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Towards a New U.S. Counterterrorism Posture

NCJ Number
175482
Journal
Journal of Counterterrorism & Security International Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 1998 Pages: 12-15
Author(s)
P G Eddington
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article evaluates US counterterrorism policy.
Abstract
A review of US counterterrorist policy since the February 1993 World Trade Center bombing reveals a clear pattern in responding to Middle East terrorism: economic sanctions against nations that sponsor or harbor Islamic extremists; prosecution of suspects involved in perpetrating acts of terrorism against Americans; and infrequent, limited military retaliation against states sponsoring or harboring terrorists. Not only has this policy been ineffective in preventing major terrorist incidents, but it has arguably produced a defensive, reflexive mindset among American policy makers. There is convincing evidence that America's unilateral decision to take largely passive, defensive measures to combat Islamist-inspired terrorism has actually played into the hands of the extremists while simultaneously increasing America's vulnerability to future attacks. The article discusses warning signs of failures to come in terrorism and intelligence collection, and suggests elements of an offensive counterterrorism strategy.