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• Public Law 107-56: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001

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  "An Act to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes." The following Titles aim to increase and enhance domestic security: Title I--Enhancing Domestic Security Against Terrorism, TITLE II--Enhanced Surveillance Procedures, Title III--International Money Laundering Abatement and Antiterrorist Financing Act of 2001, Title IV--Protecting the Border, Title V--Removing Obstacles to Investigating Terrorism, Title VI--Providing for Victims of Terrorism, Public Safety Officers, and Their Families, Title VII--Increased Information Sharing for Critical Infrastructure Protection, Title VIII--Strengthening the Criminal Laws Against Terrorism, Title IX--Improved Intelligence, and so forth. Section 101 of Title I--Enhancing Domestic Security Against Terrorism addresses the Counterterrorism Fund. It states, "there is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a separate fund to be known as the "Counterterrorism Fund."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2001-10-26
• S. Prt. 107-43: Strategies for Homeland Defense: A Compilation by the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session, September 26, 2001

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  S. PRT. 107-43: The Committee on Foreign Relations reprinted the executive summaries and key excerpts from some of the leading reports on emerging threats to U.S. national security. These reports highlight the emergence of both nation-states and sub-national groups with the desire and the capability to employ asymmetric means, including weapons of mass destruction, to strike at the United States, and underscore the real vulnerability of the United States in responding to such attacks and mitigating their consequences. Reports included are: Letter of Transmittal to the United States Senate (Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee); "Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism," (Executive Summary from the report of the National Commission on Terrorism, June 5, 2000); "Road Map for National Security: Imperative for Change," Excerpt on "Securing the National Homeland," (Phase III Report of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century, February 15, 2001); "A Report Card on the Department of Energy's Nonproliferation Programs With Russia," (Executive Summary, by Howard Baker and Lloyd Cutler, Co-Chairs, Russia Task Force, the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, January 10, 2001); "The Threat of Bioterrorism and the Natural Spread of Infectious Diseases," Prepared Statements of Sam Nunn and Donald Henderson, (U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing of September 5, 2001); "Report of the Accountability Review Boards on the Embassy Bombings in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam," (Executive Overview, January 1999); "First Annual Report to the President and the Congress of the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction: I. Assessing the Threat," (Executive Summary, December 15, 1999); "Second Annual Report to the President and the Congress of the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction: II. Toward a National Strategy for Combating Terrorism," (Executive Summary; December 15, 2000).

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2001
• Updated NCTC Guidelines - Mission Justification Fact Sheet

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  "Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States Government has made dramatic progress in information sharing -- particularly in sharing information once it is identified as terrorism information. However, the government continues to address the challenge of correlating disparate pieces of information that reside in various agency systems when the relevance of the information to terrorism is not readily apparent. The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is the primary organization for analyzing and integrating all intelligence possessed or acquired by the government pertaining to terrorism and counterterrorism, excepting intelligence pertaining exclusively to domestic terrorism. To fulfill its statutory terrorism information responsibilities, NCTC must access and review datasets already lawfully collected by other government entities for national security purposes even if those datasets also include non-terrorism information. For example, certain information regarding visa applications, refugees, and international travelers may have potential connections to terrorism that are not readily apparent to the federal agency that maintains the data. It is often only through NCTC's access to terrorism information held by other government agencies that NCTC is able to correlate disparate information and uncover threats to the nation. In March 2012, Attorney General Eric Holder, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper, and NCTC Director Matthew G. Olsen signed updated guidelines designed to allow NCTC to more effectively analyze certain data already in the government's possession to better address terrorism-related threats, while at the same time increasing the protections for privacy and civil liberties. These guidelines were updated in response to issues identified by the White House, Congress, and Intelligence Community after the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and the Christmas Day 2009 bombing attempt. One such issue was the government's limited ability to query multiple federal datasets residing at different government agencies, and to correlate that information to proactively identify information that might relate to a potential attack. Similarly, the reviews noted that information that is not believed to be relevant could later be recognized as relevant based on subsequent events or information obtained at different points in time."

  National Counterterrorism Center (U.S.)

  2012?
• Terrorist Threat: Implications for Homeland Security

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  "Since 9/11, the United States implemented radical changes to its counterterrorism strategy and capabilities. Recently, critics have called into question the current strategy for fighting a war on terror. This thesis provides a summary of the two most common competing criticisms of the U.S. counterterrorism strategy. On the one hand, critics argue that the threat has been exaggerated. On the opposite side of the spectrum, critics argue that we are engaged in a war between Islam and the West. An examination of the evidence used by these competing criticisms, combined with a review of existing U.S. strategies, provides a foundation for the construction of an appropriate response to terrorism. This review reveals evidence that the threat should be evaluated differently for domestic and international counterterrorist threats. Internationally, the U.S. engaged in a battle with a radical Islamic insurgency. Domestically, the terrorist threat is made up of terrorist operators who are engaged in a wide variety of criminal activity. Although the U.S. is unprepared for the external threat posed by radical Islamic insurgents, the post--9/11 enhancements to homeland security are appropriate to meet the current domestic threat."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Sobocinski, Thomas J.

