UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ANTITERRORISM PROGRAM - AN UNCLASSIFIED SUMMARY REPORT, 1979

• NCJ Number: 62107
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 26 pages
• Corporate Author: Executive Cmtte on Terrorism
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAMPHLET OUTLINES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PLANS AND ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGNS FOR ACTION AGAINST TERRORISM IN THE AREAS OF PREVENTION, DETERRENCE, PREDICTION, AND REACTION.

Abstract

THE OFFICIAL U.S. ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM IS SUMMARIZED IN SEVEN STATE DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES WHICH CONDEMN TERRORIST ACTIONS, REITERATE U.S. LAWFUL MEASURES AGAINST PERPETRATORS, DECLARE U.S. REFUSAL TO ACCEDE TO TERRORIST BLACKMAIL, AND SET FORTH EXPECTATIONS AND ASSURANCES TO HOST GOVERNMENTS IN CASE AMERICANS ARE ABDUCTED OVERSEAS. THE U.S. ANTITERRORISM PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED ON THREE LEVELS, HEADED BY A SPECIAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE IN CHARGE OF NATIONAL COMMAND AND POLICY. IT CONTAINS FOUR BASIC PROGRAM COMPONENTS AT THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL: PREVENTION, DETERRENCE, REACTION, AND PREDICTION. NUMEROUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORKING GROUP ON TERRORISM, WHICH PLANS INTERNATIONAL PREVENTION INITIATIVES AND CONTINGENCY MEASURES FOR MANAGING CRISES. ACTS CONSTITUTING TERRORISM ARE ASSASSINATION, HIJACKING, HOSTAGE HOLDING, BOMBING, ARSON, ARMED ATTACK, AND EXTORTION, WHICH ARE ALL VIOLATIONS OF BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW WITH CONCURRENT CRIMINAL JURISDICTION. THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR RESPONSE TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST INCIDENTS OUTSIDE THE U.S., WHILE DOMESTIC INCIDENTS ARE MANAGED BY THE FBI UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. FBI ANTITERRORISM CAPABILITIES INCLUDE CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND SPECIAL TEAMS FOR HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS, SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH, SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS, AND TERRORISM RESEARCH AND BOMB DATA COLLECTION. PROTECTION OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IS HANDLED BY THE SECRET SERVICE, AND THE SECURITY OF GOVERNMENT FACILITIES BY THE FEDERAL PROTECTIE SERVICE. IN ADDITION, FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN SECURING TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITY OPERATIONS, BORDER SECURITY AT PORTS OF ENTRY, AND DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES AGAINST TERRORISM INCLUDES PARTICIPATION IN ANTIHIJACKING CONVENTIONS, INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SECURITY AGREEMENTS, U.N. MEASURES, REGIONAL AGREEMENTS AMONG AMERICAN STATES, BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS, AND THE BONN ANTI-HIJACKING DECLARATION. CHARTS AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)