Future Domestic and International Terrorism: The USIA Perspective

• NCJ Number: 123920
• Journal: Terrorism Volume: 11 Issue: 6 Dated: (1988) Pages: 541-543
• Author(s): P W Arnold
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Paper presented at a conference sponsored by the George Washington University, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, and the Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation on "Terrorism: An Evaluation of the Reagan Years and an Agenda for the Next Administration," Washington, D.C., November 22, 1988.

Annotation

The U.S. Information Agency (USIA) has followed an incremental approach in public affairs and public diplomacy activities to deal with international terrorism.

Abstract

The USIA works with West European governments with respect to organizations such as Baader Meinhof, the Red Brigades, and the Irish Republican Army. Cooperative efforts in Europe have been more effective than in Latin America where the USIA has fewer polling and public information resources. The USIA deals with key terrorist target groups, airline pilot associations, chambers of commerce, tourist organizations, and media and academic groups to raise the profile of the terrorism issue. An important measure still to be taken is demystifying terrorist organizations. The problem in this regard is the reluctance of government organizations to use intelligence information in a declassified manner to explain terrorist incidents to the public without serving the terrorists' objectives.