United States' Counter-Terrorism Strategy for the 21st Century and its Cornerstone for Consequence Management - National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams

摘要

Terrorists armed with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) pose a growing threat to the United States and its vital interests (citizens, critical infrastructure, and territory). In response to this threat, President Clinton issued Presidential Decision Directives (PDDs) 39, 62, and 63, which restate the country's long-standing counter-terrorism (CT) policy and outline the administration's strategy (objectives, concepts, and resources) for dealing with it. In support of the administration's policy, Congress has passed laws and increased funding for counter-terrorism programs. One such legislative measure, the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Act of 1996, identified specific measures certain government departments or agencies needed to take to prepare the nation for the consequences of a WMD event. As a key part of its efforts, the Department of Defense (DoD) created National Guard WMD Civil Support (CS) Teams, the 'cornerstone' of DoD's consequence management strategy. The purpose of this research project was to analyze the United States' CT/WMD strategy for the twenty-first century to determine if it was adequate to meet the future domestic security needs of our nation. It was also to assess how well DoD's National Guard WMD Civil Support Teams have been implemented into that strategy. These purposes have been accomplished by identifying the WMD terrorist threats, and assessing how effectively government concepts and resources have been applied towards meeting the national objectives of reducing our country's vulnerabilities to these threats, preventing and deterring them, responding to them, and managing the consequences of their attacks. Conclusions have been drawn based on the analysis. In addition, recommendations have been made to assist federal, state, and local authorities as they prepare now for an uncertain future.