Countering Terrorism in the 21 st Century COMBATING

Countering Terrorism in the 21 st Century COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point James JF Forest, Ph. D. Director of Terrorism Studies

Agenda • Understanding the Strategy of Terrorism • U. S. Counterterrorism Strategy Post-9/11 • Interagency Coordination for Counterterrorism Notes: - This presentation is entirely at the unclassifed level. - The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the position of the United States Military Academy, the Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Understanding the Strategy of Terrorism COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Terrorism as Strategy • Terrorism as weapon in a strategy • Terrorist attacks = form of strategic communication • Terrorism is not new • Terrorism is not merely religious: 1980 Bologna, Munich attacks; LTTE (Sri Lanka) “You have to be lucky everyday – We only have to be lucky once” - IRA Bomber COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Some Strategic Objectives of Terrorism • Recognition: Gaining national or international recognition for their cause; recruiting new personnel; raising funds; demonstrating their strength • Coercion: Force a desired behavior of an individual or government • Intimidation: Prevent individuals, groups, or governments from acting • Provocation: Provoking overreaction by a government to the attack on symbolic targets or personnel, thereby gaining sympathy for their cause. • Insurgency support: Forcing the government to overextend itself in dealing with the threat, thereby allowing the insurgency to gain support and commit further attacks against the government. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Some Strategic Acts of Terrorism The terrorist act is generally a symbolic gesture against a group or national government. Tactics include: – – – – armed attacks arson assassination bombing hijacking hostage-taking kidnapping, etc. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point Suicide bombings

Marine Barracks Beirut, Lebanon 23 October 1983 • 241 Dead • 105 Injured COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Khobar Towers - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 25 June 1996 • 19 Dead • 240 Injured COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Murrah Federal Building Oklahoma City 25 June 1994 • 168 Dead • 490 Injured COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

American Embassy Bombings, Kenya and Tanzania August 1998 200 Americans, Kenyans, and Tanzanians dead Over 5000 injured COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

USS Cole, Aden, Yemen 12 Oct 2000 COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point 17 Dead 39 Injured

Terrorism as Strategy • Increasing interest in “soft targets” (economically strategic impact, and less protected) such as: – – – – – pubs in Northern Ireland & London UK open markets & cafes in Israel international airport, Sri Lanka bus in Manila, the Philippines shopping mall in southern Philippines nightclub in Bali, Indonesia banks in Istanbul, Turkey hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia nightclub in Berlin, Germany commuter trains in Madrid, Spain – and, of course. . . COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

September 11, 2001 COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Terrorism as Strategy • Terrorism as a means to achieve goals and objectives • Strategic goals include: – – Political change (e. g. , overthrow govt. ) Social change (e. g. , France headscarf ban) Economic change (e. g. , stop resource export) Religious change (e. g. , fundamentalism) • Overall goal: create a “better” world • Rationale for terrorism: perceived as only available means by which to achieve strategic goal COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Significant militant Islamist attacks against Americans

Strategy and Recruitment – Recruitment and propaganda efforts • Video and audio tapes, CD-Roms, DVDs and the Internet – Key themes of al Qaeda recruitment: • • The West is implacably hostile to Islam Only language the West understands is violence Jihad is the only option 9/11 was a tremendous victory (U. S. economy was destroyed and the course of history was changed) • U. S. is a paper tiger on the verge of financial ruin and total collapse • “Patience and steadfastness” are required COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Strategy and Recruitment • Terrorism is an individual’s strategic choice most often driven by combination of: – Intense grievances – Sense of crisis – Address a power imbalance - empower the disenfranchised • The ties that bind: training camps, extended family, social networks; trusted networks = key • Combination of ideology and psychology • No constraints re: geography, organizational affiliation, etc. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Strategy and Recruitment • Recruit individuals with differing talents or attributes to offer – – Locals with knowledge of customs, culture Foreigners with passports, language skills Sleepers or operationalists who can “fit in” Individuals who can serve as critical functionaries COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Terrorists as Strategic Actors Even though it’s a decentralized network, there are still critical functions that enable the network to operate • Critical functionary roles – can become a hub of multiple networks – – weapons procurement financier (funder or banker) (particularly in Halawa system) document forgerer human traffickers • Support individuals (trusted contacts) can and sometimes do support multiple networks; can provide supplies/facilitate trafficking of weapons & funds to multiple networks • Example: 60% of day spent moving legitimate charity money around; 20% of day on Hamas transactions, other activity on side • Some may get profit for doing these support/function roles COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Different members of the network play support and action roles

