Operational Utility of the Joint Terrorism Task Force Model Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) is a nationwide network of policymakers and responders collaborating on terrorism-related homeland security issues. They have effectively thwarted verifiable terrorist conspiracies prior to the initiation of attacks. Examples of successful investigations include the following:

Breaking up cells like the Portland Seven, the Lackawanna Six, and the Northern Virginia jihad
Foiled an attack on the Fort Dix army base in New Jersey
Foiled an attack on JFK International Airport in New York City
Successes such as the preceding exemplify how interagency collaboration is an effective counterterrorist homeland security model.

Discussion Question:

 

1. How can the relevance of the JTTF model be kept up to date?

2. How should responsibilities be shared among state and local members of JTTFs?

3. When should federal leadership defer to local issues and considerations raised by local JTTFs?

4. What measures should be taken to ensure collaboration and coordination when a terrorist incident occurs?

 

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Protecting America from Terrorist Attack: Our Joint Terrorism Task Forces,” http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/terrorism/terrorism_jttfs, accessed April 16, 2013.”