combating terrorism and its implications for the security sector - DCAF

• Distributed forces and an interlocking network: This is military network-centricity
taken to the smallest node. It will give the twentyfirst
century land warrior continual situational understanding while
being a member of a widely distributed, noncontiguous force. Effective
combat operations against terrorists and their allies require
widely distributed armed forces. Enabling technologies such as advanced
minicomputers and communication networks will turn these
forces into distributed sensors as well as combatants, and allow them
to provide information back to command headquarters. The forces
are operated like a distributed information system with real-time
awareness of the battlefield, giving commanders better data for decision
making. Such technologies also will identify friend from foe in
combat environments.
• Encouraging public awareness and self-identification of terrorists:
The coming years will see innovative applications of behavioral science
to combat terrorist activity. In some ways, terrorists operate like
criminals, trying to behave secretively and inconspicuously and in the
process, sometimes calling attention to themselves. To find criminals,
law enforcement relies on a watchful public to provide tips. The
worldwide information-saturated culture that we live in will expand
further, creating new opportunities to engage the public to ferret out
terrorists. A global “Amber Alert” system could be used to distribute
multilingual information on known terrorists. A “Most Wanted” list
could be tailored to help find terrorists hiding in plain sight. In addition,
innovative methods will be deployed to coax terrorists into
identifying themselves. For example, warning signs might be placed
along a controlled access announcing that a security-screening checkpoint
is coming up, just before a convenient opt-out or exit point.
Anyone avoiding the checkpoint can be watched for further examples
of self-incriminating behavior.
Establishing Metrics for Measuring Progress
Metrics will be needed for measuring progress in the counterterrorist effort,
both on the results and the actions taken by intelligence. They
should include measures of improved connectivity within the intelligence
community, measures of the multidisciplinary approach of analysis
and the structures that connect the community to the best and
brightest outside the world of intelligence, and indicators of true analytic
innovation and deepened expertise in outwitting the adversary.
Any metric employed to gauge progress needs to make room for intelligent
risk taking and failure tolerance. Intelligent risk taking and the
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