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Terrorism and National Security: Issues and Trends

Raphael PerlForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division

出版	Library of congress washington dc congressional research Service, 2003
URL	http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=GVty0AEACAAJ&hl=&source=gbs_api

註釋International terrorism has long been recognized as a serious foreign and domestic security threat. This issue brief examines international terrorist actions and threats and the U.S. policy response. Available policy options range from diplomacy, international cooperation, and constructive engagement to economic sanctions, covert action, physical security enhancement, and military force. A modern trend in terrorism is toward loosely organized, self-financed, international networks of terrorists. Another trend is toward terrorism that is religiously or ideologically motivated. Radical Islamic fundamentalist groups pose terrorist threats of varying kinds to U.S. interests and to friendly regimes. A third trend is the apparent growth of cross-national links among different terrorist organizations, which may involve combinations of military training, funding, technology transfer, or political advice. Looming over the entire issue of international terrorism is a trend toward proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Iran, seen as the most active state sponsor of terrorism, has been secretly conducting a long-standing uranium enrichment program, and North Korea has admitted to having a clandestine program for uranium enrichment and has claimed to have nuclear weapons. On Dec 19, 2003, Iran announced it will sign an agreement allowing international inspections of nuclear sites; on Dec 21, 2003 Libya announced similar intentions. Indications also have surfaced that Al Qaeda has attempted to acquire chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons. As a result, stakes in the war against international terrorism are increasing. U.S. policy toward international terrorism contains a significant military component. Issues for Congress include whether the Administration is providing sufficient information about the long-term goals and costs of its military strategy and whether military force is an effective anti-terrorism instrument in some circumstances.