NCJ Number
59747
Date Published
1979
Length
473 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE THAT GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE IN THWARTING DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS IS DISCUSSED IN THIS TEXT WITH EMPHASIS ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS ON TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM IS ONLY BEGINNING, A SURVEY OF TERRORIST TECHNOLOGY, ORGANIZATION, AND ACTIVITIES IS USEFUL IN THE GENERATION OF COUNTERTERRORIST METHODS. RECENT MANIFESTATIONS OF TERRORISM INDICATE A DECLINE IN THE ELABORATE IDEOLOGICAL JUSTIFICATIONS FOR VIOLENCE AND SUGGEST THAT TERRORISTS DO NOT NEED IDEOLOGY. RATHER, THE INDIVIDUAL TERRORIST GROUPS RELY ON THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF LARGE ORGANIZATIONS, OR SERVE AS PROXIES FOR RIVAL GOVERNMENTS. COUNTERTERRORISM, THEREFORE, MUST BE CONCERNED MORE WITH THE TACTICAL REQUIREMENTS OF SECURITY THAN WITH THE POLITICAL QUESTIONS OF TRANSNATIONAL DIPLOMACY. THE PHYSICAL ACTS OF TERRORISM WHICH PORTEND MASS DESTRUCTION REQUIRE A GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE CAPABILITY SIMILAR TO THE SYSTEM USED FOR NATURAL DISASTERS. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IS USEFUL IN COMBATING TERRORISM'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. ESSAYS BY THEORISTS AND EXPERTS ON COUNTERTERRORISM CONCERNING THE VULNERABILITY OF AMERICAN OIL AND GAS PIPELINES, THE INTERACTION OF GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA, AND THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL CARE TO TERRORISM VICTIMS ARE FEATURED IN THE TEXT. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION CONCERNS THE POTENTIAL USE OF NUCLEAR AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS, BUT DESIGN INFORMATION IS DELIBERATELY WITHHELD. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)