Preparing Personnel To Live With a Protean Terrorist Threat (From Symmetry and Asymmetry of Global Adversary Behavior - Proceedings, P 27-34, 1984, Barbara G Curtis, ed. - See NCJ-97172)

• NCJ Number: 97175
• Author(s): B Hix
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-97172.

Annotation

To deal with the terrorist threat against American diplomats, intelligence personnel, and others when they are in other countries, the Central Intelligence Agency is emphasizing the selection, training, conditioning, education, support, and monitoring of personnel in the field.

Abstract

In addition, personnel in the field will be evaluated whenever possible and sometimes withdrawn from their positions. Terrorism is protean in that it is like a monster which has the ability to change forms, and it is always grotesque. Terrorism is expected to increase in the next decade. However, our general reaction has been to ignore the threat and treat the problem reactively rather than proactively. Selection of personnel is crucial; they also need careful conditioning, because 'macho' attitudes can get people killed. Americans need instruction in terrorist motivations and values. They must be taught to exercise restraint in reacting to terrorism. They also need to be sensitive to a threatening environment and be equipped to live with it. Various exercises can teach people to be alert to terrorist threats 24 hours a day. In particular, they need to know when they are under surveillance, which always precedes an attack. They should have safe havens in their homes, brief their families about security measures, control their vehicles, and be careful even in social situations and when shopping. Monitoring people in the field and pulling out those believed to be terrorist targets are also crucial.