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Background

The Counter Terrorism Fellowship Seminar was developed and executed by the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance and the Center for Civil-Military Relations, and sponsored by the US Department of Defense. Thirty-three military representatives attended from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United States.

The support for this seminar originated in the upswing in terrorist events over the past several years, culminating in the attacks on the United States in September 2001, the subsequent implosion of the Taliban regime, and the recognition that terrorism and transnational security issues are related and require the collaborative effort of nations to positively impact.

Goals and Objectives

The goal of the seminar was to provide an opportunity for the participants to learn from the course instructors and from each other as to how governments can protect against, and respond to, terrorism.

The seminar objectives were:

1. To introduce principles and concepts aimed at generating thoughtful discussion and understanding in a variety of areas related to international terrorism;
2. To investigate the ways in which nations can defeat or control terrorism without sacrificing democratic principles;
3. To discuss how governments can develop improved civil-military processes that lead to better national security decisions, and;
4. To facilitate mutual understanding and cooperation among the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Structure

The seminar format included presentations, panel discussions and a tabletop exercise. Presentations and case studies were followed immediately by group discussions. During the second half of the seminar, participants were split into three groups for the exercise. At the seminarÕs conclusion, participants completed a course critique.

A non-attribution policy, in effect for the duration of the seminar, encouraged open dialogue. Instructors focused on education and the exchange of information, not US policy. The organizers recognize that the response to terrorism for every country will be affected by its unique historical influences, political climate and cultural imperatives.

Content

Eleven topics areas were presented, which formed the basis for discussion: international terrorism definitions and dynamics, the psychology of the terrorist, models for defending against terrorism, the democratic toolkit, the legal basis for counter terrorism, roles and missions of military and police forces, information operations and intelligence, international coalitions and organizations, risk assessment, measure of effectiveness, and key issues in combating terrorism. Two case studies assessed success, failure and lessons learned in Malaya and Peru. Finally, a tabletop exercise ÒTerror in MinervaÓ synthesized the seminar content.

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