The law enforcement approach to combating terrorism : an analysis of US policy

Download
Author
Nagel, William C.
Date
2002-06Advisor
McCormick, Gordon
Second Reader
Lober, George
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This thesis examines the US policy for combating terrorism from 1988 to 2000 using five case studies; the bombing of Pan Am flight 103, the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993, the bombing of the US barracks in Saudi Arabia in 1996, the bombings of two US embassies in Africa in 1998 and the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. The thesis begins by outlining the minimum requirements for a counter-terrorism policy. They are; that a policy must either deter terrorists from attacking the US or, failing that, successfully defend against terrorists who cannot be deterred. Next, the thesis examines the history and development of the law enforcement approach to combating terrorism and a few of the events that set the conditions for its ascendance to the forefront of US policy. After establishing the conditions for its dominance, the thesis takes an in-depth to look at the US response in the aftermath of each of the five terrorist attacks. The final chapter compares the demonstrated performance of the policy in the aftermath of the five bombings with the basic requirements for a counter-terrorist policy to determine the effectiveness of the policy as a whole.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Protecting small communities through domestic policing adopting an information analysis system to recognize potential terrorist activity
Perry, Donnie. (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2009-09);Throughout history, the role of law enforcement has never been more demanding than it is today. In the aftermath of 9/11, local law enforcement agencies have recognized the need to develop new capabilities to protect ... -
Impact of changing external conditions on counterinsurgency: the Sri Lankan experience
Premaratne, Nilantha P. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2015-12);After thirty years of protracted war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka defeated its long-lasting terrorist insurgency in May 2009. Sri Lanka’s victory surprised the world. This thesis examines ... -
Fear factors in: political rhetoric, threat inflation, and the narrative of September 11
Atmore, Lorna Y. (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2014-12);The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon transformed the way the nation views homeland security and terrorism. It changed the priorities of the nation. The current frame of reference on terrorism, ...