The Department of State's Patterns of Global Terrorism Report: Trends, State Sponsors, and Related Issues
Abstract
This report highlights trends and data found in the State Department's annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report, ("Patterns 2003") and addresses selected issues relating to its content. On April 29, 2004, the Department of State released its annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism report." Data at release showed minimal change in the number of terrorist attacks worldwide in 2003 over 2002 levels -- a decrease from 198 attacks to 190. In 2003, the overall number of reported anti-U.S. attacks remained more or less constant as well, 82 anti-U.S. attacks in 2003 as opposed to 77 attacks in the previous year. In 2003, the number of persons killed in international terrorist attacks was 307, down from 725 in 2002. In 2003, persons wounded numbered 1,593, down from 2,013 the previous year. In 2003, as in 2002, both the highest number of attacks (70) and highest number of casualties (159 dead and 951 wounded) continued to occur in Asia. Notably, the report defines terrorist acts as incidents directed against noncombatants. Thus, attacks in Iraq on military targets are not included. "Patterns," a work widely perceived as a standard, authoritative reference tool on terrorist activity, trends, and groups, has been subject to periodic criticism that it is unduly influenced by domestic, other foreign policy, political, and economic considerations. This year for the first time, data contained in "Patterns" -- which some critics in Congress view as incomplete if not flawed -- was provided by the newly operational Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC). TTIC is providing an errata sheet, which will include, among other information, data on terrorist attacks after November 11, 2003. This report will not be updated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA444835
Entities
People
- Raphael F. Perl
Organizations
- Library of Congress