Good News in Terror War

Intelligence Cooperation in Counterterrorism -Lior Akerman

The events of 9/11 led to a fundamental change in how intelligence organizations perceived their role in the common war against terrorism. This was especially true in the U.S. and Europe. Since then, intelligence ties among the various organizations have gradually improved, as has the transfer of information among them.
   
As a direct result, terrorist suspects have been located and identified in their home countries, and terrorist organizations in the early stages of formation have been exposed and thwarted. Rapid transfer of suspected terrorists' details made possible their detention and interrogation, while terrorist attacks which had already been planned have been avoided and thwarted, saving thousands of lives in Israel and other countries.
    
The success of the war against fundamentalist terror organizations hinges on the extent of cooperation and openness among the world's intelligence organizations. 
The writer is a former brigadier-general in the Israel Security Agency who served as a bureau head.
(Jerusalem Post)
*