Punning on Dean Acheson's book "Present at the Creation" discussing the origins and evolution of the Cold War it is useful to understand that important documentation of Federal Efforts on Anti-terrorism and Counter-Terrorism were issued prior to the events of September 1,, 2001. Now as we approach the end of the first decade post 9/11 many of these reports include findings, recommendations and conclusions that are still valid IMO. The fact findings and conclusions remain the same and that so many are still valid should be cause for some concern as to whether the basic governmental approaches to the problems of terrorism have really not even been partially addressed much less skillfully and competently addressed. Perhaps the enormous expenditure of time and money, partially represented by DHS's formation and programs, functions, and activities might seem to have been fertile ground for Congressional oversight. Instead political posturing seems to have been the main theme for Congressional interaction. Unfortunately I can only list some favorite reports issued pre-9/11 and others will have to determine by careful research their continued validity as to findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
The titles of these reports follow:
Some of VLG’s Favorites
Pre 9/11/01 Reports on Federal capabilities to respond to terrorist or WMD attacks
• June 1996, Joint Report to Congress, Preparedness and Response to a Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, or Chemical Attack, prepared by the Department of Defense and Department of Energy in consultation with FEMA.
• House Document 105-29, January 21, 1997, Policy Functions/Operational Roles of Federal Agencies in Countering the Domestic Chemical/Biological Threat, Message from the President of the United States Transmitting A Report Describing the Respective Policy Functions and Operational Roles of Federal Agencies In Countering The Threat Posed By the Use or Potential Use of Biological and Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Within the United States, Pursuant to Pub. L. 104-201, §1416(e) (110 Stat. 2724).
• House Document 105-79, May 5, 1997, COMPREHENSIVE READINESS PROGRAM FOR COUNTERING PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, Message from the President of the United States Transmitting A Report That Describes The United States Comprehensive Readiness Program For Countering Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Pursuant to Public Law 104-201, §1443(c (110 STAT 2729).
• Department of Defense, Report to Congress, DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM IN THE DEFENSE AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, May 1, 1997.
• General Accounting Office, NSIAD-97-254, September 26, 1997, Combating Terrorism: Federal Agencies’ Efforts to Implement National Policy and Strategy.
• General Accounting Office, NSIAD-98-39, December 1, 1997, Combating Terrorism: Spending on Government wide Programs Requires Better Management and Coordination.
• House Document 105-224, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS DEFENSE, Communication 7735 from the President of the United States, March 5, 1998.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/NSIAD-98-74, April 9, 1998, Combating Terrorism: Threat and Risk Assessments Can Help Prioritize and Target Program Investments.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD-98-164, April 23, 1998, Combating Terrorism: Observations on Crosscutting Issues, Statement of Richard Davis, Director, National Security Analysis, National Security and International Affairs Division, before the Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD-99-16, October 2, 1998, Combating Terrorism: Observations on the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Program.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/NSIAD-99-3, November 12, 1998, Combating Terrorism: Opportunities to Improve Domestic Preparedness Program Focus and Efficiency.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD/GGD-99-107, March 11, 1999, Combating Terrorism: Observations on Federal Spending to Combat Terrorism.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD-99-112, March 16, 1999, Combating Terrorism: Observations on Biological Terrorism and Public Health Initiatives.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/NSIAD-99-135, May 13, 1999, Combating Terrorism: Issues to Be Resolved to Improve Counterterrorist Operations.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/NSIAD-99-110, May 21, 1999, Combating Terrorism: Use of National Guard Response Teams is Unclear.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD-99-181, June 9,1999, Combating Terrorism: Observations on Growth in Federal Programs.
. . . . . . ..
For a review of reports on Federal capability
to respond to an NBC terrorist attack see the following reports
• June 1996, Joint Report to Congress, Preparedness and Response to a Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, or Chemical Attack, prepared by the Department of Defense and Department of Energy in consultation with FEMA.
• House Document 105-29, January 21, 1997, Policy Functions/Operational Roles of Federal Agencies in Countering the Domestic Chemical/Biological Threat, Message from the President of the United States Transmitting A Report Describing the Respective Policy Functions and Operational Roles of Federal Agencies In Countering The Threat Posed By the Use or Potential Use of Biological and Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Within the United States, Pursuant to Pub. L. 104-201, §1416(e) (110 Stat. 2724).
• House Document 105-79, May 5, 1997, COMPREHENSIVE READINESS PROGRAM FOR COUNTERING PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, Message from the President of the United States Transmitting A Report That Describes The United States Comprehensive Readiness Program For Countering Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Pursuant to Public Law 104-201, §1443(c (110 STAT 2729).
• Department of Defense, Report to Congress, DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM IN THE DEFENSE AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, May 1, 1997.
• General Accounting Office, NSIAD-97-254, September 26, 1997, Combating Terrorism: Federal Agencies’ Efforts to Implement National Policy and Strategy.
• General Accounting Office, NSIAD-98-39, December 1, 1997, Combating Terrorism: Spending on Governmentwide Programs Requires Better Management and Coordination.
• House Document 105-224, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS DEFENSE, Communication 7735 from the President of the United States, March 5, 1998.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/NSIAD-98-74, April 9, 1998, Combating Terrorism: Threat and Risk Assessments Can Help Prioritize and Target Program Investments.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD-98-164, April 23, 1998, Combating Terrorism: Observations on Crosscutting Issues, Statement of Richard Davis, Director, National Security Analysis, National Security and International Affairs Division, before the Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice, Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD-99-16, October 2, 1998, Combating Terrorism: Observations on the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Program.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/NSIAD-99-3, November 12, 1998, Combating Terrorism: Opportunities to Improve Domestic Preparedness Program Focus and Efficiency.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD/GGD-99-107, March 11, 1999, Combating Terrorism: Observations on Federal Spending to Combat Terrorism.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD-99-112, March 16, 1999, Combating Terrorism: Observations on Biological Terrorism and Public Health Initiatives.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/NSIAD-99-135, May 13, 1999, Combating Terrorism: Issues to Be Resolved to Improve Counterterrorist Operations.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/NSIAD-99-110, May 21, 1999, Combating Terrorism: Use of National Guard Response Teams is Unclear.
• General Accounting Office, GAO/T-NSIAD-99-181, June 9,1999, Combating Terrorism: Observations on Growth in Federal Programs.
