Another important tool in countering terrorist fundraising is formally designating groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Designation of FTOs makes it a criminal offense for persons subject to US jurisdiction to knowingly contribute funds or other material support to such groups. US law also allows freezing of the groups' assets and denial of visas for their leaders and other members. Secretary of State Colin Powell designated 28 such groups, including al-Qaeda, in early October. Using tools like these, we have urged other countries to tighten up their laws and regulations to curb terrorist fundraising and money transfers. Great Britain already has done so, and countries such as Canada, Greece, India, and the Philippines have new laws or proposed counterterrorism legislation in various stages of consideration.
In addition, the administration is making ratification of the 12 UN conventions against terrorism a high priority. These cover a range of activities, such as hijacking, hostage taking, bombing, and terrorism financing. The conventions form a strong legal framework for fighting terrorism.
We are using training-related programs to help combat terrorism overseas and thus help protect Americans living and traveling abroad. The State Department's Antiterrorism Training Assistance (ATA) program in which we train foreign security and law enforcement officials is a pillar of this effort. The program not only provides training but also helps promote our policies and improve our contacts with foreign officials to achieve our counterterrorism goals. We have trained more than 20,000 officials from over 100 countries to date. We are hoping for additional funding for the ATA program in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks to permit us to accelerate the pace of this training.
We also have developed a Terrorist Interdiction Program, which uses sophisticated computer data base systems and improved communications to help identify potential terrorists who try to cross international borders. This program will be effective in countries that are transportation hubs.
The Department's contribution to the interagency counterterrorism research and development program, the Technical Support Working Group, also helps to make advances in explosives detection and other areas and bolster our cooperative R&D efforts with other key allies. We have proposed increasing our "Rewards for Justice" program, which pays up to US$5 million for information that prevents a terrorist attack or results in the arrest of a terrorist. This important program saves lives and puts terrorists behind bars.
Many challenges lie ahead. Maintaining the international coalition will be one. However, in the months that have elapsed since these nations proclaimed their solidarity against terrorism, the coalition has gotten stronger.
The horrific events of Sept. 11 require a broad based, long-term strategic campaign, in concert with the nations of the world that abhor terrorism. Together we will root out and bring to justice those that use terrorism. As president Bush has told the world: "Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done."
Ambassador Francis Taylor is coordinator for counterterrorism at the US Department of State.
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