Countering terrorism in Northern Ireland: the role of intelligence

This article aims to review some of the key lessons learnt by the Royal Ulster Constabulary's (RUC) Special Branch in the 37 years of the troubles in Northern Ireland. Above all counter-terrorism is an intelligence led operation and Special Branch are the key agency for this in all UK police forces, who have now benefited enormously from the expertise that the RUC's Special Branch built up over the years and have passed on to their colleagues throughout the UK. Intelligence is more often than not a human role and relies on human agencies, which was the case in Northern Ireland. The bulk of intelligence gathering was carried out at quite low levels although the sifting and analysing of it became a more specialist skill. Electronic intelligence and computerised systems were often quite low down in the order of priorities and uses, which tends to confound popular impressions. Agents, informers and good old fashioned ‘coppers’ who knew their patch were much more important both in terms of gathering information and in terms of undermining the terrorists morale from within and it was these factors that fundamentally defeated the IRA in Northern Ireland.     

Helping hands: civil–military cooperation and Italy's military operation abroad

In the Post-Bipolar Era the growing complexity of the military operations requires a new approach for the resolution of international crises. Since the end of the Cold War, peace support operations (PSO) have become the mainstay and principal occupation of most Western armies. At the same time, Italy has been one of the most important actors in such an area. The article focuses on the cooperation between military and civil components (a process called CIMIC) as a key variable in the Italian PSOs. We will analyse in detail the main lessons learned from past military interventions as well as the general context in which new tendencies are taking place. The maintaining of a minimum security frame becomes essential to fulfil activities ‘collateral’ to the mission: reconstructing services and infrastructure, food distribution, water and medication, law and order, de-mining, training of local forces, and supporting local institutions. These are the main tasks to obtain thrust and support from the population.     

“爱民固边”战略在新疆反恐情报收集中的应用

恐怖主义犯罪是威胁新疆社会稳定的一个不可忽视的因素。反恐情报收集工作是新疆反恐维稳工作的前提。将“爱民固边”战略方法与公安边防反恐情报收集工作相结合,指出“爱民固边”战略在新疆反恐情报收集q-的应用问题现状,并针对问题提出了方法措施,从而最大限度地发挥“爱民固边”战略优势,维护新疆边境地区的安全与稳定。     

Determining a role for a military ombudsman in the South African National Defence Force

In recent years, South Africa has come to be used by international terrorists as a safe house, for paramilitary training purposes, as a base from which to plan attacks on other countries and as a conduit for financial transactions. South Africa's own counter-terrorism initiatives have been labelled ‘reactive’ by analysts. Indeed, the existing counter-terrorism regime suffers from a lack of political will to issues of corruption and ineptitude bedevilling the security apparatus of the state. However, using lessons learned from other countries, Pretoria can yet turn the tide against international terrorism by adopting more pro-active measures and by undertaking steps aimed at the depoliticisation and decriminalisation of the security forces.     

SYMBIOTIC SPIES

Spying on the Nuclear Bear: Anglo-American Intelligence and the Soviet Bomb, by Michael S. Goodman. Stanford University Press, 2007. 295 pages, $50.     

Does counterterrorism spending reduce the incidence and lethality of terrorism? A quantitative analysis of 34 countries

Following the 11 September 2001 attacks, the US government increased its counterterrorism (CT) funding and created several Federal Agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security; Transportation Security Administration; and National Counterterrorism Center. Similarly, the 7 July 2005, London bombings also compelled the British government to increase its CT funding. These examples illustrate a phenomenon that when states experience terrorism, they dramatically increase public safety spending in order to reduce or eliminate the incidents of and casualties resulting from acts of terror. Using statistical data collected from 34 countries covering nine years, this article examines recent CT spending increases. Critically, the authors explore whether recent public safety expenditures can measurably reduce the number of domestic and international terrorist attacks. The implications of their findings should be salient for policy-makers’ assessments of their countries’ current CT strategies and policies concerning their respective Intelligence and Security Communities.     

军事情报价值的当量评估法

研究了军事情报价值的综合性和相对性,提出了军事情报价值评估的当量分析法,分别针对确定性标度和模糊标度结合层次分析法给出了评估算法。算例结果表明方法有一定的合理性且评价结论易于理解。     

基于GIS的陆军野战防空指挥自动化系统分析

从陆军面临的空中威胁目标出发,分析了陆军野战防空的主要特点及对指挥自动化系统的要求,提出了基于地理信息系统(Geographic Information System:GIS)的陆军野战防空指挥自动化系统的设想,并建立了基本的结构模型.最后,根据系统论的思想更深层地说明了陆军野战防空指挥自动化系统建设的重要性.     

UML的海上编队雷达情报网作战视图描述

海上编队雷达情报网由于缺乏可以参照执行的标准,不能有效地实现系统的综合集成。体系结构设计是一种重要的系统顶层设计方法,是保证系统之间可集成可互操作的关健。美国国防部体系结构框架(DoDAF)适用于各种复杂系统的设计,已成为行业的建模规范。作战视图(OV)是进行系统顶层设计的体系结构技术中的重要组成部分,参考DoDAF2.0版的作战视图产品,采用统一建模语言(UML),对海上编队雷达情报网的作战视图进行了描述。     

基于agent的多传感器管理原型系统研究

近年来,基于agent的分布式智能系统已成功应用于众多领域。将多agent技术应用于多传感器管理领域研究,以开发多传感器智能管理的多agent系统,提出了其原型系统的基本框架和系统实现途径及方法,其中着重研究了融合agent与传感器agent的原型系统结构、基于多a-gent理论的传感器管理问题分布式任务分解与控制问题以及agent之间的协调合作问题。原型系统的研究,为实际应用系统的研制开发提供了理论指导和方法依据。