NCJ Number
101924
Editor(s)
E Marks,
D vanOpstal
Date Published
1986
Length
70 pages
Annotation
This report presents a consensus of views on counterterrorism policy among conference participants composed of academic experts, Federal and local law enforcement officials, and retired senior military officers.
Abstract
Although terrorist acts have thus far posed more of a political challenge than a fundamental threat to U.S. national security, the growth of religious fanaticism, state-supported terrorism, and the< potential for hybrid groups (e.g., antinuclear scientists and nihilistic terrorists) increases the possibility of a qualitative escalation in terrorist tactics. U.S. policy currently isolates terrorism as a priority foreign policy focus, which tends to promote response expectations the United States will not and cannot fulfill. Terrorism must be approached within the spectrum of foreign policy concerns, such that counterterrorism will be realistically moderated by competing foreign policy demands. U.S. counterterrorism strategy must be flexible and ambiguous to permit the reserving of options that will not compromise a declaratory policy. The battery of counterterrorism tools and options should be expanded, with emphasis on U.S. strengths in the technological and diplomatic arenas. Counterterrorism preparation must encompass new modes of terrorist threats likely to arise. Specific organizational and tactical recommendations are offered. Appendixes consider the history of U.S. terrorism policy (1972-1984) and terrorist innovation and adaptation.