Countering Terrorist Groups: Some Lessons Learned From Two Events (From Countering Biological Terrorism in the U.S.: An Understanding of Issues and Status, P 53-58, 1999, David W. Siegrist, Janice M. Graham, et al., -- See NCJ-191561)

• NCJ Number: 191565
• Author(s): Morris Busby
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Potomac Institute for Policy Studies
• Sale Source: Oceana Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter takes a look at how authorities can identify potential users of biological agents and then deter them before they launch an attack.

Abstract

The United States should be prepared to deal with attacks of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), such as biological agents. The most recent terrorist use of WMD was the sarin gas attack in Tokyo subways by Aum Shinrikyo. Japanese authorities were completely unprepared to deal with the attack. They failed to anticipate the event, their response was ineffective, and the management of the consequences was inadequate. Lessons can also be drawn from the Gulf War. The Iraqis had a worldwide reach, as opposed to terrorist organizations that operated within their own country. To deal with the threat, the coalition implemented a strategy that contained five essential parts: prevention, active countermeasures, intelligence, development of indicators, and crisis response. The United States focused on hardening potential targets. An intelligence analysis was made of Iraqi terrorist organizations. The coalition formed a picture of Iraqi capabilities, adopted a set of indicators of events that would lead to terrorist acts, and devised measures to counter them. The United States took measures in response to anticipated terrorist acts, such as cutting embassy staff to essential personnel only. If a threat was identified it was studied and procedures were developed to predict and counter events with a 90 percent probability of success. With confidence coming from analyses, the coalition was able to meet virtually every terrorist probability with confidence. Members of the coalition developed confidence with each other. Preparations, cooperation, and political will helped defeat Iraqi terrorist agents' plans quickly. The Meddelin Cartel in Colombia was a true threat to the government. The cartel decided in the late 1980's to try to bring the government down with all the means at its disposal. The government was slow to respond, and when it did the actions lacked organization and political will. Weak responses brought similar results. Only until the government fully committed to an intense campaign was it successful in bringing the cartel to justice. A specialized operations group destroyed the cartel's infrastructure. An air-tight legal case was made against the cartel leader. Determination and a desire to not compromise added to the campaign's success.