  2008-03
• Subtitleamerica's Three Domestic Threats and the Need for Areform of Domestic Intelligence

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  From the Thesis Abstract: "The United States today faces three big threats domestically: Jihadist terrorism, Alt-Right terrorism, and great power competition (GPC), which can be characterized from a homeland security perspective as 'great power incursion.' Instead of focusing their efforts on a single threat, such as the Soviet Union during the Cold War, or Al-Qaeda right after 9/11, the current homeland intelligence structure consisting of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement agencies now must focus attention on multiple threats simultaneously. Jihadist terrorism, Alt-Right terrorism, or great power incursion could target the American homeland at any one time, and present DHS, FBI, and SLTT resources may not be enough to effectively combat them all. Under these circumstances, this thesis examines the following research question: In light of these dynamic homeland security threats, is there a need for a new, purely domestic intelligence service in the United States? This thesis discusses these threats and analyzes the current DHS, FBI, and SLTT law enforcement postures toward them. The research conducted for this thesis suggests that the current domestic intelligence agencies are not able to address this new confluence of threats sufficiently. Although no single, new domestic intelligence agency is needed, significant reform is necessary."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Jackson, Matthew L.

  2020-09
• Algeria: Current Issues [November 22, 2010]

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  "The focus of this report is Algeria, a country in North Africa that is increasingly important for U.S. efforts to counter international terrorism as a key partner in the fight against Al Qaeda linked groups. As an energy producer, it also is a significant source of natural gas for the United States and not a major recipient of U.S. aid. The overall domestic situation in Algeria remains relatively stable. An elected president dominates the political system, but the military, the most significant political force since independence in 1962, still is viewed as the ultimate arbiter of who fills the office. It backed Abdelaziz Bouteflika for the presidency in 1999. He was reelected for a third term in April 2009 and has no clear successor. The voice of the military has been muted publicly since Bouteflika was first selected, but may be heard during presidential succession. Low voter turnout in the May 2007 parliamentary election may have reflected general lack of public faith in the political system as well as common knowledge that the legislature is weak. Authorities specifically boasted of a higher turnout in the 2009 presidential election. The major domestic problem is terrorism, which has spread beyond Algeria's borders. It persists at home while Algerian terrorists operate across the southern border in the Sahel and are linked to terrorism abroad. The U.S. State Department lists two Algerian groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). The more notorious and active is Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda in 2006 and may increasingly be described as a criminal-terrorist mutation. Algeria, as the dominant economic and military power in the region, has attempted to take the lead in developing a regional approach to counterterrorism in the Sahel. In addition to addressing the threat, Algiers seeks to prevent foreign, that is, French and U.S., intervention justified by the need to combat terrorists. However, it does welcome other kinds of outside support for the effort.The United States has increasingly viewed the government of Algeria as an important partner in counterterrorism and the fight against Al Qaeda-linked groups in North Africa. The Algerian economy is largely based on hydrocarbons, and the country is a significant source of natural gas for the United States and Europe. Algeria receives little development assistance from the United States, but its security forces benefit from U.S. security assistance and participation in bilateral and regional military cooperation programs. Algeria's relative stability, always tenuous, has most recently been challenged by a series of riots, strikes, and popular demonstrations that have occurred since early January 2011."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Migdalovitz, Carol

  2010-11-22
• Terrorism, the Future, and U.S. Foreign Policy [April 11, 2003]

