PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL OFFICIALS IS ESSENTIAL. WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF SAFEGUARDING CITIZENS FROM THE CALCULATED VIOLENCE OF TERRORISTS. TERRORISM, ROOTED AS IT IS IN ANTIGOVERNMENT ACTIVITY, INESCAPABLY ALSO INVOLVES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, THE U.S. HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT MINIMIZING TERRORIST INCIDENTS THROUGH INCREASING SECURITY AND BETTER INTELLIGENCE (ALTHOUGH PROTECTION OF EMBASSIES ABROAD IS CONTINGENT UPON THE WILLINGNESS OF THE HOST GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SECURITY). NEVERTHELESS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS NEED TO COLLECT BETTER INTELLIGENCE, AND ENSURE THE FLOW OF INTELLIGENCE AMONG ALL UNITS OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SPECIALIZING IN THE DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY. WHEN INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS CAN PREDICT TERRORIST ACTIVITY, TERRORISTS WILL BE STRIPPED OF THEIR MOST VITAL WEAPON--THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE. PREVENTION OF TERRORISM THROUGH THE USE OF IMPROVED SECURITY CHECKS AT AIRPORTS, NUCLEAR PLANTS, MAJOR OIL PIPELINES, OR PROTENTIAL TARGET FACILITIES, FORMS THE BACKBONE OF DEALING WITH MOST TERRORIST INCIDENTS WHICH MAY OCCUR IN THE U.S. TO DETER TERRORIST ACTS, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY IS TO CONDEMN ALL TERRORISTS ACTS AS CRIMINAL AND TO MAKE NO CONCESSIONS TO TERRORIST BLACKMAIL. FOR ANTITERRORIST RESPONSE, A WORKING GROUP COMPOSED OF 31 AGENCIES IS DIRECTLY SUBORDINATE TO THE SPECIAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE (SCC) OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL (NSC). WHILE 31 AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN HANDLING TERRORIST EVENTS, THE SCC CONVENES TO MAKE CRISIS DECISIONS. SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEES ASSESS PHYSICAL SECURITY AT U.S. GOVERNMENT INSTALLATIONS AT HOME AND ABROAD, UPDATE CONTINGENCY PLANS, AND EXAMINE THE SECURITY STATUS OF THE U.S. BORDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. IN THE FUTURE, MORE JOINT FEDERAL-LOCAL EFFORT IS NEEDED, ALONG WITH MORE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, TRAINING AND KNOW-HOW BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT LEVELS. (MHP)