Dr. Rob Huebert took us on a tour of modern day Terrorism and provided some understanding of the methods and origins of various groups.
   
In addition to the definition above, Dr. Huebert described terrorism as: Action designed to invoke terror with maximum effect by the few against the many. 
   
A disturbing aspect of modern terrorism is the access to better (conventional) weapons than in the past, and also the growing threat that there is access to weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, biological). 

   
Terrorism can be focused internationally (against groups or countries) or domestically (ie liberation efforts) but in both cases has the aim to disrupt or change society. 
   
The roots of terrorism come from many sources and can often be traced back to world powers supporting one side or another in local or regional disputes in the hopes of establishing 'friendly' governments or regimes, as in the example of the Afghanistan occupation by the Soviet Union in the 1980s and the support given to dissident groups by western governments. 
   
This pattern was repeated after the Gulf War when groups with leaders like Osama bin Laden moved form local attacks in Saudi Arabia to targets representing the United States. 
   
However bin Laden has taken a different approach to traditional terrorism by carefully disguising the links back to his 'master franchise' organization, by using a variety of tactics, and striking beyond geographic boundaries with multiple attacks and methods. 
   
There may not be safety even here in Western Canada as we are strategically located within striking distance of much of the U.S. food belt and defence installations.