Strategy and Training Bomb-making, assault tactics, etc. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Strategy and Training • Psychological dimensions • Moral disengagement – – Displacement of responsibility Disregard for/distortion of consequences Dehumanization Moral justification • Group power over behavior, personal decisions • Preparation for martyrdom COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Strategy and Training Establish training camps – developing the will to kill and the skill to kill • Operational space: Geographic isolation • Teachers: Experts in relevant knowledge, e. g. , military combat experience • Committed learners • Time, money, and basic necessities • • • Afghanistan Algeria Bosnia Chechnya Colombia Egypt Indonesia Japan Kashmir Lebanon Libya • • • Northern Ireland Peru The Philippines Somalia Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Syria Turkey United States Uzbekistan Think back to your basic training or basic officer courses. . . COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Strategy and Training Lessons for new recruits include: • education in explosives and detonators: how to assemble bombs (e. g. , TNT, C 4), mines and grenades, pressure and trip wire booby traps, and the basic knowledge of electrical engineering • how to mount rocket launchers in the beds of pickup trucks • how and where to launder money • how to successfully conduct a kidnapping • how to conduct target identification, surveillance and reconnaissance • how and where to build camouflage-covered trenches • how to covertly communicate with other members of a group or network • how to fire handguns, machine guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Strategy and Training Lessons for new recruits include: • the rudiments of chemical and biological warfare • field command escape tactics • marksmanship and camouflage • the use and employment of Soviet rocket-propelled grenades and shoulder borne STRELA missiles • sniper rifle skills; how to fine-tune a rifle sight at short range to ensure accuracy at longer distances • how to direct weapon fire at targets on the ground and in the air • training in four-man unit deployments and formations—including wedges, columns, echelons and lines—techniques similar to those used by U. S. Marines and Army Rangers COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Strategy and Training • These are Learning Organizations = committed to capturing knowledge, analyzing it, forming new doctrine and tactics which are informed by lessons from the past – – Learn from each other Learn from trial and error (IRA example) Media showcasing ‘best practices’ to others Managing public image (PR) (becoming more sophisticated) • Terrorists are learning many things in Iraq, like: – – – • Manufacturing and concealing IEDs Urban warfare Sniper and ambush techniques Hostage taking Media manipulation OVERALL: How to recruit, fund, and execute assymetric warfare COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Suicide Terrorism as Assymetric Warfare • Unique tool in the implementation of a terrorist strategy • More common in democracies than non-democracies • Democratic leaders have publicly confirmed suicide attacks pushed them to make concessions • Example: United States left Lebanon in 1983 because of suicide attacks “We couldn’t stay there and run the risk of another suicide attack on the Marines. ” -- Ronald Reagan, An American Life COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Suicide Terrorism: Who? Perception: Reality • Generalized profile of suicide terrorists, including: • The “profile” is wrong • Terrorists are: – – – Young Single Male Uneducated Religious fanatics COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point – – – Preteen - mid-sixties Both single and married with families Both male and female Both educated and uneducated Not motivated by religious fanaticism World’s leader in suicide terror are Hindu; Tamil Tigers who are conducting insurgency against Sri Lanka

Suicide Terrorism: Why? Perception: Reality • Seemingly irrational act • Part of a strategy that is: – Well planned – Logical – Designed to achieve specific political objectives • Suicide attacks have increased over the past two decades • Why? COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point • Does two things: – Inflicts immediate punishment against target society – Threatens more punishment in the future

