The 3 week Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism (LCT) course explored effective means for combating terrorism within the rule of law, with emphasis on interagency cooperation.  LCT participants study the international law that applies to combating terrorism in three contexts: internal disturbances (domestic crime); internal armed conflict (a common tactic of insurgents); and international armed conflict.

The LCT course included a field study program in New York City, where participants visited relevant sites and received briefings from the U.S. Coast Guard (maritime security), United Nations Combating Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (anti-terrorism, consequence management), and an Emergency Management Operations Center (inter-agency coordination in crisis response).

Participants unanimously praised the course. One said “knowing rules and laws gives me more tools to achieve our goals and missions by knowing limits to do so.”  Another commented that "respecting human rights and international law is very important during military operations conducted in response to terrorism.”

Participant feedback also reinforced one of the goals of the program, expressing appreciation for the opportunity for "Interaction between participants, discussion and presentation of different approaches in combating terrorism all over the World.”

The next offering of LCT will be 19 August to 6 September 2013.  A LCT course description is available at https://www.diils.org/event/legal-aspects-combating-terrorism-lct.