NCJ Number
50036
Journal
Security Management Volume: 22 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 24,26,76,78
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
TWO NEW REPORTS, RELEASED IN JUNE 1978, ARE REVIEWED IN AN EFFORT TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON TERRORISM IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD.
Abstract
THE LONGER REPORT, INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM: THE COMMUNIST CONNECTION, DISCUSSES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIOUS NATIONAL AND SUPRANATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS -THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND, THE BAADER-MEINHOF GANG -- AND THE COMMUNIST REGIMES IN CHINA, THE SOVIET UNION, AND THE EASTERN BLOCK. THE SECOND EFFORT, TERRORISM IN AMERICA: THE DEVELOPING INTERNAL SECURITY CRISIS, IS A 23 PAGE PAPER WHICH ARGUES THAT INCREASING VIOLENCE FROM ORGANIZED TERRORISTS IN THE U.S. IS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY UNLESS THE TREND TOWARD DISMANTLING THE NATION'S DOMESTIC SECURITY FORCES IS REVERSED. NEITHER STUDY OFFERS MUCH OPTIMISM AND BOTH REVIEW STATISTICS OF TERRORISM INCIDENTS AND CITE WELL-KNOWN EXAMPLES. BOTH COME TO LARGELY THE SAME CONCLUSION: THE U.S. IS ILL-PREPARED TO FACE THE THREAT TERRORISTS ARE LIKELY TO POSE IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE. BOTH REPORTS PRESENT INFORMATIVE COMPARISONS OF HISTORICAL INCIDENTS AND OUTLINE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR AND VIOLENCE THAT STAND OUT IN THE COMPARISONS. THEY ARGUE THAT WHILE NOT ALL TERRORISTS ARE COMMUNISTS, NEARLY ALL U.S. TERRORISTS (I.E., PUERTO RICAN ORGANIZATIONS, THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND) HAVE FOREIGN CONTACTS, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE COMMUNIST COUNTRIES; THAT RESEARCHERS SEE A LIKELY RISE IN DOMESTIC TERROR; AND THAT THE QUESTION OF RESPONSE TO TERRORISM LEADS TO A WIDE RANGE OF PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH CIVIL LIBERTIES. (KBL)