Once again the specter of terrorism was thrust to the center of attention. The 25 June 1996 terrorist attack on Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia, resulting in the death of 19 airmen, shook Pentagon halls. Yet only thirteen years earlier, a suicide car bomber killed 241 US Marines Beirut, Lebanon. Can the US effectively protect its forces against terrorism? This report investigates the Beirut bombing and the Khobar Towers attack to critically examine the recommendations for the improvement of DOD intelligence, counterintelligence, and security missions in combating terrorism. Recommendations following the Beirut bombing were not universally implemented by all services, leaving US military forces vulnerable to terrorist attacks. However, the wide-ranging recommendations emanating from the Khobar Towers incident were used as a template for enhancing the DOD combating terrorism program. Yet, there are several people who have taken exception to some Task Force recommendations. The proper use of limited intelligence and counterintelligence resources can assist in identifying terrorist threats to US forces and comprehensive terrorist threat assessments must guide the implementation of appropriate security measures to defend against the identified threats. While DOD intelligence and counterintelligence programs remain strong, they can be improved by examining their shortfalls prior to the Beirut bombing and Khobar Towers attack.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
