VISION

The terrorist threat of the 21st century is an international challenge requiring an international response. Accordingly, the Combating Terrorism Working Group brings together interested officials, security practitioners and academics from several countries to examine how best to design and apply multinational responses to current international terrorist threats.

HISTORY

In November 2002, under the chairmanship of Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, a world-renowned author and expert on Al-Qaeda and terrorism, 12 counterterrorist practitioners representing 10 countries, met in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to form a Working Group focused on contemporary terrorism and counterterrorist measures. Today, after only 7 years, the group, under the current chairmanship of former CIA officer Dr. John Jay Le Beau, has reached a magnitude of about 54 participants representing 15 countries. As one of the founders of the CTWG, Mr. Vernon Hodges states, looking back with pride: "The CTWG is like birthing a child and watch it grow up; the Working Group has done well and it will go further."

MISSION

Contemporary terrorism and the threat it poses to international security is our focus of attention. Our mission is to provide a forum for a body of terrorist experts that allows for the enhanced understanding of terrorist threats and the mapping of probable future security threats. Our far-reaching findings are taken as a basis for recommendations of interest to decision makers and action parties to promote effective counterterrorism.

METHODOLOGY

The CTWG hosts two formal sessions within a 12 month period providing strategic focus on one selected "hot topic". Research is conducted by the participants between the two formal sessions. The framework of inquiry and insights of the first meeting are the basis for thorough indepth analysis reported at the second meeting. We set high value on the multinational perspectives of our members and associates. CTWG products distill the considerations of diplomats, intelligence operations officers, law enforcement officials, members of defense and interior ministries, recognized terrorism commentators, academics and other interested individuals.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Our measurable achievements and value as a counterterrorism partner are demonstrated by our cooperation and interaction with international organizations, such as NATO and the OSCE. The CTWG has co-sponsored conferences with both NGOs and national ministries. We have been able to recruit contributing members from the ranks of practitioners as well as advisory representatives to decision-making bodies. Equally valuable is the effective international networking among counterterrorist specialists facilitated by the CTWG. As well, formal, written findings have been provided to policymakers and other interested security officials.

UNIQUENESS

Over the course of the last seven years, the CTWG has come to acquire an ever broader international audience through recruitment and networking and an increasing resonance in the field of international cooperation in combating terrorism. Academics have been provided ‘real world' commentary from security practitioners, while practitioners have benefited from the insights and strategic overview of recognized counterterrorism experts. Perhaps most importantly, the CTWG strives to create an atmosphere in which practitioners, well-known subject matter experts and academics can work together candidly and creatively, focusing their attention on a new and specific area of the terrorist challenge each year. The multinational prism provided by our voluntary associates and members contributes to this unique perspective, thus spurting our level of expertise. The title ‘Combating Terrorism Working Group' captures the essence of its objective. The CTWG is intended not just to study terrorism, but to effectively combat its always evolving menace. The CTWG is a true working group - not a study group - as it aims to provide tangible actionable findings of practical use to decision makers.

PLANS

The CTWG plans to produce a book of papers and presentations on terrorism themes, authored by several CTWG members. The CTWG plans to actively monitor security developments and identify for detailed examination cutting-edge developments in the fields of terrorism and counterterrorism. The following aspects of terrorism and counterterrorism response have been addressed to date by the CTWG:

TOPICS

2010

“Understanding Home Grown Terrorism”  Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina - Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

The meetings focused on examining the not yet well explored phenomenon of “home grown terrorism” and its practitioners “home grown terrorists”. Relating to recent events and based on initial information, the genesis of home grown terrorism, as well as its likely future role and possible effective counter measures have been discussed.

2009

"Terrorist Use of the Internet" Freising, Germany - Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Examination of the communicative and instrumental uses of the Internet and an analysis of its importance for contemporary terrorist organizations. The role of the internet as an evolving vehicle for propaganda, proselytizing, indoctrination and recruitment and operational coordination. The important and related issue of cyber warfare will also be explored.

2008

"Examining Intelligence Cooperation against Terrorist Targets" Tirana, Albania - Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Discussion of the challenges and benefits of international intelligence cooperation against terrorist targets focusing on how to enhance effective cooperation against a common target between intelligence agencies and law enforcement organizations. A consideration of the legal parameters of using intelligence service information for judicial proceedings as well as listing the most effective intelligence collection methods against security conscious groups.

2007

"Islamist Recruitment Mechanisms in Europe" Tiblisi, Georgia - Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Examination of the topic how violent Islamist recruitment mechanisms operate in and around Europe, and the conditions contributing to radicalization. Special attention paid to how jihadist radicalization and recruitment has developed over time, the role of converts to radical Islam as terrorist recruits, state and charitable financial support to radicalization, and the challenge recruitment presents to law enforcement and counter-terrorist intelligence agencies.

2006

"Identifying Terrorist Routes" Tiblisi, Georgia - Chisinau, Moldavia - Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Indentifying the physical routes used by terrorists, drug and human traffickers in Central Asia, the Caucasus, Balkans, the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact states as the traditional criminal routes have modified to function as travel routes for international terrorists moving from Europe to Afghanistan and Iraq, cataloguing them in order to help authorities to track and capture terrorists.

2005

"Root Causes of Terrorism"  Zagreb, Croatia - Zurich, Switzerland

This year's meetings focused on the root causes of terrorism, highlighting several important topics like: bio security, combating terrorism capabilities in the EU, narco-terrorism in Southeastern Europe, terrorism as a cultural phenomenon, countering terrorist findings, countering suicide terrorism, asymmetric warfare, as well as the creation of a doctrine of prevention.

2004

"Thinking Creatively in the War on Terrorism" Obermmergau, Germany - Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Analysis of the linkages between terrorism and organized crime while focusing on terrorist fronts, cover and sympathetic organizations offering a strategic framework for combating terrorism giving credit to the post 9/11 structural and operational challenges of global jihad.

2003

"Future Trends in Terrorism" Tashkent, Uzbekistan - West Point (NY), USA

Examination of the hypothesis of the "New Terrorism" laying special attention on the relationship between Islam, Islamism and Islamist Terrorism, the dynamics of reciprocal threat perceptions, its influence on liberal democracies as well as economic considerations in the war on terrorism.

2002

"Initial Meeting" 14.-15. November, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Examination and discussion of the constitutive framework of the CT Working Group in compliance with its basic direction and focus accompanied by general thoughts about the psychology of terrorism and the evaluation of the current threats.

Dr. Jay LeBeau, Chair
lebeauj@marshallcenter.org