NCJ Number
48530
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 111-117
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT MEASURES IN COMBATING THE GROWING RATE OF WORLDWIDE TERRORISM AND THE NEED FOR THE U.S. TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE MOVEMENT AGAINST IT.
Abstract
IT APPEARS THAT TERRORIST GROUPS MAY BE BETTER ORGANIZED, ARMED, AND FUNDED THAN EVER BEFORE AND THAT SOME GROUPS ARE OPERATING IN AN INTERNATIONALLY ORGANIZED COOPERATIVE NETWORK, EVEN RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM CERTAIN NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS. DESPITE THIS GROWING THREAT, NO REALLY EFFECTIVE COUNTERMEASURES EXCEPT FOR MILITARY RESCUE MEASURES LIKE THOSE USED IN ENTEBBE, UGANDA, ARE AVAILABLE. THE USE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IS A POTENTIALLY STRONG WEAPON AGAINST TERRORISM; HOWEVER, IT HAS GENERALLY RECEIVED A NEGATIVE RESPONSE FROM THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES WHICH CANNOT AGREE WITH THE WESTERN NATIONS ON A DEFINITION OF TERRORISM AND A TEPID RESPONSE FROM SEVERAL EUROPEAN AND ASIAN NATIONS. THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION IS CRITICIZED FOR ITS LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND INCONSISTENCY IN POLICY REGARDING TERRORISM. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT LIKE-MINDED GOVERNMENTS ACT ON A UNILATERAL AND BILATERAL LEVEL TO THWART TERRORISM, WHEN A MILITARY RESPONSE IS INAPPROPRIATE. THOSE RESPONSES AGAINST TERRORISM WHICH HAVE NOT WORKED AND THOSE WHICH HAVE ARE BRIEFLY EXAMINED. ENACTED AND PENDING LEGISLATION AIMED AT TERRORIST ACTIVITY IS SUMMARIZED. (JSP)