The United States Government Response to Terrorism, 1972 - 1980: an Organizational Perspective.

Abstract

This study seeks to examine the organizational problems faced by the United States Government in developing a strategy to counter terrorism. In recent years incidents of terrorism have greatly increased, however, while terrorism is an easily recognized activity precise definition of the term has been difficult. As used in this study, terrorism refers to a purposeful political activity primarily directed toward the creation of a general climate of fear designed to influence human beings and some course of events. The study briefly reviews some forms of terrorism; i.e., international, transnational, nonterritorial and domestic. The threat posed to the United States includes both indigenous and foreign groups. A judicious response to terrorism is most dem and ing. Within a free democracy the methods of action available to leaders are limited. The focus upon organizations is relevant since the U.S. Government perceives problems through its organizational sensors. Alternatives are defined and consequences estimated as governmental organizations process information and enact routines. Government behavior thus reflects the independent output of several organizations which are only partially coordinated by leaders. This study centers on those government agencies directly concerned with the prevention and /or neutralization of terrorism. The genesis of the U.S. response can be traced to 1972 and the establishment of the Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism. This committee was to be supported by a Working Group comprised of senior representatives of the Committee. However, the Committee met only once between 1972 and 1977 leaving the Working Group to carry out its functions. With the advent of the Carter Administration a "more responsive policy" was formulated pursuant to Presidential Review Memor and um 30. A senior-level interagency Executive Committee on Terrorism (ECT) was formed, consisting of representatives of the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, Treasury, Transportation, and Energy, the CIA, and the NSC staff. The ECT was to be responsible to the Special Coordination Committee of the NSC. The ECT is chaired by the representative from the Department of State. Between the years 1972 and 1980 the Working Group created to assist both the original Cabinet Committee and the ECT had mushroomed from 10 agencies to 31. During this same period, organizations attempted to coordinate antiterrorist measures to produce the interagency cooperation needed to cope with the problem. Plans that were developed often crossed over the jurisdictions of several organizations. Along with this organizational analysis is a chapter pertaining to the sociological, legal and operational considerations should military forces be employed to quell a terrorist threat. It is concluded that existing programs and repertoires made changes difficult, while other dem and s upon organizational leaders drew their attention in other directions, making concentration on terrorism difficult. Terrorism was viewed by some as not a central issue; consequently, planning was delayed or delegated to others. As a result, the development of a clear, underst and able, and effective strategy to counter terrorism within the U.S. has been delayed considerably. It is highly debatable that even today, a highly workable arrangement has been achieved.