Classification and Designation of Terrorist Groups

The FBI is the only governmental entity offering any methods or typologies for the categorical classification of terrorist groups or organizations. According to FBI Director Louis Freeh in testimony before the U.S. Senate in May 2001, the transnational terrorist threat can be divided into the three categories of ãloosely affiliated extremists,ä ãformal terrorist organizationsä and ãstate-sponsors of terrorismä (Freeh 2001, 2).

Director Freeh testified that the ãloosely affiliated extremistsä category included groups or organizations motivated by political or religious beliefs; and moreover, that the single common element among these groups was their commitment to the ãradical international jihad movementä (Ibid.). In his testimony, the FBI Director characterized this movement as embracing a ãradicalizedä Islamic ideology. This ideology promotes an agenda endorsing the use of violence against the ãenemies of Islamä in order to overthrow all governments not ruled by Sharia, or conservative Islamic law (Ibid.). Continuing with his testimony, Director Freeh also advised that a primary tactical objective of terrorist groups in this category was the planning and carrying out of large-scale, high-profile, high-casualty terrorist attacks against U.S. interests and citizens (Ibid.).

Discussing the category of ãformal terrorist organization,ä FBI Director Freeh stated that the category was comprised of transnational organizations having their own infrastructures, personnel, financial arrangements, and training facilities (Ibid.). Freeh further commented on how these organizations are capable of implementing transnational terrorist attacks on an international basis, and then added that several groups from the ãloosely affiliated extremistsä category can also be categorized as "formal terrorist organizationsä (Ibid.).

In his testimony, Freeh argued that the category of ãstate-sponsored terrorismä included countries utilizing transnational terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy (Ibid., 3). In conclusion, he advised that the Department of State listed the seven countries of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Syria, Cuba and North Korea as state-sponsors of terrorism (Ibid.).