme offers an action and policy­oriented approach to learning about human rights, democratisation and inter­ national relations from legal, political, historical, anthropological, and philosophical perspectives. This interdisciplinary nature and wide­ranging scope of E.MA reflect the benefits of true European inter­university cooperation in human rights education. It is an inter­ disciplinary programme that reflects the indivisible links between human rights, democracy, peace and development.
    [Show full text]
  • Al-Qaeda and the Internationalization of Suicide Terrorism the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies (JCSS)
    Yoram Schweitzer and Sari Goldstein Ferber Al-Qaeda and the Internationalization of Suicide Terrorism The Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies (JCSS) JCSS was founded in 1977 at the initiative of Tel Aviv University. In 1983 the Center was named the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies – JCSS – in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Jaffee. The purpose of the Jaffee Center is, first, to conduct basic research that meets the highest academic standards on matters related to Israel's national security as well as Middle East regional and international security affairs. The Center also aims to contribute to the public debate and governmental deliberation of issues that are – or should be – at the top of Israel's national security agenda. The Jaffee Center seeks to address the strategic community in Israel and abroad, Israeli policymakers and opinion-makers, and the general public. The Center relates to the concept of strategy in its broadest meaning, namely the complex of processes involved in the identification, mobilization, and application of resources in peace and war, in order to solidify and strengthen national and international security. Yoram Schweitzer and Sari Goldstein Ferber Al-Qaeda and the Internationalization of Suicide Terrorism Memorandum No. 78 November 2005 Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies יורם שוייצר ושרי גולדשטיין פרבר אל קאעדה והגלובליזציה של טרור המתאבדים Editor: Judith Rosen Cover Design: Yael Kfir Graphic Design: Michal Semo, Yael Bieber Printing House: Kedem Printing Ltd., Tel Aviv Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies Tel Aviv
    [Show full text]
  • Lessons of 9/11
    T E S T I M O N Y R Lessons of 9/11 Bruce Hoffman CT-201 October 2002 Submitted for the Committee Record to the United States Joint September 11, 2001 Inquiry Staff of the House and Senate Select Committees on Intelligence on October 8, 2002 This statement is based on a variety of sources, including research conducted at RAND. However, the opinions and conclusions expressed are those of the author and should not be interpreted as representing those of RAND or any of the agencies or others sponsoring its research. RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of its research sponsors. Published 2002 by RAND 1700 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202-5050 201 North Craig Street, Suite 202, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 RAND URL: http://www.rand.org To order RAND documents or to obtain additional information, contact Distribution Services: Telephone: (310) 451-7002; Fax: (310) 451-6915; Email: [email protected] LESSONS OF 9/11 Joint Inquiry Staff Request • Response from Dr. Bruce Hoffman Vice President, External Affairs and Director, RAND Washington Office The RAND Corporation 8 October 2002 It should be emphasized that the views and conclusions expressed herein are those of Dr. Bruce Hoffman only and do not represent those of any organizations or entities to which he is affiliated. How has the threat terrorists pose to the United States changed since the end of the cold war? Starting in the early 1990s, terrorism underwent a profound change.
    [Show full text]
  • An Empirical Analysis of the Lethality of Suicide Terrorism Burcu Pinar Alakoc, Department of History, Politics, and International Relations, Webster University, St
    DOI: 10.4119/UNIBI/ijcv.493 IJCV: Vol. 11#08/2017 When Suicide Kills: An Empirical Analysis of the Lethality of Suicide Terrorism Burcu Pinar Alakoc, Department of History, Politics, and International Relations, Webster University, St. Louis, United States Vol. 11#08/2017 The IJCV provides a forum for scientific exchange and public dissemination of up-to-date scientific knowledge on conflict and violence. The IJCV is independent, peer reviewed, open access, and included in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) as well as other relevant databases (e.g., SCOPUS, EBSCO, ProQuest, DNB). The topics on which we concentrate—conflict and violence—have always been central to various disciplines. Con- sequently, the journal encompasses contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including criminology, econom- ics, education, ethnology, history, political science, psychology, social anthropology, sociology, the study of reli- gions, and urban studies. All articles are gathered in yearly volumes, identified by a DOI with article-wise pagination. For more information please visit www.ijcv.org Author Information: Burcu Pinar Alakoc, Department of History, Politics, and International Relations, Webster University, St. Louis, United States [email protected] Suggested Citation: APA: Alakoc, B. P. (2017). When Suicide Kills: An Empirical Analysis of the Lethality of Suicide Terrorism. Inter- national Journal of Conflict and Violence, 11, 1-15. doi: 10.4119/UNIBI/ijcv.493 Harvard: Alakoc, Burcu Pinar. 2017. When Suicide Kills: An Empirical Analysis of the Lethality of Suicide Terror- ism. International Journal of Conflict and Violence 11:1-15. doi: 10.4119/UNIBI/ijcv.493 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives License.