Suicide Terror Attacks are. . . • inexpensive and effective; extremely favorable per-casualty cost benefits for the terrorists • less complicated and compromising – no escape plan needed, and success means no assailant to capture and interrogate • perhaps the ultimate “smart bomb” – this “weapon” can cleverly disguise itself, use various modes of deception, and effect last minute changes in timing, access, and target • a strategic communication device – successful attacks are virtually assured media coverage • effective because the weaker opponent acts as coercer and the stronger actor is the target • Key difference from other attacks: The target of suicide campaign cannot easily adjust to minimize future damage COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Suicide Terrorism: Where? Three types of attacks are most likely to occur: • High value, symbolic targets involving mass casualties – Important government buildings, installations, or landmarks – Major means of personal or commercial transportation • High value, symbolic targets against specific persons – Political assassinations (e. g. , head of state, regional governor, etc. ) • Deliberately lethal attacks targeting the public – Bus, train, subway bombings; attacks on shopping malls, cinemas, sports stadiums, public gathering spaces COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Counterterrorism Strategy post-9/11 COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

If the Terrorists have a Strategy, We Must Also Have a Strategy • GWOT is considered by an increasing number of observers as a global counter-insurgency struggle • To fight it, we need to use all 7 major elements of national power (note: some scholars prefer to discuss the 4 -element DIME construct) • These 7 are: – – Diplomatic Information/Intelligence Military/Law Enforcement Economics/Finance COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

National Security Strategy Guides Policy (Theory for the U. S. ) COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

U. S. National Security Strategy, September 2002 (Replaces 2000 Clinton Edition) Table of Contents Introduction I. Overview of America's International Strategy II. Champion Aspirations for Human Dignity III. Strengthen Alliances to Defeat Global Terrorism and Work to Prevent Attacks Against Us and Our Friends IV. Work with Others to Defuse Regional Conflicts V. Prevent Our Enemies from Threatening Us, Our Allies, and Our Friends with Weapons of Mass Destruction VI. Ignite a New Era of Global Economic Growth through Free Markets and Free Trade VII. Expand the Circle of Development by Opening Societies and Building the Infrastructure of Democracy VIII. Develop Agendas for Cooperative Action with the Other Main Centers of Global Power IX. Transform America's National Security Institutions to Meet the Challenges and Opportunities of the Twenty-First Century COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

National Security Strategy Structure U. S. National Security Strategy is Unique to the U. S. Ø Based Upon: § § Ø Founding Principles of the Republic (U. S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Major Presidential Addresses) Historical National Precedents Current Security Concerns Current Political Realities Reflects: Global Capabilities / Responsibilities COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

National Security Strategy Informs National Security Policy (Reality for U. S. ) Congress’ N. S. S. (535) President’s National Security Strategy DOD, State, NSC other U. S. Gov't. Executive Branch Input POLICY PROCESS ARENA (The “Real World”) National Security Policy Statements and Actions of Government Other Gov’ts. N. S. S. Military Strategy and Foreign Policy NGOs, Think Tanks, Lobbyists, International Agencies, Media N. S. S.

National Strategy for Combating Terrorism - Released February, 2003 - Complements/Supplements the National Security Strategy Table of Contents – – Introduction The Nature of the Terrorist Threat Today Strategic Intent Goals and Objectives • • – Defeat terrorists and their organizations Deny sponsorship, support, and sanctuary to terrorists Diminish the underlying conditions that terrorists seek to exploit Defend U. S. citizens and interests at home and abroad Conclusion COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

National Strategic Framework for the GWOT Ends Overall Goal: Preserve and promote the way of life of free and open societies based on the rule of law, defeat terrorist extremism as a threat to that way of life, and create a global environment inhospitable to terrorist extremists. Ideological support Comms & Movement Protect the Homeland Ways Funds Safe havens Enemy Leadership Weapons Foot soldiers Access to Targets Disrupt and Attack Terrorist Networks Counter Ideological Support for Terrorism Help create and lead a broad international effort to deny terrorist networks the resources they need to operate and survive. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER partner and international instruments of power National, at West Means Point

