DIILS LCT participants outside their quarters in Newport, RI, during a break.

NEWPORT, RI. 19 participants from 16 countries discussed and analyzed the challenges related to implementing international and interagency plans for combating terrorism in ways that uphold the rule of law and international norms.

The DIILS Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism (LCT) course addresses the international law that applies to combating terrorism in three contexts:  internal disturbances (e.g., crimes), non-international armed conflict (e.g., insurgencies), and international armed conflict.  LCT is designed for military officers and civilian officials who are, or plan to be involved with combating terrorism through law enforcement or military means.

LCT Participants made a number of positive comments about their experience at DIILS, including these:

• “Working in a multinational environment and sharing information from different points of view from all course participants who have different cultures and histories is the greatest opportunity and chance to learn how these countries deal with the problems concerning fighting against terrorism.”
• “After this course - which sharpened very well my skills - I feel more armed or equipped with knowledge that can be integrated in any system of combating terrorism within the rule of law.”

The LCT course includes several Field Studies Program events, designed to provide participants with an awareness and understanding of various facets of the American democratic way of life.  Thus, LCT participants visited several sites relevant to the course topic, including “Ground Zero” and the United Nations Headquarters building in New York City.

The DIILS LCT course will be offered one time in 2014:  17 March to 4 April.