Emerging alliances between regional terrorist groups to exchange dangerous "technology and know-how" could increase the terrorist threat to the United States over the next 15 years, warns a new report by the Rand Corp. think tank that was prepared for the Department of Homeland Security. (Read the report.)
Researchers examined three case studies of how terrorist groups have exchanged technology and operational knowledge in different parts of the world. In particular, they found that groups have passed on development and training expertise on everything from remote-detonation devices to "barracksbuster" mortars.
The Rand study found that operational needs were more important than ideological concerns in determining whether or not terrorist groups would cooperate, citing a case where Hezbollah militants trained and equipped Palestinian groups in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The training, which included help in developing improvised explosive devices and implementing guerrilla tactics, was originally done in person, but after Israeli security forces began capturing Hezbollah trainers, the group decided to switch to providing more long-distance help.
--Kevin Whitelaw
Reader Comments