WILL BARGAINING WORK? (FROM STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM, 1977 BY WILLIAM P LINEBERRY - SEE NCJ-45312)

• NCJ Number: 45318
• Author(s): J MILLER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: H W Wilson Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE UNITED STATES POLICY OF MAKING NO CONCESSIONS TO TERRORISTS IS CRITICALLY EXAMINED, MORE FLEXIBLE ALTERNATIVES ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE DETERRENT EFFECTS OF EACH ARE EVALUATED.

Abstract

THE UNITED STATES' RIGID POLICY IS BEING CRITICIZED WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND ELSEWHERE; A MORE FLEXIBLE APPROACH THAT WOULD PERMIT NEGOTIATIONS WITH TERRORISTS AND, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, ACQUIESCENCE TO DEMANDS FOR MONEY AND POLITICAL CONCESSIONS TO SAVE AMERICAN LIVES IS ADVOCATED. CRITICS BRING UP THE FACT THAT TERRORISM INVOLVING AMERICANS SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SUBSIDING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, EVEN WITH THE HARD-LINE APPROACH. THE 1973 KIDNAPPING OF TWO AMERICAN DIPLOMATS IN KHARTOUM, THE NEGOTIATIONS, THE U.S. STAND OF NOT GIVING IN TO BLACKMAIL, AND THE SUBSEQUENT OF THE HOSTAGES CAUSES WIDESPREAD ANGER IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT. A PROJECT WAS INITIATED TO ANALYZE THE WHOLE QUESTION OF NEGOTIATIONS AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. AMONG THOSE MADE WERE THAT HIGH-LEVEL GOVERNMENTS OFFICIALS REMAIN SILENT DURING SUCH EPISODES, THAT ALL OFFICIAL STATEMENTS BE CHECKED WITH A TASK FORCE SET UP TO HANDLE THE CRISIS, AND THAT ALL INFORMATION TO THE PRESS BE SCREENED. THE 'NO-CONCESSIONS' POLICY IS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT REFUSING TO NEGOTIATE DETERS TERRORISTS FROM KIDNAPPING AMERICAN OFFICIALS AND THAT ANY DEVIATION FROM SUCH A POLICY WOULD LEAD TO A PROLIFERATION OF SUCH INCIDENTS. THE ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT THIS REASONING IS FAULTY. TERRORISM HAS MANY OBJECTIVES; THE WRINGING OF CONCESSIONS IS ONLY ONE OF THEM, AND OFTEN NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT. THE TERRORISTS' OBJECTIVE MAY BE TO GAIN PUBLICITY FOR THEIR CAUSE. A HARD-LINE POLICY, WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PUBLICITY THE TERRORISTS RECEIVE, CAN DO LITTLE TO DETER THEIR ACTIONS. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE REAL DETERRENT LIES IN DETERMINED ACTION AFTERWARD TO CAPTURE AND CONVICT THE TERRORISTS. A RECOMMENDATION IS MADE THAT THE UNITED STATES ESPOUSE A HARD LINE PUBLICLY (RETAINING THE ADVANTAGES OF THAT POSITION) WHILE BECOMING MORE FLEXIBLE PRIVATELY (THUS ALLOWING NEGOTIATORS TO ADAPT TO THE INDIVIDUAL SITUATION).