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  "International terrorism has long been recognized as a foreign and domestic security threat. The tragic events of September 11 in New York, the Washington, D.C., area, and Pennsylvania have dramatically re-energized the nation's focus and resolve on terrorism. This issue brief examines international terrorist actions and threats and the U.S. policy response. Available policy options range from diplomacy, international cooperation, and constructive engagement to economic sanctions, covert action, physical security enhancement, and military force. The September 11th terrorist incidents in the United States, the subsequent anthrax attacks, as well as bombings of the U.S.S. Cole, Oklahoma City, World Trade Center in 1993, and of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, have brought the issue of terrorism to the forefront of American public interest. Questions relate to whether U.S. policy and organizational mechanisms are adequate to deal with both state-sponsored or -abetted terrorism and that undertaken by independent groups. Terrorist activities supported by sophisticated planning and logistics as well as possible access to unconventional weaponry raise a host of new issues. Some analysts' long-held belief that a comprehensive review of U.S. counterterrorism policy, organizational structure, and intelligence capabilities is needed has now become a mainstream view. […]The Department of State's 'Annual Patterns of Global Terrorism', 2002 report is expected to be released at the end of April. The annual report to Congress provides a snapshot of international terrorism related activity and trends during the previous calendar year as well as background on terrorist organizations and the terrorism situation in various countries. The report is also expected to describe efforts to counter Al Qaeda and other international terrorist groups as well as the U.S. efforts to respond to state sponsors of terrorism. In a meeting with reporters on April 9, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge expressed concern over the danger of surface to air missiles to commercial aviation and suggested the federal government may have to pay for the installation of anti-missile devises on commercial aircraft.. The Secretary's remarks come in the wake of rising calls for stricter international efforts aimed at regulation and accountability of 'shoulder fired' missiles, of which as many as 700,000 may exist. (See CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report RL31741.)"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Perl, Raphael

  2003-04-11
• Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress [February 19, 2014]

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  "The emphasis of counterterrorism policy in the United States since Al Qaeda's attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) has been on jihadist terrorism. However, in the last decade, domestic terrorists--people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements--have killed American citizens and damaged property across the country. Not all of these criminals have been prosecuted under terrorism statutes. This latter point is not meant to imply that domestic terrorists should be taken any less seriously than other terrorists. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) do not officially list domestic terrorist organizations, but they have openly delineated domestic terrorist 'threats.' These include individuals who commit crimes in the name of ideologies supporting animal rights, environmental rights, anarchism, white supremacy, anti-government ideals, black separatism, and anti-abortion beliefs."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bjelopera, Jerome P.

  2014-02-19
• Terrorism, the Future, and U.S. Foreign Policy [March 6, 2003]

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  "International terrorism has long been recognized as a foreign and domestic security threat. The tragic events of September 11 in New York, the Washington, D.C., area, and Pennsylvania have dramatically re-energized the nation's focus and resolve on terrorism. This issue brief examines international terrorist actions and threats and the U.S. policy response. Available policy options range from diplomacy, international cooperation, and constructive engagement to economic sanctions, covert action, physical security enhancement, and military force. The September 11th terrorist incidents in the United States, the subsequent anthrax attacks, as well as bombings of the U.S.S. Cole, Oklahoma City, World Trade Center in 1993, and of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, have brought the issue of terrorism to the forefront of American public interest. Questions relate to whether U.S. policy and organizational mechanisms are adequate to deal with both state-sponsored or -abetted terrorism and that undertaken by independent groups. Terrorist activities supported by sophisticated planning and logistics as well as possible access to unconventional weaponry raise a host of new issues. Some analysts' long-held belief that a comprehensive review of U.S. counterterrorism policy, organizational structure, and intelligence capabilities is needed has now become a mainstream view. U.S. policy toward international terrorism contains a significant military component, reflected in current U.S. operations in Afghanistan and (on a smaller scale) the Philippines and in planned deployments of U.S. forces to Yemen and the former Soviet republic of Georgia. President Bush has expressed a willingness to provide military aid to 'governments everywhere' in the fight against terrorism. Important issues for Congress include whether the Administration is providing sufficient information about the long-term goals and costs of its military strategy and whether military force is necessarily an effective anti-terrorism instrument in some circumstances."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Perl, Raphael

  2003-03-06
• What Can the United States Learn from India to Counter Terrorism?

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  Terrorism is the principal threat to global and national security in the post-11 September world. Facing terrorist threats at home and abroad, the United States has declared counterterrorism its top priority. As the United States embarks on its global counterterrorism campaign, it must draw on the experience of other countries. Specifically India, with an extensive history of counterterrorism efforts, can reveal important lessons applicable to America's endeavors. India offers three primary examples of counterterrorism strategies: Punjab, its northeast region, and Kashmir, from which four findings emerge. First, aggressive military operations are central to beating terrorism. Second, economic and social development programs, though not enough to end terrorism alone, are essential components of the larger national strategy. Third, terrorism cannot be stopped without international assistance. Terror networks export personnel, knowledge, weapons and money across international boundaries with growing frequency. This cannot be effectively stopped without a coordinated national and international effort. Fourth, to be successful, a counterterrorism strategy must engender the public's support for the government and promulgate a sense of public ownership to the conflict. By applying these lessons from the Indian case study, America's efforts to end terrorism both domestically and internationally will be significantly more productive.

