A Case for Collaboration in Countering Terror

Abstract

Abstract : The best way to prevent another terrorist attack on the United States is to blend the best practices of the nation's law enforcement and military intelligence communities to avoid the seams or gaps that could result in any preventable attack. This project provides a broad overview of the national security and intelligence perspective of terrorism prior to 9/11, emphasizing the fault lines generally blamed for 9/11 and demonstrating the need for collaboration between law enforcement and military intelligence. It then examines some of the key reforms after 9/11 that addressed critical gaps in intelligence efforts. The paper provides three case studies to highlight the effectiveness of blending law enforcement and military intelligence capabilities to counter terrorism. The analysis concludes with the recommendation that these best practices become the norm for the national effort against terrorism and that existing obstacles to such interagency collaboration are critically examined for change as necessary to improve effectiveness. In doing so, the national security apparatus will gain the skills and flexibility that will not only prevent future terrorist attacks but might also help us recognize and counter the next adaptive threat on the horizon.