STRATFOR Discusses the Terrorist Attack Cycle

19 Sep 2012

STRATFOR's Fred Burton argues that all terrorists ultimately follow a five-step attack planning cycle. By methodically working through this cycle, analysts and policymakers can identify terrorists’ capabilities and vulnerabilities, and develop strategies to prevent future attacks.

In the second of a series of videos produced by our colleagues at STRATFOR, Fred Burton focuses on what he describes as the Terrorist Attack Cycle. Burton argues that because all terrorists follow a basic five-step process when designing and conducting their attacks, counterterrorism analysts and policymakers should examine it in detail. The benefits could include identifying the actual mechanics behind attacks, as well as those who are responsible for them. Moreover, by pinpointing terrorists’ capabilities and vulnerabilities throughout the planning cycle, future attacks might be prevented.

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