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Latimer, William Scott

  2004-03
• Memorandum of Agreement Between the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence on Guidelines for Access, Retention, Use, and Dissemination by the National Counterterrorism Center of Terrorism Information Contained Within Datasets Identified as Including Non-terrorism Information and Information Pertaining Exclusively to Domestic Terrorism [With 2012 Guidelines Amendments]

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  This document is referenced in an October 26, 2012 from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) of the U.S. General Services Administration. The document specifically pertains to "program activities under the amended National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) guidelines signed by Attorney General Eric Holder and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper in March 2012" which "authorize collection authorities on a scale not claimed since Congress de-funded the Total Information Awareness program." According to the ACLU letter to the PCLOB, "Under the original 2008 guidelines, NCTC, being an element of the intelligence community, was properly limited in its authority to collect and retain information about United States persons (American citizens and legal residents) who were not suspected of involvement with terrorism. If the NCTC collected information about US persons not related to terrorism, it was treated as a mistake that had to be identified and corrected by purging such information from NCTC databases within 180 days. This requirement served as a check on the NCTC's domestic activities, and a necessary protection of innocent Americans' privacy. Under the 2012 guidelines, however, NC TC can now intentionally collect non-terrorism related US person information , and that information can be 'retained and continually assessed' for five years. NCTC can now target any U.S. government databases for ingestion based simply on the NCTC Director's determination that it contains 'significant terrorism information,' which the guidelines do not define." The referring ACLU letter can be accessed at the following URL: https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=738533

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Attorney General; United States. Office of the Director of National Intelligence

  2012?
• Terrorism: National Security Policy and the Home Front

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  The 1995 bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma has highlighted the complexity of the phenomenon of political extremism. Until this occurred, The United States was focused on foreign terrorists, particularly the so-called Islamic fundamentalists. The Strategic Studies Institute, as part of their continuing investigation of the terrorist problem, held a conference in November 1994 at Georgia Tech, at which a number of terrorist-related issues were considered. The emphasis was on international terror, but the threat of domestic extremism also was examined. Included in this volume are three papers presented at the conference two are related to international terror, while one is concerned with the domestic variety and a concluding chapter. The Oklahoma City bombing suggests that most of the terrorism faced by the United States in the near future will be home-grown. There is the potential, though, that U.S. foreign policy will provoke terrorist attacks from foreign-backed groups. If this happens, the United States is not ready. Americans have grown accustomed to some of the costs of global engagement. Money and military casualties have been deemed acceptable burdens of world leadership, but Americans are not yet used to the idea that terrorism at home may be an additional cost of global engagement. Unfortunately, terrorists understand this. In the near future, they are likely to use this vulnerability and the growing multiculturalism of the United States in attempts to either deter U.S. activity or provoke it. Only wise and persistent leadership, exercised before terrorism at home reaches crisis proportions, can prevent it from paralyzing American involvement in world affairs.

  Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute

  Pelletiere, Stephen C.

  1995-05-15
• Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Other Illegal Activity [June 24, 2015]

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  "Domestic terrorism cases differ from ordinary criminal activity in key ways. Most importantly, unlike ordinary criminals--who are often driven by self-centered motives such as profit and tend to opportunistically seek easy prey--domestic terrorists are driven by a cause or ideology. If the motives involved eventually align with the definition laid out in 18 U.S.C. §2331(5), presumably the case becomes a domestic terrorist investigation. […] Domestic terrorists are a widely divergent lot, drawing from many philosophies and worldviews to justify their illegal acts. They can be motivated to commit crimes in the name of ideas such as animal rights, environmental rights, white supremacy, anti-government beliefs, and anarchism, for example. Importantly, the expression of these worldviews--minus the commission of crimes--involves constitutionally protected activity. As such, individuals and movements openly and 'legally' espousing such beliefs distance themselves from terrorists who use the ideas to justify their own criminal actions. From the perspective of federal law enforcement, the FBI safeguards against cases focused solely on constitutionally protected activities. All FBI investigations have to be conducted for an authorized national security, criminal, or foreign intelligence collection purpose. Investigations may not solely monitor the exercise of First Amendment rights. Finally, the Department of Justice and the FBI visualize domestic terrorism in terms of threats, not named or designated groups or actors."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bjelopera, Jerome P.

  2015-06-24
• Terror Operations: Case Studies in Terrorism

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  "Terror Operations: Case Studies in Terrorism is a supplemental handbook that presents several terrorist incidents in a case study methodology. This handbook supports a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence capstone reference guide on terrorism, DCSINT handbook No. 1, A Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty- First Century. Both the capstone guide and supplemental handbook are prepared under the direction of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence-Threats. Understanding terrorism spans foreign and domestic threats of nation-states, rogue states with international or transnational agent demonstrations, and actors with specific strategies, tactics, and targets. A central aspect of this handbook comprises foreign and domestic threats against the United States of America in a contemporary operational environment (COE). This informational handbook supports operational missions, institutional training, and professional military education for U.S. military forces in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This document promotes an improved understanding of terrorist incident objectives, motivation, planning, and conduct of operations."

