II.

AN ITRODUCTION TO TERRORISM

A. DEFINITIONS

So much has been written in recent years about terrorism by many eminent
people. Terrorism means different things to different people dependent upon
individual perspective thus many definitions exists. The following selected
definitions of terrorism reflect those varying points of view although a number of
common threads are discernible.

Terrorism is

violence for effect..not primarily, and sometimes not at all for the physical
effect on the actual target, but rather for its dramatic impact on an audience.

Brian Jenkins Rand Corporation

the calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to attain goals, often
political or ideological in nature, through instilling fear, intimidation or coercion. It
usually involves a criminal act often symbolic in nature and intended to influence an
audience beyond the immediate victims.

AR 190 52

violent criminal behavior designed to generate fear in the community, or a

substantial segment of it, for political purposes

Disorders and Terrorism: LEAA 1976

In general, the word terrorism is used today to define almost illegal acts of
violence committed for political purposes by clandestine groups.

In our study of terrorism, we separate the terrorists into three separate, although
not always distinct, groupings: National, Transnational, and International.

National Terrorists

A terrorist who operates and aspires to political power primarily within a single
political power primarily within a single nation. An example of this type would be the
Sendro Luminoso operating inside Peru.

Transnational Terrorists

This is terrorist who operates across national borders, whose actions and political
aspirations may effect individuals of more than one nationality. The West German
based Bader Meinhof Gang could be cited as an example of this type of group.

International Terrorists
 A terrorist who is controlled by, and whose actions represent the national
interest of a sovereign state. Abu Nidal, operating as an arm of first Libya and then
Syria could be an example of such group.

It is important to understand that not all international terrorist acts are carried
out by terrorists from originating states. There is often a drifting whereby contract
jobs are undertaken on behalf of a government by foreign groups. Thus, deviding
line between Transnational and International Terrorism is very fine. The key
distinctions is who is calling the shots a distinction difficult to determine.

An example of this is Hesbullah groups operating inside Lebanon. Are there acts
really directed by Iranian government as suspected or are they targeting their own
acts with Iran taking credit only when deemed in its best interest?

B. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
C. CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM
D. MOTIVATION AND GROUP CLASSIFICATION
E. TERRORIST PROFILE
F. COMMON STRATEGIES
G. PHASES OF TERRORIST OPERATION
H. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
I. INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
J. SUMMARY

IV. DEFINITIONS

A. A hostage situation is a set of circumstances wherein a suspected law violator

is holding a person captive by the use of force, violence, or the threat of
violence and the police are in close confrontation with the suspect and his
captive.
a. TWA Flight 847 -1985
b. Captives in Lebanon
c. What is the difference?
B. The difference between a hostage taking and a kidnapping is the fact that the
police are not aware of the captives location, are not in close confrontation
with the perpetrators, and cannot exert any pressure on the suspects.
C. Past Hostage Taking Incidents
a. MUNICH OLYMPICS
b. TWA Hijacking

XIII. OPERATIONAL ORDER

A. The Operational Order is a device used to implement a Plan of Action. It has

five parts which include: a statement of the situation, the mission, instruction
how the plan is to be executed, instructions relative to administrative and
logistic support, and instructions relative to command, control and
communications.
B. This Order may be detailed and issued in writing in the case of an operation
planned well in advance, or it may be brief and issued orally in the case of an
immediate situation.
C. The Operation Order Format can be as follows:
1. Situation
a. State the situation and identify the perpetrator in terms of:
1) Location
2) Description and Identification
3) Weapons
4) Hostages and Identification
5) Intelligence Data
6) Physcical Objective
7) Caution Statements
b. Identify all Law Enforcement Officers involved in terms of :
1) Location
2) Identity
3) Activity
c. Identify Victims in terms of:
1) Status (hostage, wounded, dead, etc.)
2) Description
3) Location
2. Mission
a. The mission consists of a clear, concise statement of the task that is
to be performed.
3. Execution
a. State the general plan of action in terms of specific objectives.
b. State the specific duties assigned to law enforcement units and
individuals.
c. State coordinating instructions in terms of:
1) Time schedule 2) Order of Movement 3) Routes of Movement
4) Areas of Isolated 5) Rendezvous Locations 6) Danger Areas 7) Inspection of
Personnel

4. Administration and Logistics

a) State Instructions as Related to:
1) Weapons and Ammunitions
2) Clothing and Personnel Equipment
3) Special Equipment
4) Transportation
5) Handling Injured
6) Handling Suspects
7) Handling Evidence
5. command and Communications
a) State Instructions Relative to:
1) Identity and Location of Commanders
2) Fire Control Requirements
3) Radio Frequencies
4) Pre-arranged Codes and Signals-