Hijacking and Hostages - Government Responses to Terrorism

Terrorism and its manifestations continue to evolve, becoming deadlier and more menacing. This study considers the evolution of terrorism since 1968 and how airlines and governments have attempted to deal with this form of violence through a series of nonforce strategies. Using historical examples, we see how governments, particularly the United States, attempted to counter politically motivated aerial hijacking with metal detectors, legal means, and, finally, in frustration, counterviolence operations to subdue terrorists. As nations witnessed aerial hijacking and sieges, the requirement for paramilitary and military counterterrorist forces became a necessity.

Through use of examples from Israel (Entebbe 1976), West Germany (Mogadishu 1977), and Egypt (Malta 1985), Taillon concludes that cooperation-ranging from shared intelligence to forward base access and observers-can provide significant advantages in dealing with low-intensity operations. He hopes to highlight those key aspects of cooperation at an international level which have, at least in part, been vital to successful counterterrorist operations in the past and, as we witnessed again in the campaign in Afghanistan, are destined to remain so in the future.

List of contents

Introduction
An Overview of Terrorism
International Aspects of Counterterrorism
Entebbe and Mogadishu: Lessons in Successful Hostage Rescue
Malta: Lessons in Unsuccessful Hostage Rescue
Considerations and Conclusions
Bibliography
Index

About the author

J. Paul D. Taillon

Product details

• Authors: J. Paul Taillon, J. Paul De B. Taillon
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.06.2002
• EAN: 9780275974688
• ISBN: 978-0-275-97468-8
• Series: Praeger Security International
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; History: specific events & topics, HISTORY / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Terrorism, POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / General, International Relations, Terrorism, armed struggle, History: specific events and topics, Security Studies: Terrorism