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PDD 39: U.S. Policy on Counter-terrorism



PDD 39, issued June 1995, addresses the U.S. policy on counter-terrorism. In this PDD, the United States takes a stand on the deterrence, response, and defeat of all terrorist threats and activity. Terrorist attacks, whether they occur domestically or elsewhere, will be regarded as a potential threat to national security, as well as a criminal act. Such actions will result in the retaliation of appropriate U.S. force. PDD 39 iterates that the United States will pursue all efforts to "deter and preempt, apprehend and prosecute, or assist other governments to prosecute individuals who perpetrate or plan to perpetrate such attacks."



PDD 39 instructs the United States to:

Reduce vulnerabilities; Deter terrorism; Respond to terrorism; and Develop effective capabilities to respond to weapons of mass destruction.