Summary

Combating Terrorism: Federal Agencies' Efforts to Implement National Policy and Strategy

NSIAD-97-254  September 26, 1997

Full Report (PDF, 112 pages)   

Under the sponsorship of the National Security Council, various interagency groups have been formed to coordinate the efforts of the more than 40 federal agencies that combat terrorism. The intelligence community has its own committee on terrorism. Key federal efforts to prevent and deter terrorist acts include gathering and sharing intelligence information on terrorist threats and keeping foreign terrorists and materials from entering the United States. Federal efforts to combat terrorist acts and to manage the consequences of these incidents include designating lead agencies for crisis response, establishing interagency quick-reaction support teams, creating special operational teams or units, developing contingency plans, and conducting interagency training and exercises. For both crisis management and consequence management, federal efforts include special teams and units to deal with nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Federal agencies are also assessing the capabilities of state and local jurisdictions to respond immediately to and manage the consequences of domestic terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction and provide them training and assistance.

Subject Terms

Americans abroad
Bombs
Chemical weapons
Combating terrorism
Contingency plans
Counterterrorism
Crime prevention
Federal intelligence agencies
Homeland security
Interagency relations
International cooperation
Law enforcement information systems
National defense operations
Terrorists
Weapons of mass destruction
Dept. of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program
Dept. of State Foreign Emergency Support Team
Dept. of State TIPOFF Program
FBI Domestic Emergency Support Team
New York (NY)
Oklahoma City (OK)
Saudi Arabia
Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network