  United States. Army Training and Doctrine Command

  2005-08-15
• National Counterterrorism Center: Implementation Challenges and Issues for Congress [Updated March 24, 2005]

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  "In July 2004, the National Commission On Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States recommended the establishment of a National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to serve as a center for '... joint operational planning and joint intelligence, staffed by personnel from the various agencies....' On August 27, 2004, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order (EO) 13354, National Counterterrorism Center, which established the National Counterterrorism Center and stipulated roles for the NCTC and its leadership and reporting relationships between NCTC leadership and NCTC member agencies, as well as with the White House. In December 2004, Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, P.L. 108-458. Like the preceding executive order, among many other reform initiatives, the act prescribes roles and responsibilities for the NCTC and its leadership. The purpose of this report is to outline the commonalities and potential differences between EO 13354 and P.L. 108-458, as these conceptual differences could be meaningful in the implementation process of P.L. 108-458 and/or should the issue of intelligence reform be re-visited by the 109th Congress. The report examines some aspects of the law related to the NCTC, including the relationship between the NCTC's Director and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which may have implications related to policy and implementation of an effective and efficient nationally coordinated counterterrorism function. Moreover, the report examines several issues that may be of interest to Congress as the NCTC matures and evolves, including potential civil liberties implications of collocating operational elements of the traditional foreign intelligence and domestic intelligence entities of the U.S. Intelligence Community."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Masse, Todd

  2005-03-24
• US Army TRADOC TRADOC G2 Handbook No. 1.04: Terrorism and WMD in the Contemporary Operational Environment

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  "Terrorism and WMD in the Contemporary Operational Environment is a supplemental handbook to the U.S. Army TRADOC G2 Handbook No. 1, A Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century. The capstone reference guide describes terrorism1 and its potential impacts on U.S. military forces in the conduct of mission operations. This supplemental handbook highlights the nature of terrorism present in a full spectrum contemporary operational environment (COE)2 and terrorist intentions to use weapons of mass destruction. Terrorist intent to obtain and use weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is one of the most serious contemporary threats to our Nation. The means of attack can span from a highly sophisticated weapon system such as a nuclear bomb to a rudimentary improvised radiological device. The specter of chemical contamination or biological infection adds to the array of weapons. Although high explosives have not been traditionally recognized as a WMD, high yield and some low yield explosives have caused significant devastating effects on people and places. The threat of WMD terrorism to the United States is present across the entire spectrum of conflict. Potential exists for WMD terrorism with individual acts of wanton damage or destruction of property or person, as well as operations conducted by organized violent groups or rogue states with social, environmental, religious, economic, or political agendas. As the United States confronts terrorism, both foreign and domestic, the most significant U.S. concerns are terrorist organizations with demonstrated global reach capabilities and their intention to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction. Yet, recent events have demonstrated that devastating weapon effects can be caused by one or two people with the will and a simple way to terrorize."

  United States. Army Training and Doctrine Command

  2007-08-20
• Early Warning Infectious Disease Surveillance (EWIDS) Project: Guidance to Assist the Mexican Border States and the Mexican Secretariat of Health in Preparing Proposals to Enhance and Upgrade Surveillance and Epidemiology Capabilities for Infectious Diseases Along the U.S.-Mexico Border

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  "Terrorism is an ever-present threat in our times. Bioterrorism is of special concern because its human consequences can be so devastating, its weapons relatively easy to obtain and disseminate, and its effects often not detectable for days or even weeks. The ability of a bioterrorist attack to create massive numbers of casualties (on a scale that overshadows other forms of terrorism) makes bioterrorism today's most dangerous threat. For this reason, the U.S. Government has assigned the highest priority to developing nation-wide domestic capabilities to prepare for and respond to bioterrorism and other outbreaks of infectious diseases. A terrorist-triggered outbreak of a dangerous and highly communicable disease such as smallpox would require a concerted response by the public health emergency response system to prevent catastrophic mortality and morbidity. Because pathogens do not recognize or respect geopolitical boundaries and travelers who cross the border into Mexico from the United States (and vice versa) can spread a contagious disease rapidly, early warning surveillance and prompt sharing of findings of concern among the six Mexican and four U.S. states along the U.S.-Mexico border and beyond is a public health and national security imperative."

