Terrorism - Policy, Action, and Reaction (From Perspectives on Terrorism, P 169-176, 1983, Lawrence Zelic Freedman and Yonah Alexander, eds. See NCJ-100393)

• NCJ Number: 100398
• Author(s): A C E Quainton
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: Scholarly Resources, Inc.
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: A revised version of the paper presented at the conference, ' Psychopathology and Political Violence - Terrorism and Assassination,' sponsored by the Institute of Social and Behavioral Pathology and the University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, Illinois, 16-17 November 1979.

Annotation

Policy, action, and reaction vis-a-vis terrorism must define its character, set broad policy strategy, organize to implement policy, and mobilize the crisis management system to respond to particular incidents.

Abstract

Regarding policy, the United States has sought to differentiate between legitimate political activities and those which deserve universal condemnation. The strategy of response has involved refusal to meet terrorist demands, minimal substantive bargaining, the maximizing of delay, and the use of force as a last resort. The organization of efforts to counter terrorism has focused on coordinating the activities of Federal agencies responsible for addressing various aspects of terrorism. Issues that must be addressed through organization are vertical coordination with State and local governments, crisis management leadership, and political command and control for particular incidents. Issues that must also be considered in reacting to terrorism are the amount of resources for physical security, parameters for intelligence acquisition, and modifications in citizen freedoms required to provide reasonable security against terrorist attacks.