Q & A

Terrorism Expert – Capt. David Zadel

By Sgt. Clinton Firstbrook, HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS, Washington

Capt. David Zadel

1. Billet: Headquarters Battalion, S-3, Operations Officer
2. Duty Station: Headquarters Marine Corps, Marine Corps National Capital Region Command, Henderson Hall, Va.
3. MOS: 0302 – Infantry officer

Terrorism Resume’

Deployments:

Schools/Classes:

1. How has terrorism affected the Marine Corps since you were commissioned?

   When I joined in 2000, the U.S. had been subjected to several terrorist attacks overseas, but the National Threat Level remained below significant. Since Sept. 11, the secretary of defense has declared that each service member and Department of Defense civilian will receive fundamental level 1 anti-terrorism training. This training will better prepare them for deployments and leisure travel overseas, as well as help recognize suspicious activity in their own work place and community.


"Terrorism is a criminal act that is defined purely by the tactics they use to achieve their goals."
— Capt. David Zadel
2. Are there any common misconceptions about terrorism or terrorists?

   Quite often, people associate terrorism exclusively with a certain kind of ideology or ethnic group. This kind of bias is detrimental to understanding the true nature of terrorism. Terrorism isn’t an ideology, although sometimes it can motivate groups to commit acts of terror. Terrorism is instead, a methodology. Terrorism is a criminal act that is defined purely by the tactics they use to achieve their goals.

3. How many terrorist groups are there?

   This is such a hard question is because the world community has never agreed on a universal definition of terrorism. It follows that there is some international dispute as to what groups are in fact terrorist groups. If you go simply by the U.S. State Department’s list of terrorist groups, there are currently 42 foreign terror organizations in the world and that’s not counting the groups in this country.

4. What can Marines do to deter terrorism?

   Be alert to the indicators that a terrorist operation is being planned. It takes months and sometimes years to plan and conduct a successful terrorist attack. Be aware of possible surveillance, suspicious behavior, criminal acts (such as theft of government credentials.) and government and law enforcement warnings can also help you determine that a terrorist operation is about to go down. This is as true in the U.S., as it is in a combat zone.

5. How can Marines learn more about terrorism?

   Level I anti-terrorism training is the responsibility of each command to ensure every Marine receives the basic knowledge about terrorism. There is also a wealth of knowledge on the subject on the Internet. You are able to find out anything there is to know about a terrorist group through open source information. Some college universities even have electives that students may take on homeland security and counterterrorism. In addition, law enforcement circles regularly hold counterterrorism PMEs.

6. What’s the most important item we need to know about terrorism?

   That terrorism is not just an abstract concept reserved to foreign lands or foreign minds. It is very much ingrained in groups that reside in the U.S. and is not necessarily in cell groups owing allegiance to Al-Qaeda. Any political group can develop extreme elements that may use violence to achieve their goals. It is important to always be aware of the indicators that would suggest someone wishes to do you harm.