    [Show full text]
  • Contrasting Martyrdom and the Politicization of Religion in the Al-Aqsa Intifada
    Contrasting Martyrdom and the Politicization of Religion in the al-Aqsa Intifada A thesis submitted to the Miami University Honors Program in partial fulfillment of the requirements for University Honors By Sara Beth Wallace Miami University Oxford, Ohio May, 2003 Contrasting Martyrdom and the Politicization of Religion in the al-Aqsa Intifada by Sara Beth Wallace Approved by: __________________________, Advisor Dr. Adeed Dawisha __________________________, Reader Dr. Sheila Croucher __________________________, Reader Dr. Vaughn Shannon Accepted by: __________________________, Director University Honors Program ii Abstract The assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin sent shockwaves through the Jewish community worldwide. The seeming impossibility of a Jew killing another Jew, as Leah Rabin described, cemented a sobering truth about the peace process: that there were religious fundamentalists – on both sides – eager to derail it. This derailment has culminated in the al-Aqsa Intifada, the pre-meditated violent upsurge against the Israeli occupation to liberate Palestine, which has plagued the region and its peoples since September 2000. This paper identifies major tributaries (trends that strengthen and renew a cult of martyrdom) in Palestinian society. Specifically historical/religious tradition, indoctrination of children and the masses by the Palestinian Authority, economic disparity, reinforcement of violence based on popular support, and the nature of military occupation are explored. Special attention is also given to the role international media and other states play in preventing an organic development and solution of the conflict. When a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates him/herself, Israeli society interprets this as irrational and maniacal. However, the underlings of Palestinian martyrdom - its infusion of nationalist goals with religious tenets - distinguishes the Palestinian suicide bomber as a new political reality of the Intifada.
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Thinking Terrorism in Light of a War on Terrorism
    RE-THINKING TERRORISM IN LIGHT OF A WAR ON TERRORISM Testimony of Dr. Bruce Hoffman Vice President, External Affairs, and Director, RAND Washington Office Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence U.S. House of Representatives September 26, 2001 The opinions and conclusions expressed in this written testimony are the author’s alone and should not be interpreted as representing those of RAND or any of the sponsors of its research. RE-THINKING TERRORISM IN LIGHT OF A WAR ON TERRORISM Statement of Bruce Hoffman,∗ Vice President, External Affairs and Director, RAND Washington Office Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the privilege and opportunity to testify before the Subcommittee as it begins its important deliberations on this critical issue. THE 9/11 ATTACKS IN CONTEXT Until last Tuesday, terrorists either in this country or abroad had killed no more than approximately 1,000 Americans total, since 1968. The enormity and sheer scale of the simultaneous suicide attacks of September 11th dwarf anything we have previously seen—either individually or in aggregate. Indeed, by the time the rubble and debris is cleared from New York City’s World Trade Center, the collapsed walls of the Pentagon are stabilized and the last of the bodies are retrieved from the field in rural Pennsylvania where a fourth suicide aircraft crashed, the death toll is likely to be exponentially higher. Accordingly, for that reason alone, the events of September 11th argue for nothing less than a re-configuration of both our thinking about terrorism and of our national security architecture as well.
    [Show full text]