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State Sponsor: Implications
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Designating countries that repeatedly support international terrorism (i.e., placing a country on the "terrorism list") imposes four main sets of U.S. Government sanctions:
1. A ban on arms-related exports and sales.
2. Controls over exports of dual use items, requiring 30-day Congressional notification for goods or services that could significantly enhance the terrorist list country's military capability or ability to support terrorism.
3. Prohibitions on economic assistance.
4. Imposition of miscellaneous financial and other restrictions, including:
• Requiring the United States to oppose loans by the World Bank and other international financial institutions.
• Lifting diplomatic immunity to allow families of terrorist victims to file civil lawsuits in U.S. courts.
• Denying companies and individuals tax credits for income earned in terrorist list countries.
• Denial of duty-free treatment for goods exported to the United States.
• Authority to prohibit any U.S. person from engaging in a financial transaction with a terrorist list government without a Treasury Department license.
• Prohibition of Defense Department contracts above $100,000 with companies controlled by terrorist list states.
An Informal Watchlist
There is utility in drawing to Congress' attention countries that do not currently qualify for inclusion in the terrorism list but where added scrutiny may be warranted. It would reflect legitimate concerns of those in the intelligence and policy community and might serve as an informal warning mechanism to countries that their activities are being scrutinized. For example, the State Department warned Pakistan in January 1993 that it was under ''active continuing review" to determine whether it should be placed on the terrorism list. When the list came out in April 1993, Pakistan was not on it. A similar warning was issued to Pakistan in January 2000. Sudan was also warned that it was being subjected to special review prior to its being placed on the terrorism list in August 1993.
In 2000, some informally discussed candidates for such a list include (1) Afghanistan, which is characterized as "a training ground and base of operations" for worldwide terrorist activities. Concerns are that Islamic fundamentalist terrorists linked to numerous international plots continue to train and operate out of the country and/or enter or exit with impunity, and more specifically that the Taliban continues to offer sanctuary to Usama Bin Laden and his associated terror networks; (2) Pakistan - Pakistan has tolerated terrorists living and moving freely within its territory; supported groups that engage in violence in Kashmir; and is "providing the Taliban with material, fuel, funding, technical assistance, and military advisers;" (3) Lebanon -ongoing concern exists over terrorist groups operating with impunity from there, often under Syrian protection, in areas ostensibly controlled by the Government of Lebanon; and (4) Yemen - despite growing military cooperation and assistance in the U.S.S. Cole bombing investigation, Yemen, a nation where a thriving kidnapping industry flourishes in remote areas, remains a safe haven for international terrorist groups with the Government of Yemen, apparently unable "to discourage the terrorist presence in Yemen." There is a growing concern in U.S. policy circles that Chechnya may increasingly become a magnet for Islamic radicals. However, concern exists that "increased radicalization of Islamist populations connected to the Chechnya conflict would encourage violence and spread instability elsewhere in Russia and beyond." Concerns also remain that militant Iranian elements and militants linked to Usama Bin Ladin remaining in the territory of Nations of the former Yugoslavia may resort to terrorist violence.
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"Congressional Research Service " 2000
Major International Terrorist
Organizations
1. Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) a.k.a. Fatah Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, and Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims.
Description: International terrorist organization led by Sabri al-Banna. Split from PLO in 1974. Made up of various functional committees, including political, military, and financial.
Activities: Has carried out terrorist attacks in twenty countries, killing or injuring almost 900 persons. Targets include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Israel, moderate Palestinians, the PLO, and various Arab countries. Major attacks included the Rome and Vienna airports in December 1985, the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul and the Pan Am flight 73 hijacking in Karachi in September 1986, and the City of Poros day-excursion ship attack in Greece in July 1988. Suspected of assassinating PLO deputy chief Abu Lyad and PLO security chief Abu Hul in Tunis in January 1991. ANO assassinated a Jordanian diplomat in Lebanon in January 1994 and has been linked to the killing of the PLO representative there. Has not attacked Western targets since the late 1980s.
Strength: A few hundred plus limited overseas support structure.
Location/Area of Operation: Al-Banna relocated to Iraq in December
1998, where the group maintains a presence. Has an operational presence in Lebanon, including in several Palestinian refugee camps. Financial problems and internal disorganization have reduced the group's activities and capabilities. Authorities shut down the ANO's operations in Libya and Egypt in1999. Has demonstrated ability to operate over wide area, including the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
External Aid: Has received considerable support, including safe haven, training, logistic assistance, and financial aid from Iraq, Libya, and Syria (until 1987), in addition to close support for selected operations.
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Description: The ASG is the smallest and most radical of the Islamic separatist groups operating in the southern Philippines. Some ASG members have studied or worked in the Middle East and developed ties to Mujahedin while fighting and training in Afghanistan. The group split from the Moro National Liberation Front in 1991 under the leadership of Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani, who was killed in a clash with Philippine police on 18 December 1998. Press reports place his younger brother, Khadafi Janjalani, as the nominal leader of the group, which is composed of several factions.
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Activities: Engages in bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and extortion to promote an independent Islamic state in western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, areas in the southern Philippines heavily populated by Muslims. Raided the town of Ipil in Mindanao in April 1995 - the group's first large-scale action - and kidnapped more than 30 foreigners, including a U.S. citizen, in 2000.
Strength: Believed to have about 200 core fighters, but more than 2,000 individuals motivated by the prospect of receiving ransom payments for foreign hostages allegedly joined the group in August.
Location/Area of Operation: The ASG primarily operates in the southern Philippines with members occasionally traveling to Manila, but the group expanded its operations to Malaysia this year when it abducted foreigners from two different resorts.
External Aid: Probably receives support from Islamic extremists in the Middle East and South Asia.
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