NCJ Number
57620
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 34,36-38
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE THREAT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IS INCREASING AND ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL IN AN 'EMBRYONIC' STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE STEPS TO PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY IN THE FUTURE.
Abstract
TERRORISM CAN BE DEFINED AS 'THE ORGANIZED USE OF VIOLENCE WITH THE AIM OF PROMOTING POLITICAL OR SOCIAL CHANGE AND EMPHASIZING THE RUTHLESSNESS AND DESPERATE DEDICATION OR DESTRUCTIVENESS OF THEIR ACTIONS.' THE UNITED STATES HAS ONLY BEEN THE TARGET OF INTERMITTENT AND FAIRLY UNSUCCESSFUL TERRORIST ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS PREDICT THAT THIS COUNTRY WILL BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN TERRORIST INCIDENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AT PRESENT, THE U.S. IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY PREPARED TO DEAL WITH SUCH AN INCIDENT. SEVERAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE DEVELOPED SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS FOR DEALING WITH TERRORISM, WEST GERMANY HAS DEVELOPED A SYSTEM OF RESPONSE TO TERRORISM WHICH DOES NOT RESORT TO MILITARY OR DICTATORIAL CONTROL; ITS ACTIONS ARE BASED ON POLICE AGENCIES. THE GERMAN POLICE HAVE DEVELOPED UNITS CALLED 'KOMMANDOS' WHICH HAVE A VARIETY OF SPECIALISTS AND THE UNITS ARE TRAINED TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY AND YET COLLECTIVELY TO ACCOMPLISH COUNTERTERRORIST OBJECTIVES. SPECIALISTS ARE TRAINED IN WEAPON USE, LAW, HOSTAGE, NEGOTIATION, INTELLIGENCE GATHERING, AND OTHER RELATED AREAS. THE U.S. MUST TAKE STEPS TO DEVELOP A RESPONSE SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THAT OF WEST GERMANY. THESE STEPS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL ANTITERRORIST LAWS TO PROVIDE CLEAR LINES OF RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY FOR INTERVENTION, AND THE DESIGNATION TO ONE FEDERAL AGENCY OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR COUNTERTERRORIST RESPONSE. TERRORISTS SHOULD BE TRIED QUICKLY AND THE DEATH PENALTY FOR CERTAIN TERRORIST ACTS SHOULD BE REINSTATED. FURTHERMORE, INFORMATIONAL LEAKS IN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY SHOULD BE PREVENTED. THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR COUNTERTERRORIST ACTIVITY MUST COORDINATE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL INTERAGENCY INFORMATIONAL EXCHANGE, PROMOTE RESEARCH, DEVELOP ADVANCED TRAINING PROGRAMS, IMPLEMENT THE INTELLIGENCE AND SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENTS OF COUNTERTERRORIST OPERATIONS AND CREATE A TACTICAL RESPONSE CAPABILITY AVAILABLE NATIONALLY ON A 2 TO 4 HOUR RESPONSE TIME. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)