Law Commons^™

Juridical Control Of Terrorism, William T. Mallison

Akron Law Review

The present comment is written upon the basic assumption that the purpose of the juridical doctrines designed to control terror is to reduce, and if possible to eliminate, the destruction of human and material values involved in acts of terror. Professor Bassiouni approaches this problem through a threefold categorization of terror based upon motivation: first, terror designed to promote the private gain or profit of common criminals; second, terrorism by the mentally ill, and third, ideologically motivated terrorism. He deals primarily with the third one. This categorization is useful since it leads directly into a study of the causes of …

Selected Terroristic Claims Arising From The Arab-Israeli Context, Jordan J. Paust

Akron Law Review

This paper addresses itself to a subject of great importance and complexity-terrorism in the Mid-East conflict. Recognizing the vastness of this complex subject matter, this presentation focuses upon and confines its scope to the content of relevant international law and the efforts by some of the participants in the Mid-East struggle to justify conduct or to seek approval of conduct through changes in the law. It should be understood that the attempt herein is to consider law as it is and law as it might develop-not to debate the propriety or impropriety of the Israeli or Arab cause or of …

Methodological Options For International Legal Control Of Terrorism, M. Cherif Bassiouni

Akron Law Review

THE TITLE OF MY PRESENTATION differs from the general title of this Conference which misleadingly links terrorism and the Middle East. Unintended inferences will inevitably be drawn from that title. This can only be deplored in light of the serious efforts of those concerned scholars who are seeking rational solutions to the complex problem of "terror-violence."

Social and behaviorial scientists will in time tell us more about the conditions, reasons, causes and motivations leading to "terror-violence." With such knowledge jurists will be better equipped to develop the type of legal controls most likely to reduce the impact of violent strategies. …

An Approach To Decision With Regard To Terrorism, Jordan J. Paust

Akron Law Review

To Professor Baxter's chagrin, the words "terror" and "terrorism" i-have been thrown about as well as words such as "criminal," and banditry." I believe that one of the problems that we should face at this time is the definitional approach. We should direct our inquiry to a definitional framework; 'because, this is exactly what has been the problem at the General Assembly of the United Nations, this "politicized throwing about" of conclusionary words without any reference to context or a set of criteria -for a shared definition of what the term means. The definitional approach that I would utilize is …

A Skeptical Look At The Concept Of Terrorism, R. R. Baxter

Akron Law Review

International Law is that body of law which creates rights for me and duties for you. I fight wars of self-defence. You fight imperialistic wars of aggression. I am a patriotic soldier. You are a war criminal. I am a freedom fighter. You are a terrorist. It is in language of this character that we carry on rational discourse in these days. These are the conventional epithets of the contemporary epic.

We have cause to regret that a legal concept of "terrorism" was ever inflicted upon us. The term is imprecise; it is ambiguous; and above all, it serves no …

Symposium: Terrorism In The Middle East, Hamilton Desaussure

Akron Law Review

TERRORISM, LIKE THE RECENT tornados which struck in the Midwest, can come upon the unwary with lightning swiftness, strike in unexpected places, leave in their trail devastation, death, and helpless victims, and generate in relatives, friends, and a concerned public a sense of frustration and futility. Frustration in the sense that there was so little forewarning of the dramatic events that are to leave the lives of certain individuals forever changed. Futility that so little seems to be accomplished to prevent such destructive forces from again unfolding. The tornado that struck Xenia, Ohio, on April 3, 1974, took more than …

Protocol I: Moving Humanitarian Law Backwards, Douglas J. Feith

Akron Law Review

Colonel Carnahan of the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has reviewed some of the practical military problems with Protocol I. I would like to spend a little time on what might be called the philosophical - or broader political - problems. In particular, I would like to discuss the diplomatic conference that produced the protocol and how it demonstrated the links among law, politics, and terrorism.

When you get 126 countries together, as occurred at the diplomatic conference, there is a lot of politics. That is to say, Protocol I is not simply a legal matter than can …