U.S. POLICY ON COMBATING TERRORISM
Combating Terrorism: Federal Agencies' Efforts to Implement National Policy and Strategy
(Chapter Report, 09/26/97, GAO/NSIAD-97-254).
Appendix I

      This unclassified abstract of Presidential Decision Directive 39 (PDD 39) is reproduced verbatim. The National Security Council (NSC) reviewed and approved it for distribution to federal, state, and local emergency response and consequence management personnel.

      1. General. Terrorism is both a threat to our national security as well as a criminal act. The Administration has stated that it is the policy of the United States to use all appropriate means to deter, defeat and respond to all terrorist attacks on our territory and resources, both people and facilities, wherever they occur. In support of these efforts, the United States will:

          o Employ efforts to deter, preempt, apprehend and prosecute terrorists.
          o Work closely with other governments to carry our counterterrorism policy and combat terrorist threats against them.
          o Identify sponsors of terrorists, isolate them, and ensure they pay for their actions.
          o Make no concessions to terrorists.

      2. Measures to Combat Terrorism. To ensure that the United States is prepared to combat terrorism in all its forms, a number of measures have been directed. These include reducing vulnerabilities to terrorism, deterring and responding to terrorist acts, and having capabilities to prevent and manage the consequences of terrorist use of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons, including those of mass destruction.

            a. Reduce Vulnerabilities. In order to reduce our vulnerabilities to terrorism, both at home and abroad, all department/agency heads have been directed to ensure that their personnel and facilities are fully protected against terrorism. Specific efforts that will be conducted to ensure our security against terrorist acts include the following:

                + Review the vulnerability of government facilities and critical national infrastructure.
                + Expand the program of counterterrorism.
                + Reduce vulnerabilities affecting civilian personnel/facilities abroad and military personnel/facilities.
                + Reduce vulnerabilities affecting U.S. airports, aircraft/passengers and shipping, and provide appropriate security measures for other modes of transportation.
                + Exclude/deport persons who pose a terrorist threat.
                + Prevent unlawful traffic in firearms and explosives, and protect the President and other officials against terrorist attack.
                + Reduce U.S. vulnerabilities to international terrorism through intelligence collection/analysis, counterintelligence, and covert action.

            b. Deter. To deter terrorism, it is necessary to provide a clear public position that our policies will not be affected by terrorist acts and we will vigorously deal with terrorist/sponsors to reduce terrorist capabilities and support. In this regard, we must make it clear that we will not allow terrorism to succeed and that the pursuit, arrest, and prosecution of terrorists is of the highest priority. Our goals include the disruption of terrorist-sponsored activity including termination of financial support, arrest and punishment of terrorists as criminals, application of U.S. laws and new legislation to prevent terrorist groups from operating in the United States, and application of extraterritorial statutes to counter acts of terrorism and apprehend terrorists outside of the United States. Return of terrorists overseas, who are wanted for violation of U.S. law, is of the highest priority and a central issue in bilateral relations with any state that harbors or assists them...."