japan

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On the morning of March 20th 1995 a terrorist group used unconventional tactics to attack a civilian population in a clandestine attempt to overthrow a world superpower. Both the method and the goal of the radical group appeared out of character from what the world had seen previously from extremists but a result that did open they eyes of many governments is a self-reflection that we as a society were not prepared for the evils that lie in wait. By using John Parachini risk assessment perspective on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) weapons of mass destruction a government can become proactive and have the ability to plan, prepare, and respond when just a type event happens on their soil. The agenda attempted by the terrorist group did not come to fruition due to their inability but it did expose the Japanese government’s failure to identify an active terrorist group operating inside its boarders and a massive disappointment for not successfully responding to its citizens in the midst of the attack.
The 1995 subway attacks in Tokyo, Japan were perpetrated by the religious group calling themselves Aum Shinrikyo, meaning Supreme Truth, in an attempt to destroy the Japanese government leaving a vacuum for them to assume leadership of the country (Parachini, 2003). The Aum Shinrikyo leader, Shoko Asahara, envisioned that planet was about to enter a third world war that was fought super weapons such as nuclear and chemical weapons opposed to the use of the standardized weaponry of guns and bombs. Aum Shinrikyo network at its height had a following of 30,000 spread throughout Japan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Australia. Australian intelligence agencies reported in 1994 that a raid on a rural ranch ...

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...wer can be granted to carry out this mission but it is an end all belief by Parachini that guarantees a government is committed to saving the lives of its citizens.
The horrific events of March 20th 1995 will forever haunt the nation of Japan much as September 11th 2001 is an eternal moment for Americans. Many similarities can be made of both attacks as they were meant to destabilize each respective government. Both attempts failed and both encouraged and empower each country to become proactive about dealing with terrorist organizations and a realization on how to respond when it happens again. By understanding risk assessments that include all the capabilities of a nation’s enemy, foreign and domestic, and hardening those vulnerabilities coupled with policies, with teeth, we as a society are taking corrective measures to deal with true adversaries of the state.

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