Intelligence-based law enforcement approaches to identifying terrorists

¶ … Target Selection

Criminal behavior has been examined closely by criminal investigators in order to combat crime and this is also true in the area of terrorism. Specifically, education on terrorism has been provided in the form of "short briefings" or through publications in magazines or televised broadcasts. However, there is a need for more specialized and focused training in order to prepare law enforcement in countering terrorist acts. The 'Intelligence-Based' approach to antiterrorism is reported to require knowledge including that which leans towards comprehension of who terrorists are and recognition of incidents that occur prior to the actual terrorist acts committed by these individuals. This includes the competency to "analyze intelligence information." (Nance, nd, p. 4) Secondly, the observation of the behaviors of individuals at the street-level is particularly important in identifying and countering terrorists. Third stated is the ability to closely observe behaviors while analyzing information provided by various sources. There are reported to be three primary steps and specifically those of: (1) respect; (2) observe; and (3) analyze. (Nance, nd, p. 5)

II. Appearances Can Be Deceiving

The news media portrays the terrorist as being a type of stereotyped individual however; law enforcement cannot approach investigation of terrorism in this manner because to do so will result in terrorists who do not fit the stereotype falling beneath the radar and ultimately their being able to successfully carry out terrorist attacks. Terrorists have been portrayed by news media wrongly as they have been portrayed as being non-human in nature however, terrorists are very much human beings and this means that they have their own problems which they attempt to handle wrongly and the failure to view these individuals as human beings results in the failure to give consideration to the intelligence of these individuals. As well, the failure to view terrorists as human beings results in the failure to consider what motivates and drives them to plan and commit acts of terrorism. It is necessary when analyzing terrorist or terrorist groups to understand their motivation behind acts of terrorism and what they are in opposition to or in support of. Without this very pertinent information it is impossible to attempt to predict when and where the terrorist or terrorist group will strike and how they will strike. The manner of dress of the individual is also important in knowing what type of weapon that the suspect may be carrying in that someone wearing a long coat has the ability to hide an assault rifle whereas the III. Differentiation of Terrorists and Terrorist Groups

Terrorists and terrorist groups can be differentiated by their capabilities and their access to weapons. For example weapons of mass destruction also known as WMD are of great concern because the release of biological weapons can result in the spread of fatal diseases as well as contamination by such agents as anthrax. The potential for such weapons could be millions of deaths should a terrorist group release such a weapon in a highly populated area. The ideology of the terrorist or terrorist group may be based on religion or political schools of thought or even philosophically-based ideology.

Summary and Conclusion

This brief essay has highlighted the need for further education and training of law enforcement to exceed the brief education and training provided presently in the area of identification of terrorists and terrorist groups. There are a great many considerations when attempting to identify terrorists and terrorists groups and it is not possible to educate and train law enforcement using only the briefing style education and training that is presently being utilized. This is because terrorist are not as profiled by the news media. All terrorists do not look the same, they do not use the same language, they do not commit terrorist acts for the same reasons and they do not have the same ways of thinking or the same capabilities.