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Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare
Terrorism and Counterintelligence: How Terrorist Groups Elude Detection
Protecting information, identifying undercover agents, and operating clandestinely―efforts known as counterintelligence―are the primary objectives of terrorist groups evading detection by intelligence and law enforcement officials. Some strategies work well, some fail, and those tasked with tracking these groups are deeply invested in the difference.
Discussing the challenges terrorist groups face as they multiply and plot international attacks, while at the same time providing a framework for decoding the strengths and weaknesses of their counterintelligence, Blake W. Mobley provides an indispensable text for the intelligence, military, homeland security, and law enforcement fields. He outlines concrete steps for improving the monitoring, disruption, and elimination of terrorist cells, primarily by exploiting their mistakes in counterintelligence.
A key component of Mobley's approach is to identify and keep close watch on areas that often exhibit weakness. While some counterintelligence pathologies occur more frequently among certain terrorist groups, destructive bureaucratic tendencies, such as mistrust and paranoia, pervade all organizations. Through detailed case studies, Mobley shows how to recognize and capitalize on these shortcomings within a group's organizational structure, popular support, and controlled territory, and he describes the tradeoffs terrorist leaders make to maintain cohesion and power. He ultimately shows that no group can achieve perfect secrecy while functioning effectively and that every adaptation or new advantage supposedly attained by these groups also produces new vulnerabilities.
Discussing the challenges terrorist groups face as they multiply and plot international attacks, while at the same time providing a framework for decoding the strengths and weaknesses of their counterintelligence, Blake W. Mobley provides an indispensable text for the intelligence, military, homeland security, and law enforcement fields. He outlines concrete steps for improving the monitoring, disruption, and elimination of terrorist cells, primarily by exploiting their mistakes in counterintelligence.
A key component of Mobley's approach is to identify and keep close watch on areas that often exhibit weakness. While some counterintelligence pathologies occur more frequently among certain terrorist groups, destructive bureaucratic tendencies, such as mistrust and paranoia, pervade all organizations. Through detailed case studies, Mobley shows how to recognize and capitalize on these shortcomings within a group's organizational structure, popular support, and controlled territory, and he describes the tradeoffs terrorist leaders make to maintain cohesion and power. He ultimately shows that no group can achieve perfect secrecy while functioning effectively and that every adaptation or new advantage supposedly attained by these groups also produces new vulnerabilities.
- GenresNonfictionTerrorism
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2012
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232 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 21, 2016
As a I began my journey studying terrorism and counterintelligence, I was referred to this book. I possessed rudimentary knowledge of terrorism and CI, and this book definitely filled in the gaps.
The four or five cases discussed in this book follow a strict format so that with each unique study, the reader can make immediate connections and predictions. For example, the topic of "Popular Support," both local and international is discussed for every group outlined in the text. Once you understand how that support is shaped and influenced, you begin to predict how certain acts led to a groups increase or decrease in support (ex: Bombs that kill innocent civilians decrease support, funding public education and healthcare increase support).
Overall, I found the majority of the text fascinating. I would highly recommend this book to those wanting to learn the basic formula most terrorist groups follow to evade capture, and the response by security forces to counter them (espionage, counterespionage, guerrilla tactics).
The four or five cases discussed in this book follow a strict format so that with each unique study, the reader can make immediate connections and predictions. For example, the topic of "Popular Support," both local and international is discussed for every group outlined in the text. Once you understand how that support is shaped and influenced, you begin to predict how certain acts led to a groups increase or decrease in support (ex: Bombs that kill innocent civilians decrease support, funding public education and healthcare increase support).
Overall, I found the majority of the text fascinating. I would highly recommend this book to those wanting to learn the basic formula most terrorist groups follow to evade capture, and the response by security forces to counter them (espionage, counterespionage, guerrilla tactics).
January 23, 2014
The best (only current?) book on the topic. In contrast to the dozens of books about CIA and FBI counterintelligence, the Le Carre novels, etc, Mobley flips the genre on its head and examines how terrorist groups conduct in counterintelligence. Using a comparative case-study method, he focuses on the conditions under which terrorist groups are likely to successfully elude detection by penetrations, and the conditions under which they struggle to do so. It is intended primarily for an academic audience, but people with a strong interest in counterintelligence, terrorist groups, or both, are likely to breeze through it and appreciate the analysis, stories, and lessons.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews