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Military

Chapter 5

Combatting Terrorism

The Marine deployment in Beirut was not designed to be an antiterrorist campaign. It never became such a campaign, although the Marines themselves became targets of terrorists. The Marines did however expend substantial effort in defending their own positions against attacks from conventional and later from terrorist forces.

Technical Memorandum 12-89, Military Forces in Urban Antiterrorism
US Army Human Engineering Laboratory
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

Royal Ulster Constabulary stations were protected by heavy fortifications, including steel and concrete blockhouses, car barriers, high mesh fences to detonate rockets, controlled entryways, blast resistant walls, steel gates, and armed gatemen. In troubled areas, the stations were fortified with stone walls, antimortar fences, tall gates, floodlights, steel window shutters, closed circuit television surveillance, and careful inspection of all incoming vehicles.

Technical Memorandum 12-89, Military Forces in Urban Antiterrorism
US Army Human Engineering Laboratory
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

Terrorism occurs across the operational continuum. If the terrorist threat to United States (US) interests increases anywhere in the world, the US military can be a priority terrorist target. This is because the US military has great visibility and symbolic value. When operating in a low intensity conflict (LIC) environment, leaders at all levels must be aware of the potential terrorist threat.

POLICIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Department of the Army (DA) policy for combatting terrorism is to--

  • Prevent terrorism through protective and preventive antiterrorism measures.
  • Respond forcefully with properly trained personnel when preventive measures fail to quickly terminate incidents on Army installations.

DA is responsible for protecting its own personnel. It also provides technical assistance, or forces, when directed. However, the Department of Defense (DOD) is not a lead agency for combatting terrorism. The Department of State is responsible for dealing with terrorism that involves Americans abroad. It is also responsible for handling foreign relations aspects of domestic terrorist incidents. The Department of Justice (DOJ) deals with domestic terrorism. Investigative and operational responsibility rests with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

DOD personnel become involved with the lead agencies when planning for and dealing with terrorist incidents. Outside the US, contingency plans are developed and activities conducted according to Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs). These are coordinated with the Department of State. Within the US, the Posse Comitatus Act (18 US Code 1385) restricts the use of military personnel. Except as authorized by statute or the Constitution, the act prohibits DOD personnel from assisting local law enforcement officers as part of a posse comitatus. It also prohibits using troops to execute federal laws. Policies and procedures for Army assistance to the FBI within the US are outlined in the following:

  • DA Civil Disturbance Plan (Garden Plot).
  • Joint DOD/DOJ/FBI Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entitled "Use of Federal Military Force in Domestic Terrorist Incidents."

Within Headquarters, DA, a joint team has been formed by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans (DCSOPS) and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (DCSI). It is called the Antiterrorism Operations and Intelligence Cell (ATOIC). The ATOIC is located in the Army Operations Center (AOC). The cell monitors terrorist activities worldwide 24 hours a day. It gathers terrorist threat information from all sources and interprets, analyzes, and disseminates it. The ATOIC--

  • Coordinates with other government agencies.
  • Provides a daily memorandum to senior Army leaders.
  • Sends appropriate messages to commands.
  • Provides resources and necessary support during crisis response operations.

Engineer units combat terrorism in three ways:

  • Terrorism countermeasures in engineer units (force protection).
  • Support for antiterrorism (defensive) operations.
  • Support for counterterrorism (offensive) operations.

TERRORISM COUNTERMEASURES WITHIN ENGINEER UNITS

Engineer units operating in a LIC environment are normally under a unified command. That command includes threat assessment in its operational planning. It incorporates the terrorist threat in the "enemy" subparagraph of its operation orders (OPORDs). OPORDs specify any unique force protection measures required by the threat level. The command continuously evaluates the terrorist threat throughout an operation. It updates subordinate units on the current threat condition (THREATCON). AR 525-13 includes a detailed description of THREATCONs and response measures.

Engineers may become targets for terrorists due to the mode in which they perform their missions. They are particularly vulnerable to terrorism when deployed on construction projects. Such projects generally require that they operate over large areas with outlying work sites. Engineer equipment and logistics parks are large and difficult to secure or defend. They present easy targets for terrorists. Soldiers operating equipment or hauling materials are vulnerable to ambush by fire, land mines, or booby traps. To protect the force, leaders must establish sound operating procedures before deployment and reinforce them throughout operations. On the job, soldiers should--

  • Check for booby traps during preventive maintenance checks and services (PMCS).
  • Vary logistical supply routes and schedules.
  • Vary travel routes to and from work sites.
  • Vary daily schedules.
  • Prevent direct access by the public to sensitive areas.
  • Equip sensitive areas, such as arms rooms, with duress alarms.
  • Restrict the release of personal data (to include itineraries) on key personnel.
  • Report suspicious incidents, individuals, vehicles, packages, and so forth.

Work-site security requires a force capable of discouraging a terrorist attack. During construction operations, it may not be practical to arm all soldiers at all times. It may even be undesirable when working with local civilian personnel. There are several options that may be used to secure the work site. The option selected will depend on the THREATCON and the local situation. These are a few of the options:

  • A designated element within the engineer force can maintain security. This security element is armed and carries ammunition.
  • A separate US element can provide security for the engineer force.
  • A host-nation (HN) element can provide security for the force.

Physical security for construction missions can be enhanced by security patrols and consolidating construction equipment in planned, safeguarded areas at the end of the workday. Use sentries and observation posts under the supervision of a duty officer for night security. Establish a reaction force under the duty officer if the THREATCON warrants.

The security of troop living areas, headquarters elements, weapons storage areas, communication assets, and so forth, is a key planning consideration. Security planners must prioritize these assets when developing the unit's force-protection plan. They must balance the benefits of asset dispersion and the cost of an increased guard requirement.

Leaders must develop personnel security by educating the chain of command down to the lowest level. Simple defensive measures, coupled with a general threat awareness and an understanding of terrorist techniques, reduce soldier vulnerability. Terrorist tactics include--

  • Bombing.
  • Arson.
  • Hijacking.
  • Assassination.
  • Ambush.
  • Kidnapping.
  • Hostage taking.
  • Robbery.
  • Maiming.
  • Raids (armed attacks).
  • Seizure.
  • Sabotage.
  • Hoaxes.
  • Use of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons.

Bombing is the tactic most commonly used by terrorist groups. Bombs are popular weapons because they are cheap to produce and easy to make. They are adaptable to a variety of uses and difficult to detect and trace. Terrorists use a variety of methods to deliver bombs, including vehicle bombs, laid charges, projected bombs, and postal bombs. They may be activated by command detonation, action of the subject or target, or by timer delay.

Soldiers should be trained in common-sense terrorism countermeasures, such as--

  • Knowing the nature and degree of the local threat.
  • Maintaining a low profile when in public (off-duty time).
  • Traveling in groups when off duty.
  • Observing standard operations security (OPSEC) procedures.
  • Allowing access on an "as required" basis to camps, clubs, facilities, and so forth.
  • Reporting suspicious packages, vehicles, or individuals.

The best protection against terrorism is a well-disciplined unit made up of fit, well-trained, and alert soldiers. All soldiers should consider terrorism routinely in the conduct of their day-to-day activities.

ANTITERRORISM OPERATIONS

When deterring terrorism, engineer units may support US military forces, nonmilitary governmental agencies, or government agencies of other nations. The units use active and passive defensive measures known as antiterrorism operations. Antiterrorism operations include all measures that installations, units, and individuals take to reduce the probability of their falling victim to a terrorist act. These operations include collecting and disseminating timely threat information, conducting terrorism-awareness programs, and implementing defensive measures. Because absolute protection against terrorist activities is not possible, protective plans and procedures reflect the specific threat in the area of operations. Protective measures should strike a reasonable balance between the protection desired, mission requirements, and availability of manpower and financial resources.

Likely engineer missions in support of antiterrorism operations include mobile training teams (MTTs) for HNs and training for US personnel. Engineer personnel may be sent outside the US as MTTs to conduct force-protection instruction for other governments. These teams consist of officers, senior noncommissioned officers, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civilian engineers, or a combination thereof. Foreign governments request MTTs under the auspices of the International Military Education and Training Program (IMETP) or through foreign military sales (FMS). Requestors obtain MTTs through the in-country US security assistance organization (SAO). The teams provide the requesting government a self-training capability by training selected HN personnel. These trainees then constitute an instructional base. Training from engineer MTTs ranges from classes on wire obstacles and bunkers for base camps to design and construction of protective barriers for installations. Chapter 2 contains additional information on MTTs.

Engineer personnel may provide assistance in the design or construction of protective structures for US military facilities worldwide. Engineer troop units may construct permanent or temporary antiterrorist measures for US forces. They may also provide training on these activities.

USACE is responsible for developing, establishing, and maintaining protective design criteria and standards for Army facilities. Army military construction (MILCON) policy states that protective design criteria will be considered for all proposed Military Construction, Army (MCA) projects. These criteria apply to all major construction in the continental United States (CONUS) and outside continental United States (OCONUS). The long-term threat will drive facility planning and design enhancements. When combatting terrorism, facility planning and design are based on threat targeting patterns, weapons, and delivery systems deemed probable for the next ten years. Department of the Army Military Construction Programming Policy provides specific procedures for establishing and validating the threat.

For existing facilities, security construction projects increase their antiterrorism posture. Measures are employed to reduce specific vulnerabilities to identified threats. It is important to understand the purpose of these measures. They protect assets within the facilities, not the facilities themselves. The facilities are part of the protection. Some possibilities include--

  • "Hardened" concrete guard houses with bullet-resistant glazing.
  • Hydraulically or manually operated vehicle crash barriers.
  • Personnel gates designed to limit the number of personnel passing through at one time.
  • New or increased perimeter and interior security lighting.
  • New, improved, or repaired security fencing.
  • Intrusion detection systems.

The Provost Marshal's Office (PMO) Physical Security Section and the Directorate of Engineering and Housing (DEH) should plan these projects jointly. The PMO provides an assessment of terrorist capabilities while the DEH provides engineering expertise. USACE may provide designs, or the PMO, DEH, and local contractors can develop them. Depending on availability of funds and statutory requirements, contractors or troop units can construct the projects.

Engineer units may construct expedient barriers to combat terrorism. These barriers may protect temporary facilities, such as base camps, or permanent facilities where the terrorist threat has increased in activity or technology level. USACE is responsible for standard, expedient structure designs. Use ingenuity in the absence of standard designs. For example, parking a bulldozer in front of an unused vehicle gate at night reduces the chance of a terrorist's vehicle crashing the gate.

COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATIONS

Counterterrorism operations are offensive actions taken in response to a specific terrorist threat. Counterterrorism response measures are normally conducted by specially organized forces trained and equipped for the mission. These include preemptive, retaliatory, and rescue operations. Support by conventional engineer forces is limited.

Engineer units may support counterterrorist operations by building rehearsal sites. This requires a detailed intelligence analysis and an understanding of how the site will be attacked. Intelligence often provides only a limited knowledge of the location through photos, human intelligence (HUMINT), and so forth. Engineer planners must interpret this intelligence. They then design an appropriate rehearsal site based on sound engineering judgement. The rehearsal site must accommodate force-projection means (helicopters and so forth) and live fire exercises.

Topographic engineer units provide support, such as city maps and special map products to military and civilian counterterrorist units. Data-base availability for the area of interest and the proximity of a topographic unit impact how quickly units can support a specific operation.

An engineer unit may act as part of a reaction force or may help secure an area where a terrorist incident is occurring. These situations may occur as part of a general scenario when the engineer unit is the largest US force in an area. Examples would include an engineer base camp during a Central American deployment or an engineer unit whose commander is a base commander under the area-support concept.



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