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services; United States-Mexico Border Health Commission

  2004-09-01
• International Lessons Learned and Recommendations for Combating Domestic Islamic Terrorism

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  "Many countries, including the United States, face social movements that promote terrorism, violence and intimidation, and do so under the cloak of religion. The terrorists' use of religion as a cover causes problems for Western countries because of strong traditions and laws pertaining to religious freedom. While domestic terrorism is not limited to followers of Islam, the use of domestic terror in the name of Islam is of immediate concern for governments around the world. The paper first briefly describes the history of Islam, the theological underpinnings of violence in Islamic tradition, and the development of Revolutionary Salafism. Next, this paper examines the strategies of several countries to monitor, control, or eliminate Salafist and religious extremist organizations and individuals that teach terrorism as an acceptable method of political and social reform. The paper concludes with recommendations for U.S. domestic policy."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Wicker, Christopher

  2007-03-28
• Posse Comitatus Act: An Act in Need of a Regulatory Update

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  "The Posse Comitatus Act (PCA), primarily through misinterpretation, has acted as a needless hurdle to full and proper employment of the Armed Forces in a domestic capacity. By design, the PCA limits who can employ the U.S. Armed Forces to enforce the laws within the U.S. In the recent past, even when the President has properly and clearly authorized employment of the Armed Forces, military members have misapplied the PCA to unnecessarily limit the use of Armed Forces to respond to a domestic crisis. The main concern is not the PCA itself. Before and after the PCA was enacted, Presidents have successfully used the Armed Forces, primarily the Army, in response to domestic issues. The PCA acknowledges the President and Congress can use the military in a domestic capacity. The chief issue that arises is subordinate officers, to include legal advisers, perceiving PCA barriers when none exist. In response, DoD needs to update DoD Directive (DoDD) 5525.5. It was much too broad when released in 1986 and much has changed since then both in laws and the world. This DoDD needs to discuss the GWOT [Global War on Terror]."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Cook, Thomas D.

  2008-03-15
• Office of Justice Programs Anti-Terrorism Funding Sources

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  Terrorism within the borders of the United States has been a focus of attention for emergency response agencies since the bombings of the World Trade Center in 1993 and the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City in 1995. Since September 11, 2001, public agencies at every level of government have made building the capacity to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks a high priority. State and local agencies are drawing on resources to address their needs from a number of sources, including several grant programs administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in the U.S. Department of Justice. OJP resources that can be used by state and local jurisdictions to prepare and respond to domestic terrorism are available primarily through four OJP components: the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). In addition, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) collects and analyzes statistical data and provides financial and technical support to state governments in developing state capabilities in criminal justice statistics and data. ODP focuses on training, equipment acquisition, technical assistance, and support for national, state, and local exercises. Information about the ODP State Administering Agency (SAA) points of contact is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/state.htm. BJA provides funding to states and localities for use by law enforcement agencies and funds several training and technical assistance initiatives that could aid law enforcement in preventing and responding to terrorist acts. OVC plays an active role in assisting victims of mass casualty terrorist crimes.

  United States. Bureau of Justice Assistance
• First Public Hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States: Statement of Michael Wermuth, April 1, 2003

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  The first public hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States was held on March 31-April 1, 2003 at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in New York City, NY. The purpose of this public hearing was to engage those whose lives were forever changed by the events of September 11 in a public dialogue about the Commission's goals and priorities. The Commission also sought to learn about work already completed and the state of current knowledge, in order to identify the most important issues and questions requiring further investigation. This testimony was part of a panel entitled "Law Enforcement, Domestic Intelligence, and Homeland Security". Wermuth is senior policy analyst at RAND and manager of domestic counterterrorism programs in RAND's National Security Research Division. In his testimony, Wermuth discusses key issues for the 9/11 Commission, specifically: Law Enforcement, Domestic Intelligence, and Homeland Security. He speaks from the perspective of his work with the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (Gilmore Commission), and also as a researcher for RAND,

  National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

  2003-04-01
• Terrorism and the Military's Role in Domestic Crisis Management: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated January 27, 2003]

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  "This paper reviews the current legislation and policies that govern the military's role when supporting law enforcement in a domestic terrorism crisis and highlights some of the issues confronting the U.S. government. To fully understand the military's role in domestic crisis response it is necessary to explore existing national level structures and response options prior to the involvement of military forces. Crisis management is predominately a law enforcement function that manages the resources necessary to prevent or resolve a terrorist incident, including one involving WMD. Current U.S. government terrorism response policy is contained in presidential directives. Among other matters, these directives address National Security Council structure and federal agency crisis response roles when responding to a domestic terrorism incident. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Northern Command has not yet changed the basic roles and relationships described herein."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Brake, Jeffrey D.