Military Strategic Framework for the GWOT Ends Strategic Goal: Preserve and promote the way of life of free and open societies based on the rule of law, defeat terrorist extremism as a threat to our way of life, and create a global environment inhospitable to terrorist extremists. END-STATE Termination Objectives from the Contingency Planning Guidance (Classified) Ideological support Comms & Movement Ways Military Strategic Objectives Protect the Homeland Funds Safe havens Enemy Leadership Weapons Foot soldiers Access to Targets Disrupt and Attack Terrorist Networks Counter Ideological Support for Terrorism Deny terrorists the resources they need to operate and survive. Enable partner nations to counter terrorism. Deny WMD/E proliferation, recover and eliminate uncontrolled materials, and maintain capacity for consequence mgmt. Defeat terrorists and their organizations. Persuade, coerce, and when necessary, compel states and non-states to cease support for terrorists. Establish conditions that counter ideological support for terrorism. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Means Point Combatant Commands, Services, and Combat Support Agencies

War Against Terrorism

War Against Terrorism • Our strategy must involve denying terrorists sanctuary; separating terrorists from the population • Must isolate them, take away their support, force them to continually be on the run • Organizing force protection based on battle line mentality won’t work • UAV’s aren’t as useful as you might think; over-reliance on technical wizardry has been a problem in the field • Attrition – we must keep after them, never give up, while making sure they don’t recruit new members COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

War Against Terrorism • Human intelligence networks are critical (although nonefficient use of manpower) • Must have continual presence – cannot go into a village “looking for the terrorists” • “Know yourself; know your enemy (Sun Tzu)” – Must know strategic & tactics of enemy before CT can be successful – so, what do we know about our enemy’s strategy & tactics? COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

The Terrorists’ Perspective • For one thing, al Qaeda’s leaders believes that they have been tested by two superpowers (Soviets and Americans); they defeated the first, and survived the second despite overwhelming military force – thus, both are considered victories • Our enemy believes this is an epic struggle that will likely take place beyond the current generation of fighters • In Iraq, terrorists are developing a new “cult of the insurgent” by demonstrating how they, not the oncefeared Saddam Hussein’s military, can inflict pain and suffering on the mighty U. S. (and coalition) forces COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

War Against Terrorism • Focus on the enemy’s ideology, not their tactics • This is a War of Ideas: We need to convince them (potential supporters and recruits) that we (liberal democracies) offer a better way than separatist Islamic Jihad (but without attempting to convert them to our way of life) • We must work to bolster the image of American morals and values being compatible with those of the Arab and Islamic world, where we are too often portrayed as greedy, selfish hedonists COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

War Against Terrorism • Information warfare - We must develop an effective counterideological message • How well do we invest in and support the “extremists whom we like” (a. k. a. , “moderates”) and support ways to amplify their voices? • We must invest in educational & social institutions; media organizations COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

War Against Terrorism • Critical components of a successful counterterrorism effort include: – Multinational partnerships – Interagency coordination COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Interagency Coordination for Counterterrorism COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

U. S. Government Policy Making Responsibilities: Separate Branches with Overlapping Power to “Check & Balance” Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch • Declare War • Commander-in-Chief • Review Legislation • Advice/Consent (Ratify Treaties) • Treaty-Making • Review Legal Issues • Confirmation • Nominate Officials • Impeach President/Judges • Fire Executive Officials • Pass Legislation/Veto Override • Sign/Veto Legislation • Execute Laws • Oversight of Laws/Policies: Investigations, Hearings, Reports • Appropriate Federal Budget • Suggest the Budget • Influence the Agenda • Set the Agenda • Reflect Public Opinion • Shape Public Opinion COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

