Whether or not it really was the Islamic State that brought down a filled Russian passenger jet over the Sinai desert is to date uncertain, reported theguardian.com. But even in case they weren’t the cause, by simply claiming the credit the terrorists get publicity and attention, which furthers their endeavor.
“Getting publicity and notoriety help them instill fear in people and make them more scared of them,” said Kyley Thorpe, a junior majoring in political science from Idaho.
Brian Houghton, professor of political science said after the thorough investigation, which is done by skilled experts, they would find any kinds of residue of explosives or special damage caused by an explosion compared to other problems like the engine.
“Even when the black box doesn’t give enough information, those doing the investigation should discover the cause. But that typically is a very slow tedious process.”
Though he conceded it to be a plausible act of ISIS because Egypt is an easy place for them to access, he said, “Terrorists often will make claims. They want the publicity regardless of if they carried it out or not. The very fact that people are talking about it and the media is referring to it, gives ISIS credibility. Every time there is a plane accident, the terrorists win.”
Thorpe saw it similarly. “Even by them just declaring it they have gotten a lot of recognition and helped them to advance.”
Comparing it to the tree falling with nobody listening, Houghton said, “The terrorists absolutely need the media. Whereas the media doesn’t need terrorism, but it loves it, for it provides something interesting and compelling for their readers.”
He called it “second hand terrorism, like second hand smoke.” When people just think terrorists did it causes enough effect that it can benefit the extremists. “Even without doing something they can get credit.”
Devin Masse, a sophomore majoring in political science from Oregon highly doubts ISIS actually did it. “It could have been ISIS supporters or who ever actually did it doesn’t want to be known. Blaming it on ISIS would be an easy cover-up. It is a simple way for ISIS to say it was them and take the credit for it.”
He also said, “It could have been done to look like ISIS did it or even Russia themselves to have more reasons to attack ISIS with military force.”
Although this remains a vague interpretation, reported theguardian.com, since both Egypt and Russia have attempted to devitalize every link of the incident to terrorism.
“The Russians don’t even want to consider,” said Houghton, “that this might was a bomb because of the political ramifications. During their operations in Syria they don’t want the people in Russia thinking they are being targeted by terrorists because of the decisions of the Russian government. They will do everything to play that down.”
Masse and Houghton both mentioned similar accidents in the past. Masse compared the incident with a Ukrainian plane was shot down last year by its own country due to a missile accidently launched at the aircraft. “Initially it was assumed it was the Russians, but it never was them.”
Houghton pointed out the danger of the agitated talking about unproven assumptions. He referred to a plane crash over the Atlantic in the 90s that was initially attributed to a terrorist attack, but later turned out to be a simple electricity fault. Nevertheless very few people traveled to Europe that summer, which had a huge effect on Europe’s economy.
“People wanting to travel to Egypt will refrain from it now.” Nonetheless the real danger of terrorists remains a fact. Thorpe mentioned, terrorists often act out of extreme views and justify themselves by religious things, or for the claim of freedom and think they are completely right in what they are doing.
“They teach people how to build bombs and set them up. They even go to other countries to gain a higher education in e.g. chemistry or computer science.”
“When someone goes through the motion and kills a bunch of people in a school or college, what they really want, is to look like a martyr or hero. They want their name to be known,” Masse added.