A Toss Coin COVID-19 Aftermath
By: Emerjhon D. Hernandez | LEAPS Academy Philippines
PG Diploma in Terrorism Studies
May 2020 Edition
The focal point on the different
positions of the COVID-19 pandemic has narrowed the globe. The international
community seems to be compressed having an eye on the ball on the
wide-spreading disease producing a speedy and continuous increase of mortality.
While the center point is the response in overcoming the crisis, efforts from
several States have also been established to determine the root cause of the
disease. Questions have been arising if the coronavirus was naturally acquired
or laboratory driven. Others wanted to explore the possibility of intent to
develop and spread the virus for depopulation. Some are eyeing on it as
well-planned strategy of a certain State to destroy economies of others in
achieving hegemony. Some are also inclined considering it as a terroristic
course of action.
Studying where the virus came from
or why it exists now has a great significance. But the present response is much
more important not only in handling the pandemic but also in addressing its
surrounding effects in order to avoid future occurrences of other crises
brought by it, particularly terroristic events.
Issues on the Origin of
Coronavirus
Scrutinizing the origin of
COVID-19, many studies came up with only two contradicting results. One has
closed that the coronavirus disease is a product of natural evolution as held
by its likelihood and connection with the first known severe illness caused by
a coronavirus that emerged with the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS) epidemic in China and the second outbreak that started out in 2012 in
Saudi Arabia with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). But theories
also existed proposing that the virus was a laboratory driven and engineered.
This is much more becoming an interest of research since China, the origin
country of the virus, reported to have shown dishonesty in providing the figures
of infected individuals in their territory and hampered the circulation of some
reports that might have been necessary for World Health Organization’s global
response.
On
discussing rumors to depopulate and to destroy economies, speculations have also
passed on around the world that the virus was applied as a biological weapon. One
position of the story insisted that this was broached by the US to depopulate
China while the other side hypothesized that it was China’s action to put down
the economic systems of the states in the Western world, particularly that of
the US. Both issues have no evidence to date to believe in.
While
no research has thus far been generally admitted, the factor that the virus was
a weapon of mass destruction used by terrorist groups has seemed to be not
involved into account. But, terrorism should not be put aside in the present
state of affairs. Experts from the International Centre for Political Violence
and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), a think tank within the S. Rajaratnam School
of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore, reported that terrorists have
exploited the coronavirus pandemic to spread their ideology.
Despite
the pandemic, terrorists are trying to take use the ensuing chaos to their
welfare. In fact, with so many people home and on the internet all day,
jihadist groups see this as a chance for recruitment. It might potentially
increase the chances of radicalization as more people pass time on social media
at home looking for answers amid uncertainties, exposing themselves to
terrorist propaganda. If this could bring success to the extremist, then
terrorism, not the present pandemic might wreak havoc around the world.
COVID-19 and Terrorism
Terrorism
factors are at crucial to be considered today. With governments, military and
intelligence agencies allocating massive amounts of resources to the defeat of
coronavirus, there is some concern that they could drop the ball regarding
terrorist threats. The effect of COVID -19 is like a wound in which the external
damaged part is the only visible. Government forces across the globe should
provide effort to address the other side effects of this crisis. If it happens
to be hoax, that the virus was used as a bioweapon, then terrorist groups to
advantage of the situation to produce their greatest weapon in the future.
There
are some reports announcing that ISIS has called for more attacks in the West
during the pandemic, telling followers this is a good chance to “regroup and
plan new operations”. While confronting the pandemic, the US State Department
explained that the state is considering steps to defend against the risk posed
by ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups. Despite encouraging allies to overwhelm
terrorism and having cooperation to the greatest extent possible in the current
environment, it remains inevitable to have difficulties in operating in the
prevailing conditions. Though terrorists are too susceptible to contagious
disease, they are considering that efforts against them would give way as
governments might not desire to deploy troops into faraway lands affected by
the virus.
Considering
suicide bombing as one of the tactics employed by the terrorist groups to
produce terror, COVID-19 pandemic could also be employed as a tool by them. Stories
are already spreading that some infected individuals are deliberately coughing
on some others to further propagate the disease. In the United States, coughing
attacks may be prosecuted as an act of terrorism. Two people in the US have
been charged with terrorism offenses after claiming they were intentionally
trying to spread COVID-19. In the United Kingdom, a man was recently jailed for
coughing on police, stating that he hoped to infect them with the virus so that
they would pass it on to their children.
Two Pronged Principles
Mix
and Match – Aside from health concerns in the present global situation,
security forces from different States around the world must lend the same
amount of their attention to other aspects of security, particularly to the
threats of violent extremism. Prioritizing one aspect over the others will pave
the way for more vulnerabilities since bad elements could use such “others” as
chances to strike. It is known to us that in terrorism, taking advantage of the
opportunities is the name of the game. During this this time of pandemic,
collecting and mixing different information on aspects of security provides us
to discover possible match for what could be done today and tomorrow by
terrorist groups.
Mold
and Bold – Despite the stress of the pandemic that stretches the global
community to an extreme damaging degree, nations must display an indestructible
image to the terrorist groups. If the latter perceives counter-terrorism units
as more molded by the difficulties and bolder than before, it would bring a
reduction of confidence and desire for them to perpetrate terroristic moves. This
would be true if resilient and progressive efforts in combating terrorism are
widely presented. Continuous international and domestic conventions, training,
and seminars coupled with quick response in arresting and prosecuting violators
of anti-terror laws of different countries, are some of the major contributing
factors. In other words, if the global community is much more responsive to the
threats of terrorism while enduring a battle for another crisis, prevention
would still prevail.
It
is imperative to anticipate future occurrences of different nature and embrace
security. When the world puts smaller and limited attention on the pandemic,
the riskier it becomes, the greater the exposure to terrorism. Assuming that
the pandemic ends soon, another will likely to happen. When security forces are
be less prepared, a greater danger awaits, especially when terror groups are
involved.
The
aftermath might be something like a toss coin. Flipping the coin would be a
representation of uncertain future preparedness due to disregarding and
mishandling of terrorism threats in times of the pandemic. If the coin lands
with heads, counter-terrorism might still be effective. If it lands with tails,
terrorism might be more than the world’s effort against them.
*****
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