The Use of Special Operations Forces in Combating Terrorist Financing
Abstract
With United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) being given the role as the lead Combatant Command in fighting the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), USSOCOM must examine ways to engage terrorists on a global scale. USSOCOM must look at means other than direct action to defeat these terrorist networks. It must look at the entire network and not just the cells that carry out the terrorist operations. Terrorist financing is an integral part of the GWOT, though thus far it has mostly been pursued by law enforcement agencies rather than the U.S. Military. This is due to the perception that terrorist financing is criminal in nature and must be relegated to law enforcement agencies rather than a threat to national security that would be the responsibility of the military. This thesis serves two purposes. The first is to analyze whether the U.S. military and Special Operations Forces (SOF) in particular should look at terrorist financing as part of the military's role in the GWOT, and what that possible role could be. The second is to look at how SOF could organize itself to carry out such a role should it be necessary to do so. Ironically, during the time this thesis was being written the Department of Defense (DoD) determined that SOF does have a role in terrorist financing and that USSOCOM will be the executive agent for the DoD with regards to terrorist financing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA457538
Entities
People
- Thomas Newell Jr.
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School