Cerberus to Mind: Media as Sentinel in the Fight against Terrorism
Abstract
Like war, the nature of terrorism is immutable - it is a deadly contest of wills, shrouded in horror, blood, hatred, friction, chaos, and uncertainty. While terrorism is still violence used for political purpose, its character is quite different from conventional war. It is governed by a different set of principles, where words and images ultimately prevail over bullets, where military forces are often intentionally avoided, where tactical success can result in strategic defeat, or contrarily, where tactical defeat can result in strategic success. Terrorism is more a war for the mind of noncombatants than it is about the death and destruction of the participants. Consequently, it demands a markedly different strategy for defense. It requires an understanding of the complex interactions between the physical and mental realms of human perception.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA521446
Entities
People
- Randall G. Bowdish
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School