NCJ Number
174064
Date Published
1997
Length
112 pages
Annotation
This is a review of United States government efforts to combat terrorism.
Abstract
Under sponsorship of the National Security Council, various interagency groups have been formed to coordinate the efforts of the more than 40 Federal agencies, bureaus, and offices that combat terrorism. The intelligence community also has an Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism. Key federal efforts to prevent and deter terrorist acts include: (1) gathering, sharing and disseminating information on terrorist threats; (2) keeping foreign terrorists and terrorist materials from entering the United States; (3) designating lead agencies for crisis response; (4) establishing interagency quick-reaction support teams; (5) creating special operational teams or units; (6) developing contingency plans; and (7) conducting interagency or single agency training and exercises. Federal efforts include special teams and units to deal with weapons of mass destruction, whether nuclear, biological or chemical. Federal agencies are also involved in programs to assess the capabilities of state and local jurisdictions to immediately respond to and manage the consequences of domestic terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction and to provide training and assistance. Abbreviations, figures, notes, tables, appendixes