U. S. Government Today (109 th Congress, 2005 -2006) • SENATE (100 – 2 per 50 states, elected to 6 -Year Terms) • HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES (435 – 1 per 700, 000 Constituency, elected to 2 -Year Terms) • THE PRESIDENT • VICE PRESIDENT (Both Elected 4 -Year Terms but Limited to Two Terms) • SUPREME COURT • LOWER COURTS (Appointed for Life) • Executive Office of the President • 15 Departments • 60+ Agencies and Gov’t. Corporations • 2. 4 Million Full-Time Civil Servants • 1. 4 Million Active Duty Soldiers U. S. Population: 280, 000 COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

The National Security Council NSC Staff TE TA CS I DC Sec of Home. Sec. DOHS COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point VP W CO H S SE CS INTEL Community DOD EF POTUS CJ JCS CD SE DOS Nat’l Security Advisor NSC

National Counterterrorism Center Vision To become the nationally recognized center that empowers the Counterterrorism Community to shape the national and international counterterrorism effort, thereby eliminating the terrorist threat to U. S. interests, at home and abroad. Mission To inform, empower, and help shape the national and international counterterrorism effort, thereby diminishing the ranks, capabilities, and activities of current and future terrorists. Values To ensure precision, objectivity, integrity, and timeliness in everything we do; to develop expertise of NCTC employees, and to ensure their professional development and growth. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

National Counterterrorism Center NCTC is a mission-oriented center – located within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence – established to integrate terrorism information and coordinate counterterrorism activities across the U. S. Government and beyond • NCTC currently has assignees (USG staff) from: • Federal Bureau of Investigation • Department of Defense • Central Intelligence Agency • Department of Homeland Security • Department of State • Others – DOE, NRC, HHS, USDA, USCHP • Assignees to NCTC retain authorities of parent entities COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Terrorism Information Access and Integration In NCTC, key organizations involved in the fight against terrorism are collectively fulfilling shared responsibilities COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Terrorism Information Access and Integration • Many U. S. Government networks are available in NCTC • Integrated architecture will enable a simultaneous, federated search capability against the terabytes of data available to the U. S. government • Advanced analytic tools are facilitating the automated sourcing and tailoring multi-use products; enhancing data exploitation and integration • “Terrorism information” covers an exceptionally broad array of data • Active information acquisition effort underway • Seeking awareness and integration of non-obvious terrorism information COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Terrorism Analysis and CT Requirements • Providing daily terrorism analysis for the President, senior policymakers, and the U. S. Government • NCTC produces integrated and coordinated analysis – if there analytic differences on the nature or seriousness of a particular threat or issue, they are incorporated into the analysis • Producing special analysis and other in-depth, strategic, and alternative analyses • Counterterrorism Requirements - Identifying gaps in knowledge; prioritizing transnational terrorism information needs The integration of perspectives from multiple departments and agencies is serving as a force multiplier in the fight against terrorism COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Toward a Counterterrorism “System” • Beyond implementing Center responsibilities, the greater goal is facilitating a counterterrorism “system” as part of a greater U. S. Government (USG) system-of-systems • All USG elements need not be centralized; however, a distributed but integrated framework must be consciously agreed upon and orchestrated • Roles and responsibilities of USG CT elements must be as unambiguous and straightforward as possible; intentional rather than haphazard redundancy • Need to orchestrate the various components of the nation’s counterterrorism effort; greater efficiency and effective optimization of resources and activities COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Questions? COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Backup slides COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Global Terrorism Networks Interconnected terrorist groups, criminal organizations, individuals, etc. around the world. Shared strategies, doctrine, tactics, training Cross-fertilization, interorganizational learning Shared profits from trafficking in drugs, arms, other contraband Increasingly connected via technologies/Internet COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Example: How does the LTTE Sustain its Operation Financially? In Areas heavily dominated by Tamils Local Enterprises Taxes from local Population Taxes from Business Robbery Blackmail & Ransom Taxes from Fishermen LOCAL Tax on Liquor Drugs/ Crime Investing/ running Local Business Ventures Fund raising Projects COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point Taxes from Visitors Taxes on Goods Playing the Stock Market

