15 August 2002
State Department Introduces Terrorist Interdiction Program
(Program aims to impede terrorists' capabilities) (580)
Following is a fact sheet from the Department of State's Office of
Counterterrorism about a new Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP)
designed to impede terrorists' capabilities to move freely by
assisting countries in securing their borders and improving their
capability to interdict and prevent the transit of terrorist suspects.
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. Department of State
Fact Sheet
Office of Counterterrorism
Washington, D.C.
July 19, 2002
Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP)
Terrorism has become a truly global threat, with terrorists, weapons,
and funds flowing across international borders. This poses a clear
danger to all countries and increases the need for international
coordination and mutual assistance. The Terrorist Interdiction Program
is one of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism's (S/CT) responses. TIP
impedes terrorists' capabilities to move freely by assisting countries
in securing their borders and improving their capability to interdict
and prevent the transit of terrorist suspects -- a critical component
of the global effort to fight terrorism.
What is TIP?
What is PISCES?
What are the intent and goals of TIP?
What has TIP achieved?
What is TIP?
TIP is a highly effective, low-cost, proven tool in the global fight
against terrorism. It provides participant countries with the ability
to collect, compare and analyze traveler data to assist the country in
securing its borders and, if necessary, detain individuals of
interest. TIP operates on two different tracks: intercepting suspects
and providing data for investigative purposes.
What is PISCES?
PISCES is a software application, tailored to each country's specific
needs, which provides border control officials at these transit points
with information that allows them to identify and detain or track
individuals of interest.
Officials can also use PISCES to quickly retrieve information on
persons who may be trying to hastily depart the country after a
terrorist incident. Furthermore, TIP trains border control officials
to use PISCES to collect, compare and analyze data that can be
utilized to arrest and investigate suspects.
What are the intent and goals of TIP?
TIP seeks to bolster international counterterrorism cooperation in
preventing terrorists from moving freely from country to country.
Through PISCES, TIP achieves this goal by providing border officials
in willing nations with increased capacity to collect, compare, and
analyze traveler data. TIP helps tighten the noose at key terrorist
transit points world-wide. In doing so, it enhances both the security
of Americans who live and travel abroad and the assisted nation s
people.
What has TIP achieved?
TIP has been recognized by President Bush as a key tool in expanding
international counterterrorism cooperation. Through partnerships with
participant countries, TIP has identified known or suspected
terrorists. Such successes show the two-fold benefits of TIP: better
protection for U.S. citizens at home and overseas and better
protection of citizens in participating countries.
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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