Common Ground on Terrorism

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Beliaev and Marks cochair the U.S.-Soviet Task Force to Prevent Terrorism, a colloquium of former government officials, scientists, scholars and journalists convening on an irregular basis in Moscow and Los Angeles to discuss ways of combating terrorism. The book, written by Task Force participants and of interest primarily to policymakers, is a preliminary report on the increasing vulnerability of Western society to hijacking, hostage-taking and ``techno-terrorist'' attacks on computer systems, power grids and nuclear plants. Recommendations for bilateral action include the establishment of an international criminal court with jurisdiction over drug trafficking, a Washington-Moscow channel for exchange of information and mutual assistance during terrorist incidents, and the prohibition of sales and transfers of military explosives and certain classes of weapons to nongovernmental organizations. Beliaev is a columnist for Literaturnaya Gazeta ; Marks is executive director of the Search for Common Ground. (May)

Library Journal

Throughout the Cold War era, suspicion and mistrust highlighted U.S.-Soviet relations. In the wake of the late-1980s thawing, retired CIA and KGB officers formed the U.S.-Soviet Task Force to Prevent Terrorism. The discussion in this volume, focusing on the Middle East as well as narco- and techno-terrorism, identifies areas of common interest (anti-state behavior), and calls for the adoption of specific international laws to address future acts of vio lence. There are critical assumptions here--including the yet-undetermined evolution of both the United States and the USSR in the emerging New World Order-- that may limit the contemplated level of progress. The mere existence of the Task Force, however, is a good omen for conflict resolution in an increasingly turbulent world. Recommended for international af fairs collections.-- Joseph A. Kechichian, RAND Corp., Santa Monica, Cal.