Toward a More Effective US Policy on Terrorism (From Political Terrorism and Energy - The Threat and Response, P 229-255, 1982, Yonah Alexander and Charles K Ebinger, eds. - See NCJ-90259)

• NCJ Number: 90266
• Author(s): E Evans
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: Praeger Publishers
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the U.S. policy response to terrorism focus on civil liberties requirements, military technology, international law, crisis management, and coordination of government personnel.

Abstract

The problem of the tradeoff between civil liberties and national security in the context of counterterrorism is made difficult by past intelligence agency abuses. All intelligence agencies should operate under firm guidelines and should be required to report those groups under investigation. Methods must also be implemented to regulate the use of informants. The United States must take steps to protect military technology from terrorists by taking into account the 'terrorist angle' in decisions on developing and deploying military technology. The United States should concentrate its efforts on making existing international conventions against terrorism more effective rather than on trying to get new conventions. When quiet diplomacy fails, the United States must be prepared to resort to sanctions against nations refusing to become parties to international accords against terrorism. To improve crisis management, a small staff of antiterrorist experts should be located in the Executive Office to help coordinate policy on terrorist incidents. Legislation should be passed that eases restrictions on the use of Federal forces in cases of domestic violence. The Federal Government should fund security for a target only if the private group responsible for the target cannot do so. Programs to help terrorism victims should also be funded. A total of 62 reference notes are supplied.