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Counter Terrorism Groups
October 30, 2012 | admin
The US counterterrorism division of its Special Forces is called Delta Force. Delta is currently based in Fort Bragg, NC and is dedicated to addressing counterterrorism threats to the US both domestically and internationally. Its membership is composed of volunteers from every branch of the US military. All volunteer candidates are put through a rigorous screening process; few are selected. The entire force is composed of approximately 2,000 men. Its operatives are trained to address very specific scenarios such as nighttime hostage rescues and plane hijackings. Traditionally, Delta has avoided media attention at all costs; it only reaches the public eye when missions fail or during highly publicized situations. [Full Profile]
GSG9
The Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (known by its colloquial, GSG 9) is Germany’s premier counterterrorism force. It specializes in hostage rescue, particularly in aviation terrorism. Originally, GSG 9 contained only 175 – 200 members at any time. Today, the group has expanded but it remains a focused unit dedicated to reducing the domestic and international terrorist threat to Germany. The group has separated into three conjoined but distinct departments to address various areas of specialty. These operatives are trained to perform naval (GSG 9/1), aerial (GSG 9/2), and terrain (GSG9/3) response missions and to address scenarios ranging from hostage rescue to assassination to bomb threats. Though GSG 9 is small, it is extremely effective and maintains top-notch departments to expertly stabilize each of the aforementioned scenarios. Its operatives also undergo extensive training in parachuting, munitions, hand-to-hand combat, and improvised explosive disarmament. GSG 9 has been recognized on multiple occasions as one of the most successful and effective counterterrorism group in the world. [Full Profile]
Mossad
The Mossad is the organization responsible for intelligence collection and covert operations, including counterterrorism operations, for the nation of Israel. While the Mossad itself is more of the equivalent of the CIA, the Israeli equivalent of Delta, GSG9, and ST6 is the secretive Special Operations Division of the Massad known as Metsada. The Metsada has conductive clandestine operations, assassinations, sabotage projects, and more for the Israeli Mossad and government. What sets it apart from the other agencies is that the Mossad and Metsada within the Mossad is a civilian service separate from the Israeli military. Its members, however, are nearly entirely former members of Israeli defense forces because of the compulsory service system in Israel. [Full Profile]
British SAS
The British Special Air Service Regiment (22 SASR) is considered by some to be the toughest and most effective counterterrorism/counterinsurgency command in the world. SAS is highly secretive and operates both domestically and internationally. The SAS operates similar to its German (GSG 9) and American (DELTA, SEAL Team 6) counterparts, fulfilling many of the same functions. The SASR was involved with allied efforts towards the end of WWII and was used heavily by the British during intense IRA conflict in the 1980’s and 1990’s. SAS teams are organized similar to SEAL teams with low numbers of operatives that include command, assault, and sniper personnel. SAS personnel are hailed as the most experienced and successful at resolving hostage and hijacking situations.. SAS members are known to train with live ammo to heighten the effect of exercises. SAS operatives also undergo survivalist training and combat instruction under extreme conditions. [Full Profile]
SEAL Team 6
SEAL Team 6 is the US navy’s most highly trained and versatile fighting group. It is perhaps the most secretive, accomplished, and effective operational division contained within the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). SEAL Team 6 (ST6) is a part of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) and is composed of SEAL members from other teams. It is classified as a “Tier One” group, which means that it is in the top echelon of on-call Special Forces units. ST6 is subdivided into 4 squadrons designated by the colors Red, Blue, Silver, and Gold. There is also a Black squadron which, by all trusted accounts, assists in extremely sensitive military intelligence support activities. Each squadron contains approximately 50 men. These are broken down further into groups of 3 men units for optimum operational diversity and versatility. Each unit usually contains several assault oriented operatives and on or two specially trained snipers. The SEAL’s are trained to participate in any type of warfare and given extensive instruction in specialized infiltration and exfiltration activities. [Full Profile]
National Terrorism Advisory System
October 30, 2012 | admin
The Homeland Security Advisory System was a color-coded threat level advisory scale. The different color-coded levels triggered specific actions by federal agencies and local governments, and additionally affected security levels at airports and other suck public facilities. The system was created in March 2012 in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. As explained in Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3, the system’s purpose was to provide “comprehensive and effective means to disseminate information regarding the risk of terrorist acts to federal, state, and local authorities and to the American people.”
The five color-coded threat levels were:
▪ Severe (red): severe risk
▪ High (orange): high risk
▪ Elevated (yellow): significant risk
▪ Guarded (blue): general risk
▪ Low (green): low risk
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced on January 27, 2011 that the Homeland Security Advisory System would be phased out. The system was officially phased out on April 27, 2011, and has since been replaced with a new system called the National Terrorism Advisory System.
The National Terrorism Advisory System is a two-level terrorism threat advisory scale. Whereas the Homeland Security Advisory System faced much criticism for providing the public with, in Napolitano’s words, “little practical information”, the new system provides the public with alerts “specific to the threat” and will include “a specified end date.”
With the National Terrorism Advisory System, the Department of Homeland Security is better suited to ensure that the public has practical and timely information to help address any terrorist threats or activities.
Terrorism FAQ
October 29, 2012 | admin
What is the definition of terrorism?
There is no single, universally accepted definition of terrorism. There are many reasons for this (not the least of which is the cliche “one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter”). Even different agencies of the US government have different working definitions. Most definitions usually have common elements, though, oriented around terrorism as the systematic use of physical violence–actual or threatened–against non-combatants but with an audience broader than the immediate victims in mind, to create a general climate of fear in a target population, in order to effect some kind of political and/or social change.
Terrorism by nature is difficult to define. Acts of terrorism conjure emotional responses in the victims (those hurt by the violence and those affected by the fear) as well as in the practioners. Even the U.S. government cannot agree on one single definition. The old adage, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” is still alive and well. Listed below are several definitions of terrorism. For the purposes of the Terrorism Research Center, we have adopted the definition used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Terrorism is the use or threatened use of force designed to bring about political change.
–Brian Jenkins
Terrorism consitutes the illegitimate use of force to achieve a political objective when innocent people are targeted.
–Walter Laqueur
Terrorism is the premeditated, deliberate, systematic murder, mayhem, and threatening of the innocent to create fear and intimidation in order to gain a political or tactical advantage, usually to influence an audience.
–James M. Poland
Terrorism is the unlawful use or threat of violence against persons or property to further political or social objectives. It is usually intended to intimidate or coerce a government, individuals or groups, or to modify their behavior or politics.
–Vice-President’s Task Force, 1986
Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.
–FBI Definition
Terror Attack Database
January 24, 2010 | admin
We will soon be releasing our database of 10,000 attacks and incidents. Please watch this page for more details.