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has proveo unreliable for some
groups. As a result, they have opted
for another, more ominous way of
augmenting thei r budgets: seeking
out powerful sponsors to provide
safe havens, training, weapons and
money. In some cases these spon–
sors have proveo to be national gov–
ernments-leading to what is now
called "state-supported terrorism."
Ter rorists have become the
means by which some powerful
nations, desiring to avoid unwanted
escalalion or public outcry, can
punish their enemies at a relatively
small cost.
These modern-day guns-for-hire
also provide the same service for
smaller nations that may fear a
d irect confrontation with a major
power.
Many nations make no bones
about their connections to terrorist
groups. Syria, Libya, Iraq and
South Yemen all see no objection
in directly aiding terrorism. Israel ,
in turn, mounts numerous counter–
attacks on specific targets. Others
like Cuba, North Korea, Algeria
and severa! Eastern bloc nations
prefer the role of clandestine train–
ing centers.
Perhaps as many as 5,000 guer–
rillas and terrorists have been
trained in Cuba alone.
Two decades ago, only a rela–
tively few terrorist groups had con–
nections with governrnent sponsors.
Now, according to one consultant
on terrorism, only a few
don't
have
the support of sorne state. In a bold
statement made in 1979, Dr. Hans
Josef Horchem of West Germany's
antitcrrorist Office for the Defense
of the Constitution ftatly stated:
"The KGB [the Soviet intelligence
agency] is engineering internation–
al lerrorism. The facts can be docu–
mented and are well known lo lhe
international community."
As Claire Sterling adds in her
book
The Terror Network:
"In
effect, the Soviet Union had simply
laid
a
loaded gun on the table, leav–
ing others to get on with it."
Nor is the CIA (the U.S. intclli–
gence agency) free from similar
charges under one or more previous
administrations.
State sponsorship has presented
a dangerous new face of terrorism.
For one thing, the leve) of weapon–
ry employed has advanced greatly.
May 1984
C r ud e pipe bombs have been
replaced by sophisticated remote–
fi red car bombs. Molotov cocktails
are out; rocket-propelled g renades
are in. But greater levels of
finances and weaponry are not the
only changes that have come on the
scene. Targets have changed also.
In the l970s, attacks against prop–
erty accounted for 80 percent of all
terrorist activities. Only 20 percent
were directed against people. Today,
those figures are about 50-50. Diplo–
mats and diplomatic facilities are
now part icularly singled out. Tbey
have become the targets of
nearly 40 percent of all
international terrorist at–
tacks.
Terrorism Will Be Stopped
The immediate future
does not Iook bright for
those battling against ter–
rorism. Andas the world's
leve! of fruslration rises,
an America that has
seemed nearly impervious
to terrorism may begin to
suffer along with the rest
of the world. As President
Ronald Reagan said a few
months ago: "We have
never before faced a situa–
tion in whicb others rou–
tinely sponsor and facili–
tate acts of violence
against us."
t reacherous, rash ..." (11 Tim. 3: l-
4, New International Version).
J esus Christ himself prophesied
(see the account in Matthew 24:7-8)
that at the time of the end, "nation
shaJI rise against nation, and king–
dom against kingdom.... All these
are the beginning of sorrows."
This is what we have today. One
nation sponsoring bloody terrorist
attacks on another. The governments
under assault today are often power–
less to stop this deadly scourge. The
world must, instead, look elsewhere
for a way out of this madness.
For state-sponsored ter–
rorists like the Libyan hit
teams in Europe or the
Shiite terrorists in Leba–
Harrod's of London blanketed in smoke a fter a
Christmas-season IRA car bombing.
non, the latter believed to be
inspired by the revolutionary gov–
ernment of Iran, no act is too vio–
lent.
The world has reached- and
threatens lo go way beyond- a peri–
od
similar lo lhe violent terrorism
that plagued post-World War
1
Ger–
many, where small armies sponsored
by various political factions waged
war in the streets. This recent histor–
ie period was not unlike the situation
in Beirut today-and not unlike a
time described by the apostle Paul
l ,900 years ago: "But mar
k
this:
There will be terrible times in the
last days. People will be lovers of
themselves ... boastful, proud, abu–
sive ... unholy, without love, unfor–
giving, slanderous, without self-con–
trol, brutal, not lovers of the good,
More killings, more bombings,
more sorrows are on the horizon. But
there is a government on its way lhat
will deal wilh terrorism in a firm
manner. The kingdom of God will
save mankind from men willing to go
to any length- whether by war or
terrorism- to achieve their means.
The coming Messiah "will judge
between the nations and will settle
disputes for many peoples. They will
beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword
against nation, nor will they train for
war anymore" (lsa. 2:4, NIV).
For a glimpse of this coming age
of peace, send for our free booklets
The Wonderful World Tomorrow–
What It Wi/1 Be Like
and
World
Peace- How It Wi/1 Come.
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