COMBATING TERRORISM: Issues to Be Resolved to Improve Counterterrorism Operations

Abstract

The U.S. policy and strategy on combating terrorism have been evolving since the 1970s and are articulated in Presidential Directives and implementing guidance. These guidance documents divide activities to combat terrorism into three elements: preventing and deterring terrorism; responding to a terrorist crisis, and managing the consequences after a terrorist attack. One of the highest priorities in the federal government is to prevent and prepare for terrorist attacks that use weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Crisis management includes efforts to stop a terrorist attack, arrest terrorists, and gather evidence for criminal prosecution. Consequence management includes efforts to provide medical treatment and emergency services, evacuate people from dangerous areas, and restore government services. When terrorist attacks occur without adequate threat warning, crisis response and consequence management will be concurrent activities.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA364681

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Congress
  • Counterterrorism
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Department Of State
  • Department Of Veterans Affairs
  • Government Procurement
  • Interagency Coordination
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Lessons Learned
  • National Security
  • Public Administration
  • Terrorism
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.