NCJ Number
80757
Date Published
1981
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This testimony by Brian M. Jenkins of the Rand Corporation before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee evaluates the antiterrorism Senate Bill 2236 (S. 2236).
Abstract
It opens with a brief historical survey to indicate the likely future of terrorism and the measures that may be required to counter it. Terrorist will remain mobile and flexible in their selection of targets, and multinational freelance terrorist groups are likely to emerge. Each terrorists episode will tend to be unique, requiring that each incident be dealt with ad hoc. S. 2236 calls for the creation of a Council to Combat Terrorism, comprised of representatives from antiterrorism organizations within the Executive Office of the President, the State Department, and the Justice Department. It is not clear whether the Council will perform additional functions than those already assigned to the present Interagency Working Group on Terrorism or its small executive committee established by Presidential Review Memorandum 30, other than prepare a list of countries aiding terrorists. It is recommended that S. 2236 be revised to provide the Council with its own small permanent staff. This staff could give its full-time attention to developing and maintaining Government capabilities for anticipating, preventing, and combating terrorism. S. 2236 also mandates sanctions against countries that aid terrorists. Caution should be exercised here so that a focus on terrorism does not inadvertently determine American foreign policy. No requirement to impose sanctions should foreclose options that could be used to conclude a terrorist incident. The compilation and widespread publication of a list of countries that aid terrorists, as well as dangerous foreign airports, could have some effect in discouraging American businesses from operating in these countries and deprive these countries of American tourist dollars. No references are cited.