NCJ Number
65434
Journal
Security Management Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: 39-40,42-45,47-50
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE OUTLINES THE U.S. ORGANIZATION FOR ANTITERRORISM PLANNING, RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC TERRORIST INCIDENTS, PROTECTION AND SECURITY, AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES.
Abstract
UNDER THE SPECIAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, THE WORKING GROUP AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON TERRORISM DEVELOP GOVERNMENTWIDE POLICIES TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM AND TO ENHANCE COORDINATION AMONG AGENCIES INVOLVED IN PARTICULAR INCIDENTS. BECAUSE MAJOR TERRORIST ACTS VIOLATE BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE JURISDICTIONS MAY BE INVOLVED. FEDERAL RESPONSE TO MOST U.S. TERRORIST ACTS RESTS WITH THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE FBI IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR DEALING WITH MOST TERRORIST INCIDENTS. FBI ANTITERRORISM CAPABILITIES INCLUDE CONTINGENCY PLANS, TRAINED HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION TEAMS, A SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH UNIT (SOAR), INDIVIDUALS TRAINED IN THE USE OF SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS (SWAT), AND A TERRORISM RESEARCH AND BOMB DATA UNIT. THROUGH ITS OFFICE FOR COMBATING TERRORISM, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND CORE PERSONNEL IF AN INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST INCIDENT REQUIRES A CRISIS MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE. U.S. TACTICAL OPERATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT BY U.S. NONMILITARY FEDERAL FORCES, (USUALLY THE FBI) AND MILITARY, STATE, AND LOCAL POLICE FORCES. THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE HAS THE MAJOR ROLE IN PROTECTING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) IS CHARGED WITH PREVENTING NUCLEAR ATTACKS, WHILE THE INSPECTIONS DIVISION OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE (INS) PROTECTS BORDERS; THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE HANDLES TERRORIST ATTACKS ON BUSINESSES. THREE CONVENTIONS ON AIRCRAFT SAFETY, UN INITIATIVES ON THE KIDNAPPING OF DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL AND HOSTAGE-TAKING AND CONTINUED U.S. INTELLIGENCE WORK ARE AMONG THE MORE RECENT ANTITERRORIST STRATEGIES. (AOP)