NCJ Number
89774
Date Published
1982
Length
58 pages
Annotation
Robert Moss, a syndicated columnist with the London Daily Telegraph and author of books on terrorist techniques, testified on why commentators are skeptical about the Soviet Union's role in international terrorism and how the Soviets and other leftist nations support terrorist groups.
Abstract
Mr. Moss first noted that the Pope's assassin obtained his weapon and false documents in Bulgaria which appears to be a conduit for Soviet aid to terrorist organizations. He stated that commentators are skeptical about such Soviet activities because the Soviets often describe terrorist groups as freedom fighters and conceal their involvement by subcontracting support efforts to other leftist nations. The testimony then moved to specific roles that the Soviet military intelligence service and the East German foreign intelligence directorate play in training and supplying terrorists, with attention to violent acts by right-wing extremists and neo-Nazi groups incited by the East Germans. Also discussed were Cuba's support to terrorists, particularly in Latin America, and the Palestinian Liberation Organization's dependence on Moscow for training, weapons, medical supplies, false documentation, and operational intelligence. Mr. Ross then surveyed the recent cooperative efforts of the Libyan and Syrian security services to assassinate enemies of their regimes living abroad and Qaddafi's support for many international terrorist groups, documenting Soviet complicity in Qaddafi's activities. The witness concluded that Western governments must publicly expose Soviet involvement, impose sanctions when possible, and develop an intelligence network capable of penetrating terrorist groups.