The Hijacking of TWA 847: A Study of Bureaucratic Paralysis
Abstract
This paper briefly examines the subject of bureaucratic politics, in this case the politics of the bureaucracy responsible for combating terrorism, through a discussion of a specific incident: the hijacking of TWA 847 in June 1985. To narrow the focus further, the author has chosen to confine the discussion to the Algiers phase of this incident. This is not only because he is more familiar with this phase, but also because the disarray within the U.S. Government, crystal clear during the Algiers phase, led (as in a Greek tragedy) to the subsequent media circus in Beirut and to events beyond. He will examine first the various institutional actors who played a role in combating terrorism and will then discuss the actions of their representatives in Algiers. No names are used, although these are, in some cases, unclassified and could be found on any Algiers diplomatic list. What is important, however, is the institutional aspect of this incident not the interplay of personalities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 15, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA436986
Entities
People
- Whitley Bruner
Organizations
- National War College