A Look to History: Counterterrorism
 Following a number of overseas terrorist attacks against American diplomats and military personnel in the 1970s and early 1980s, the Department of State created the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program to assist foreign governments in combating terrorism and protecting American installations abroad. Under the program, foreign security and law enforcement personnel came to the United States to receive training. Courses have ranged from kidnap intervention and hostage negotiation to crisis management and response to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. American evaluation teams also visited participating foreign countries to develop training programs best suited to their needs. Costa Rica, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Liberia, Ecuador, Cameroon, Thailand, Tunisia, and a number of Caribbean states were among the first countries to participate in the program, which has since grown to include over 52,000 students from over 140 countries.
Filipino soldiers form a circle during anti-terrorism training conducted by U.S. Army soldiers (standing in the center) at the remote village of San Roque in the port city of Zamboanga in southern Philippines. The U.S. military is training Filipino soldiers on counter-terrorism warfare in different parts of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines as part of the security assistance program of the U.S. Government. Photo: AP/Wide World/STR |
