How to Take a Definitive Look at Terror Using Hezbollah as a Model

This article shows readers how to take a definitive look at terror using Hezbollah as a model.

Instructions

How to Take a Definitive Look at Terror Using Hezbollah as a Model

1. After years of terrorist activity, Hezbollah has become the embodiment of terror in every sense of the word. Hezbollah has embarked on a course that they hope will lead to an Islamic fundamentalist nation similar to that of their Iranian allies. In fact, it is Iran who has played a major role in the development and global expansion of Hezbollah's agenda. Hezbollah has used this assistance to become a global threat that is capable of destabilizing multiple regions simultaneously due to the strategic placement of terrorist cells in several nations across the globe.

2. Origin of Group
   Hezbollah was formed in 1982 with the intention of waging a jihad against Israel because of Israel's invasion of Lebanon. Hezbollah was formed from several terrorist factions. This fact exacerbated the diversity of Hezbollah's technical and operational capabilities. Iran and Syria also provided significant support to the terrorist initiatives of Hezbollah.

3. Societal Compliance
   Hezbollah has been successful in obtaining societal compliance from the civilian population of Lebanon through shrewd social services initiatives that have provided these civilians with amenities that they would never be able to afford on their own. The social services of Hezbollah have also been successful in obtaining the support of the Christian minority in Lebanon. This has facilitated an environment where the civilian population has willingly turned a blind eye to the terrorist operations of Hezbollah. Hezbollah has also been able to galvanize and captivate Lebanese Shiites by acquiring and operating its own satellite television channel and broadcast station with which it spreads its idealogical doctrine. These factors have made Hezbollah one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations on the face of the earth. This is an impressive feat to behold when one considers that Hezbollah only has several thousand members.

4. Areas of Operation
   Hezbollah has primarily kept it's areas of operations within Lebanon, however, they have in some instances been successful in launching terrorist attacks abroad:

   Example

   1. "Two major 1990s attacks on Jewish targets in Argentina-the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy (killing twenty-nine) and the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center (killing ninety-five).

   2. A July 2006 raid on a border post in northern Israel in which two Israeli soldiers were taken captive. The abductions sparked an Israeli military campaign against Lebanon to which Hezbollah responded by firing rockets across the Lebanese border into Israel."
   Council on Foreign Relations,"Hezbollah" (Backgrounder)

   These attacks clearly prove how dangerous Hezbollah is as an organization and puts to rest the conventional thinking that they are only a regional threat. In fact, when considering the fact that Hezbollah has long been a proxy war subordinate of Iran, it is very difficult to deny the global threat posed such an organization. Hezbollah has cells operating in Europe, Africa, North and South America, therefore, further validating the assertion that they are a global threat to peace and stability. It is highly probable that Hezbollah could launch attacks against American interests should America launch a preemptive strike against Iran to keep them from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. These attacks could include the aforemention regions where Hezbollah has cells operating, therefore,
   possibly sparking a multi regional sectarian insurgency that could last years. This scenario is highly indicative of how dangerous Hezbollah is on a region specific and global level.

   References
   Council on Foreign Relations 2007, "Hezbollah" (Backgrounder) http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/