Face of Terrorism - Policymaking and the Eye of the Beholder (From Symmetry and Asymmetry of Global Adversary Behavior - Proceedings, P 21-26, 1984, Barbara G Curtis, ed. - See NCJ-97172)

• NCJ Number: 97174
• Author(s): J R McBrien
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-97172.

Annotation

The viewpoints and activities of various U.S. governmental agencies need integration to deal with international terrorism.

Abstract

Until this happens, individual agencies will do their own jobs fairly well, but they will be acting too independently to produce the most effective combination of terrorist countermeasures. In the last 5 years, 1,559 international terrorist incidents have involved U.S. citizens and property as targets; 312 American citizens have been killed, and 212 Americans have been wounded. From half to three-quarters of the terrorist acts have been bombings. The five institutional perspectives which have a bearing on the problem of terrorism are diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement, military, and security. Although much can be learned from individual institutional perspectives and much action has been taken by individual agencies, many trends are ominous. The bombing of the U.S. Marines' multinational force compound at Beirut the U.S. Marines' multinational force compound at Beirut International Airport showed the increased targeting of Americans and created a perception of U.S. vulnerability. Unconventional forms of violence are being used against conventional military forces. This has generated policymaking efforts. An integrated national strategy is now needed to implement that policy. A new Federal agency is not needed; rather, a broader perspective and coordinated efforts are required.