INTERNATIONAL FUNDING Funding from state Parties Aiding International Criminals Donations from Supporters (Tamil Diaspora) Terrorist training Credit card Fraud Foreign residence Tax International Propaganda/ Fund raising projects Asylum Seekers tax Money laundering/ Forgery Foreign Investments/Business Shipping/Gunrunning Human Trafficking COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point Drug Smuggling

US Counterterrorism Strategy • Helped Sri Lankan military develop 4 key capabilities – – Operate behind enemy lines Engage in night fighting SEAL, special boat operations Psyops capabilities • Helped Sri Lankan banking and commerce tracking systems locate & disrupt money laundering networks COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Orchestration of Terrorism Analysis • Orchestrating integrated analysis and the presentation of alternative views through institutionalized mechanisms • Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism (IICT) – meets at least twice monthly, with regular, virtual coordination on community products; produces Community-coordinated analytic assessments, warnings, alerts, advisories • Terrorism Production Planning Board (TPPB) – meets five days a week • Red Cell – independent and interagency conferences and publications • Working with Intelligence Community members to design an efficient, distributed U. S. Government terrorism analysis framework • Goal is comprehensive coverage with planned redundancy and alternative analysis • Seeking to achieve a rational allocation of scarce analytic resources This integrated business model capitalizes on our respective expertise, optimizing analytic resources to enable more effective and comprehensive analytic coverage COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Strategic Operational Planning (SOP) • The SOP function was established to provide a full-time interagency forum to align plans, identify and address gaps and overlaps, and realize interagency synergies • Coordinates the review, integration, development, and evaluation of interagency operational plans • Facilitates the implementation of the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism, specifying tasks, assigning lead responsibilities, and monitoring progress • Based on interagency discussions, SOP includes: • Standing Plans, Dynamic Plans, and Evaluation Groups as well as a Senior Interagency Strategy Team • Members from across the Intelligence, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Military, and Diplomatic elements of the U. S. Government Facilitating a synchronization and transparency of effort to ensure that all instruments of national power are brought to bear against the scourge of international terrorism COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Facilitating Information Sharing • NCTC sponsors multiple forums and mechanisms for the exchange of terrorism information • NCTC Online • Videoteleconferences • 24/7 NCTC Operations Center • Information Sharing Program Office • NCTC is responsible for sharing terrorism information within the Federal family • Supports Federal agencies and departments with statutory responsibility to provide terrorism-related information to state, local, and private officials Facilitating the exchange and rapid dissemination of terrorism information and analysis to those responsible for detecting, disrupting, and defending against terrorist attacks at home and abroad COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

Transnational Terrorist Identities Information • NCTC maintains a database of all U. S. Government information on international terrorist identities • Supports a streamlined system for “watchlisting” and terrorist screening activities • Provides terrorist identities information and watchlist nominations to the FBIadministered Terrorist Screening Center • Improving internal and interagency processes to integrate terrorist identities information into terrorism analysis and CT operations Supporting a government-wide system that ensures front line law enforcement officers, consular officials, and immigration and border personnel have the capability to identify and screen terrorists before they enter the U. S. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point

National Counterterrorism Center Intelligence Reform & Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004 : • • Effective by 17 June 2005 Most functions assigned to NCTC by E. O. 13354 are now rooted in statute & in some cases augmented Report to the President on plans and progress of joint CT operations (other than intelligence operations) New functions assigned to NCTC by the Act include: • • • “Advise the Director of National Intelligence on the extent to which the counterterrorism program recommendations and budget proposals of the departments, agencies, and elements of the USG conform to the priorities established by the President” “…primary responsibility in the USG for conducting net assessments of terrorist threats” “Develop a strategy for combining terrorist travel intelligence operations and law enforcement planning & operations into a cohesive effort to intercept terrorists, find terrorist travel facilitators, and constrain terrorist mobility” The implementation of NCTC responsibilities is tied to the creation and authorities of the Office of the DNI. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER at West Point