  2003-01-27
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): An Overview

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  "The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was enacted in 1978. This legislation was the Congressional response to the exposure during multiple Committee hearings of previous abuses of U.S. persons' privacy rights by certain components of the United States government. Those abuses had occurred, according to the government, as part of its efforts to counter purported threats to national security. Unquestionably, such threats existed in and before 1978; beyond peradventure, however, they pale in comparison to the threats to national security that the United States currently faces. Those threats bear the face of terrorism, primarily foreign but domestic as well. Though FISA is not a legally usable tool for combating domestic terrorism, its electronic surveillance and physical search authority are legal and very effective methods for monitoring the activities of foreign powers and agents of foreign powers while they operate within the United States. Increasingly, indeed, overwhelmingly, the current objective of such operational activities is to thwart terrorist acts. [...] In the face of the foregoing, it is no wonder then that our Congress has recently enhanced the ability of counter terrorism agents to use FISA in the effort to discover and thereby thwart acts of terrorism aimed at our country. The following is offered as an historical context in which to view FISA as well as a summary of how FISA has evolved over the past quarter century of its existence as a tool not just to thwart terrorism but more generally as an effective means to gather foreign intelligence."

  Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

  McAdams, James G.
• National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) - Responsibilities and Potential Congressional Concerns [February 1, 2011]

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  "The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) was established in 2004 to ensure that information from any source about potential terrorist acts against the U.S. could be made available to analysts and that appropriate responses could be planned. [...] As a component of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the NCTC is composed of analysts with backgrounds in many government agencies and has access to various agency databases. It prepares studies ranging from strategic assessments of potential terrorist threats to daily briefings and situation reports. It is also responsible, directly to the President, for planning (but not directing) counterterrorism efforts. [...] Although there have been a number of arrests of individuals suspected of planning terrorist attacks in the U.S., two incidents in 2009--the assassination by an Army Major of some 13 individuals at Fort Hood Army Base on November 5, 2009, and the failed attempt to trigger a bomb on an airliner approaching Detroit on December 25, 2009--contributed to increased concern about counterterrorism capabilities domestically and internationally. An Executive Branch assessment of the December 2009 bombing attempt concluded that, whereas information sharing had been adequate, analysts had failed to 'connect the dots' and achieve an understanding of an ongoing plot. [...] A review by the Senate Intelligence Committee released in May 2010 found there were systemic failures across the Intelligence Community and, in particular, that the NCTC was inadequately organized and resourced for its missions. In addition, the committee concluded that intelligence analysts (not only those in NCTC) tended to focus more on threats to U.S. interests in Yemen than on domestic threats."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Best, Richard A.

  2011-02-01
• Role of the National Counterterrorism Center in the Global War on Terrorism

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  This presentation outlines the vision of the National Counterterrorism Center, its mission, and its many collaborative exchanges. NCTC has staff "assignees" from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Department of Defense; Central Intelligence Agency; Department of Homeland Security; Department of State; and many others. Multiple contractors support NCTC - primarily in information technology and operational support roles. The presentation has an organizational chart followed by an illustration of how NCTC coordinates all elements of National Power (economic, diplomatic, military, homeland security, law enforcement; and intelligence). Another slide on Strategic Operational Planning (SOP) describes how SOP fills the gap between policy, strategy development and the execution of CT Operations. NCTC is designated as the primary organization in the United States Government for analyzing and integrating all intelligence pertaining to terrorism (except purely domestic terrorism). The next slide explains how NCTC facilitates information sharing by sponsoring multiple fora and mechanisms for the exchange of terrorism information. Lastly, it addresses how to enhance terrorism information integration and mission management and finishes with key challenges, primarily in intelligence business process issues, and government-wide business process issues.

  National Counterterrorism Center (U.S.)

  Brock, Kevin

  2006-03-01
• Cyber Operations and Cyber Terrorism, Handbook Number 1.02

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  "This handbook is one in a series of supplements to TRADOC DCSINT Handbook No. 1, A Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century, which is a basic terrorism primer prepared under the direction of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence-Threats. The terrorist threat confronting our military spans foreign and domestic threats of nation-states, rogue states with international or transnational agent demonstrations, and actors with specific strategies, tactics, and targets. A major tactic used by many terrorist groups is Cyber Terrorism. Although Cyber Terrorism is covered in the capstone terrorism handbook, this supplement provides more detail and insight. Purpose. This informational document supplements the basic terrorism handbook and supports operational missions, institutional training, and professional military education for U.S. military forces in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This document provides an introduction to Cyber Terrorism, and addresses the history of the phenomena, how terrorist organizations recruit, the motivations behind use of the tactic, characteristics of Cyber Terrorism, and the types of attacks against networks. Finally, the handbook addresses specific threats to military forces."

