The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) focuses on intelligence collection and counterterrorism criminal investigations in the United States. It also manages domestic terrorism events. Its counterterrorism work began before the 9/11 attacks as dealt with many groups that threatened the country. The 9/11 attacks, however, highlighted several shortcomings of the agency, which included inadequate coordination with its field offices, inadequate supervision of the offices and insufficient coordination with local Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs). In turn, this led to the transformation of the agency’s entire operational and institutional architecture from focusing on enforcing the law to an emphasis on intelligence to avert terrorist attacks. The results of the transformation included the formation of the National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF), the Strategic Information and Operations Center (SIOC), and the Fly Team. These operations were intended to collect information on terrorist suspects and organizations
An overview of these operations is given in the present paper.
National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF)
The NJTTF was formed in 2002 following the 9/11 attacks. The force comprises of a multi-agency team that represents over 40 government agencies and representatives from critical industries. Officers from different local, state, and federal agencies staff the NJTTF. The force operates out of the Strategic Information Operations Center FBI and brings the required national view and focus to the local JTTFs. Its mission is to enhance cooperation, coordination, and communication between local government, state and federal agencies representing the homeland, transportation, public safety, diplomatic, defense, law enforcement and intelligence communities. It does this by acting as a merging point for sharing intelligence and threats related to terrorism; offering operational support to the counterterrorism division of the FBI, law enforcement and intelligence community; and offering support, oversight and program management for other JTTFs countrywide (FBI, 2004). The FBI’s JTTFs countrywide are the main apparatuses through which the agency coordinates with local agencies. There are over 100 regional JTTFs and all of them report to the NJTTF. Even though the NJTTF handles domestic cases, a majority of the cases also include an international element.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Strategic Information and Operations Center (SIOC)
The SIOC is an international watch and communications center under the FBI. It is a full-time operations center with the objective of maintaining an enterprise-wide situational awareness and offering strategic information to the FBI leadership by acting as a clearing location for information collection, processing, and dissemination. The center also works with global FBI field commanders in tactical operations and major investigations and with the Counterterrorism Watch to enhance efficient information flow to the FBI headquarters, legal attaches, field divisions, and other agencies in the intelligence community. The main functions of the SIOC are the daily investigation of criminal issues, management of information, and handling of administrative matters. The center acts as the FBI’s major operations location during a crisis (FBI, 2018). When a terrorist event occurs, the center becomes active in which workers communicate with different field offices about the event, monitor the internet, video screens, and telephones. The center also coordinates the work of local law enforcement officers, the search for suspects and rescue efforts. It also coordinates FBI investigations with the military and other agencies.
The FBI’s Fly Team
The Fly Team was established in 2002 as a counterterrorism unit under the reorganization strategy to refocus the FBI’s priorities and mission after the 9/11 attacks. The team comprises of a small and elite squad of counterterrorism investigators that operate from the FBI headquarters. It includes intelligence analysts and special agents who can readily be deployed to any location globally at any moment.
The main mission of the Fly Team is to ensure that the tactical and strategic counterterrorism capabilities of the FBI are realized in collaboration with other agencies in the government and entities of partner countries in vital locations worldwide for the detection, penetration, and disruption of terrorist networks. The team can investigate sensitive cases in a dangerous environment, and team members can speak different languages. Once deployed, the team collects intelligence about an event and gathers the required specialists and equipment to start their investigation. The team also establishes a command post on the ground to compare and share intelligence and information with other FBI offices worldwide using a secure network (FBI, 2004). The Fly Team works proactively to detect possible terrorist targets and hinder future attacks. In some cases, the team offers immediate mitigation assistance after an event has happened, for example through a hostage negotiation situation.
In conclusion, FBI counterterrorism operations work full time to hinder, protect and alleviate terrorist attacks. The operations occur through different but linked teams that include the NJTTF, the SIOC, and the Fly Team. These teams work in coordination with other local agencies and agencies from partner countries to fight terrorism. The transformation of the FBI from a law enforcement centered agency to an agency with a focus on intelligence has enabled it to increase its ability and combine different skills and resources to fight terrorism. The need for such coordination is increasing as terrorists and terrorist organizations change their tactics.
References
FBI. (2004, April 14). FBI's Counterterrorism Program since 9/11 - April 2004. Retrieved September 24, 2018, from https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/stats-services-publications- fbi_ct_911com_0404.pdf/view
FBI. (2018, May 04). Strategic Information & Operations (SIOC). Retrieved September 24, 2018, from https://www.fbi.gov/services/cirg/sioc
