NCJ Number
53148
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE NEED FOR COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORISM IN WEST GERMANY AS WELL AS PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN INTERAGENCY INFORMATION EXCHANGE ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ANALYSIS OF CAUSES, NOT EFFECTS, OF TERRORISM WITHIN SOCIETY IS REQUIRED TO CLARIFY BOTH THEORIES ON MEMBERS OF THE FIRST TERRORIST GROUP WHO BROKE AWAY FROM PROSPEROUS, MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES TO BECOME RENEGADES AND THE ORGANIZATION AND METHOD OF OPERATION OF MORE RECENT, MORE RUTHLESS GROUPS. AN EFFECTIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM WOULD BE USEFUL FOR PREDICTIVE PURPOSES, AS INDIVIDUALS GENERALLY HAVE A PREVIOUS RECORD OF MARGINAL INVOLVEMENT BEFORE BECOMING TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. PRESS RELEASES FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE FREQUENTLY CONTRADICTORY, EVEN THOUGH CLEAR PUBLIC INFORMATION IS A PREREQUISITE FOR SUCCESSFUL TERRORISM PREVENTION. THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, LIES IN THE SUSPICION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXHIBITED BY THE STATES, WHICH CONTROL THE POLICE, WHEN FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ATTEMPT TO COORDINATE STATE EFFORTS; THE DIVISION OF LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL AGENCY (FCA) AND LOCAL POLICE REMAINS INDISTINCT. INFORMATION ON TERRORIST GROUPS COLLECTED BY THE FCA, SPECIALLY TRAINED FCA UNITS, AND FCA TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW-HOW HAVE RARELY BEEN USED BY THE STATES. FURTHERMORE, THE STATES HAVE MADE LITTLE EFFORT TO KEEP TRACK OF STOLEN DOCUMENTS, OFTEN EMPLOYED BY TERRORISTS, OR TO PRODUCE LICENSE PLATES IMMUNE TO FORGERY; BANK SURVEILLANCE HAS BEEN ENDORSED BUT NEVER CARRIED OUT. INSTEAD, NEW LAWS HAVE BEEN PASSED WHICH MAKE THE GOVERNMENT APPEAR EVEN MORE REPRESSIVE. ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, NATIONAL INTERESTS HAVE HINDERED ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)