  United States. Army Training and Doctrine Command

  2005-08-15
• Global Counterinsurgency: Strategic Clarity for the Long War

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  "Though policy initiatives since the attacks of 11 September 2001 have positively influenced certain agencies and processes within the US government in their efforts to secure America, some steps have worked at cross purposes and limited the nation's effectiveness in countering the threats it faces. One entrenched policy that inhibits clear analysis and understanding of the threat is the continued framing of this global struggle as a 'War on Terrorism' (WOT). Words have consequences in shaping understanding and framing potential courses of action. The broad use and narrow connotations of the term WOT have cultivated a widespread, erroneous intellectual paradigm for dealing with both terrorism and insurgencies. This false strategy conflates a single tactic into the overall characteristic of a diverse number of enemy organizations, who exercise terrorism as just one tool. [...]. Terrorism is a tactic employed by a broad range of parties on behalf of diverse causes, yet defining it to an appropriate degree of acceptance has been problematic. Setting aside the many varieties of domestic terrorism, this article examines only the characteristics of terrorist-violence directed against noncombatants by transnational actors, such as the al Qaeda-inspired global hirabahist movement. This article will highlight the relationship between terrorism and insurgency, while examining the effectiveness of key strategic policies included in the National Security Strategy of the United States, National Strategy for Combating Terrorism, National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism, and Counterinsurgency for U.S. Government Policy Makers: A Work in Progress. A brief review of the challenges inherent in defining 'terrorism' makes the need for this approach clear."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Roper, Daniel S.

  2008
• Homeland Security Model for Assessing U.S. Domestic Threats

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  "What types of terrorist groups should be assessed for potential threat to domestic targets? Domestic terrorism or groups on US soil that have the intentions and capability to conduct attacks are probably the most important to assess first. But how would one go about assessing the capability and threat of such groups? Since the 9/11 attacks, domestic groups have a head start on international terrorist groups based on their proximity to potential agricultural targets and the means to engage those targets. These groups are also the most familiar with security measures in place or lack there of and could penetrate those to attack agricultural targets. Until 9/11 most groups, no matter their affiliation, were treated as criminals but not necessarily terrorists. […] Using the intent + capabilities = threat model, an assessment of various domestic terrorist groups can be made by using the tables below modeled from a recently published book on international terrorist groups' intent and capabilities. Kim Cragin and Sara A. Daly co-authored The Dynamic Terrorist Threat, An Assessment of Group Motivations and Capabilities in a Changing World , in which they outlined a means and metric to define and assess both intent and capability of international terrorist organizations. Tables 1.2 and 1.3 in this article classify intent and capability of domestic terrorist groups using a metric that is similar to Cragin and Daly's analysis of foreign terrorist groups. The metrics consist of a 1 to 5 scale for intent and capability. A group would achieve a 1 for Anti-US rhetoric and/or stated goal of destabilizing US either at local, state, or federal levels (Cragin & Daly, 2004)."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

  Cupp, O. Shawn; Spight, Michael G.

  2014?
• International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program, Report to Congress, February 2006

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  "Over the years, hundreds of U.S. nationals, officers, and employees of the U.S. Government have been killed or injured in acts of international terrorism occurring outside the United States. These incidents of terrorism continue worldwide. Recognizing that providing assistance and support to these victims presents a number of challenges and obstacles, the United States Congress amended the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) [42 U.S.C. § 10601] (Public Law 98-473) by authorizing an International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) so that victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside the United States may receive reimbursement for 'expenses associated with that victimization.' Victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside the United States face unique obstacles in securing assistance, expense reimbursement, and support, which are more readily available to victims of violent crime and domestic or international terrorism occurring within U.S. borders. Victims and family members often face immediate needs, such as covering expenses for medical treatment, funeral and burial services, short-term lodging, and emergency transportation. Language and cultural barriers can impair a victim's ability to secure appropriate support. Moreover, resources for victim assistance vary widely from one country to the next. Many of the countries that have established victim compensation programs compensate only their own citizens, leaving U.S. citizens without financial assistance."

  United States. Department of Justice

  2006-02
• National Strategy for Combating Terrorism: Prospects and Implications

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  Prior to the attacks of 9-11, the US did not have a comprehensive national counterterrorism strategy. Terrorism was seen as one of many threats that could be addressed through policy directives and law enforcement. The trauma of 9-11 completely changed perceptions of the threat posed by terrorism. Overnight it came to be seen as the preeminent threat facing the US. President Bush declared a global war on terrorism and in less than a month US forces were engaged in Afghanistan. The fight against terrorism is now seen as the primary focus of the military but this expansion of roles is not without costs. This thesis examines US counterterrorism strategy before and after 9-11 with a focus on the role of the military. It evaluates changes in strategy and the implementation of strategy. It also reviews and assesses military roles in domestic and international counterterrorism efforts before and after 9-11. Finally it evaluates the implications of the expanded role of the military and prospects for success in the war on terror if the current strategy is pursued.

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Rowe, Paul R.

  2003-12