NCJ Number
118508
Date Published
1989
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This chapter assesses the American antiterrorist capability, with particular reference to American embassy security and the special forces.
Abstract
Following a review of terrorist attacks on Americans in Beirut and Greece, the ideology of the Arab terrorists is explained. An assessment of the U.S. Embassy network addresses the security guard battalion, the tactic of using female embassy employees planted by host governments to compromise embassy guard security, training for embassy guards, monitoring the terrorist threat, safeguarding information, communications security, and electronic emanations from embassies. A critique of U.S. antiterrorist special forces considers the operational and technical deficiencies of Delta Force, the upgrading of special operations, the Reagan administration's policy of retaliating against the source of terrorism, and the intelligence shortfall on terrorism. An outline of the congressional critique of the existing special forces configuration encompasses response time, recognition, innovation, flexibility, and attitudinal problems. Other topics discussed are covert actions, intelligence leaks, and exile organizations. The chapter concludes that the United States continues its search for a formula that will allow it to check terrorism without compromising the standards and values of a free society. 28 notes.