P 121557Z NOV 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 4047

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 120019 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS AEMR
SUBJECT: 2008: COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 
 
¶1. THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR PREPARING 
"COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM (CRT) 2008", WHICH IS DUE 
TO CONGRESS BY APRIL 30, 2009. 
 
2.WE RECOMMEND THAT "COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 2007" 
BE THE STARTING POINT FOR THIS YEAR'S EXERCISE, WHICH 
CAN BE FOUND AT http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2007 
SCT NOTES THAT IT WILL ONLY ACCEPT POST SUBMISSIONS IN 
NARRATIVE FORM; WE POINT TO THE ALGERIA AND UK REPORTS 
AS EXAMPLES OF THE REPORTING AND FORMAT WE SEEK. 
 
¶3. POSTS' SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE UNCLASSIFIED.  WE 
ENCOURAGE POSTS TO HAVE CLASSIFIED MATERIAL 
DECLASSIFIED WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, IF POSTS 
FIND IT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION OR 
COMMENTARY, THEY SHOULD CLASSIFY SUCH MATERIAL 
SEPARATELY BY PARAGRAPH. 
 
¶4. EACH POST IS REQUESTED TO REPORT MAJOR POLITICAL 
DEVELOPMENTS OR CHANGES LIKELY TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE 
ABILITY OF TERRORISTS TO ATTACK OR OPERATE IN THE 
RELEVANT COUNTRY, INCLUDING USING TERRITORY AS A SAFE 
HAVEN.  WE ALSO ASK YOU TO REPORT CHANGES OR TRENDS 
THAT EMERGE WHEN COMPARING LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS IN 
TERRORISM/COUNTERTERRORISM IN 2008 VERSUS 2007. 
 
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE NLT COB MONDAY, DECEMBER 22. SINCE 
THE REPORT COVERS CALENDAR YEAR 2008, SIGNIFICANT 
DEVELOPMENTS OCCURRING AFTER POST SUBMITS ITS CABLE AND 
DECEMBER 31, 2008, SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN AN ADDENDUM 
FOR SUBMISSION DURING THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF 2009. 
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MUST TRANSMIT THE 2008 
REPORT TO CONGRESS BY APRIL 30, 2009. GIVEN THE 
EXTENSIVE CLEARANCE AND COORDINATION REQUIRED BY THIS 
REPORT, COUPLED WITH AN INFLEXIBLE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE, 
AND THE SHORT LEAD TIME BETWEEN THE END OF THE CALENDAR 
YEAR AND THE APRIL 30 DEADLINE, WE ARE UNDER STRICT 
TIME CONSTRAINTS TO INCORPORATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS INTO 
A PRODUCT THAT IS THE DEFINITIVE USG PUBLIC DOCUMENT ON 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. 
 
¶5.  PLEASE NOTE THAT 2008 TECHNICAL AND STYLISTIC 
GUIDELINES ARE FORTHCOMING.  INSTRUCTIONS WILL INCLUDE: 
 
(A) LEGISLATION AND MANDATED REQUIREMENTS; 
 
(B) A 2008 CRT REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST; 
 
(C) STYLE GUIDELINES (VOICE, SPELLING, TRANSITIONAL 
LANGUAGE, ETC.)  WE URGE YOU TO REVIEW THESE 
GUIDELINES, BECAUSE WE CAN LOSE HOURS OF TIME ON 
CONTINUITY ISSUES, SUCH AS THE SPELLING OF AL-QA'IDA, 
HIZBALLAH, COUNTERTERRORISM (ONE WORD), AND SAFE HAVEN 
(TWO WORDS). 
 
¶6.  THE DEPARTMENT WILL DEPEND ON POSTS' CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS AND WILL ALSO WORK CLOSELY 
WITH THE NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER TO COMPILE 
ALL REQUESTED INFORMATION.  WE ASK POSTS TO CONSIDER 
FOUR DISTINCT (BUT SOMETIMES OVERLAPPING) CATEGORIES OF 
INFORMATION: 
 
-- GENERAL ASSESSMENT 
-- SAFE HAVENS ASSESSMENT 
-- TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS 
-- FOREIGN GOVERNMENT COOPERATION 
 
EACH POST SHOULD REVIEW THE DESCRIPTION OF EACH 
CATEGORY OF INFORMATION BELOW TO DETERMINE IF LAST 
YEAR'S REPORT REQUIRES UPDATING. 
 
¶7.  GENERAL ASSESSMENT.  THE ANNUAL COUNTRY REPORTS ON 
TERRORISM (CRT) IS REQUIRED TO INCLUDE DETAILED 
ASSESSMENTS ON EACH FOREIGN COUNTRY (A) IN WHICH ACTS 
OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE 
OCCURRED; 
 
(B) THAT IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS A STATE SPONSOR OF 
TERRORISM (CUBA, IRAN,SUDAN AND SYRIA); OR (C) THAT IS 
OTHERWISE DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY TO BE SUBJECT TO 
THE REPORT. 
 
THIS SHOULD INCLUDE: 
 
--A REVIEW OF THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM 
EFFORTS. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE: 
 
AN ANALYSIS OF TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN 
EACH COUNTRY, INCLUDING CHANGES IN THE TECHNOLOGY 
TERRORISTS USED, METHODS AND TARGETS OF ATTACK, 
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON TERRORISTS; 
 
PASSAGE AND/OR IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGISLATION PERTAINING 
TO TERRORISM OR TERROR FINANCE. 
 
INITIATIVES THAT ADDRESS RADICALIZATION,SUCH AS 
OUTREACH TO/INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUES WITH 
IMMIGRANT,ETHNIC,AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES; 
 
PROGRAMS TO REHABILITATE AND REINTEGRATE TERRORISTS 
INTO MAINSTREAM SOCIETY. 
 
EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH/IMPROVE BORDER SECURITY, INCLUDING 
BIOMETRICS, FOR EXAMPLE. 
 
CT PARTICIPATION IN RELEVANT REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND 
GROUPINGS FOR WHICH THEY MAY BE RESPONSIBLE (E.G. OSCE, 
ASEAN, GCC, AND OTHERS). 
 
AN OVERVIEW OF EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN SUPPORT OF 
COUNTERTERRORISM CAPACITY BUILDING IN OTHER STATES. 
REGARDING UN PARTICIPATION, ONLY LEADERSHIP STEPS NEED 
BE INCLUDED. WE INCLUDE A MATRIX OF ALL COUNTRIES THAT 
ARE SIGNATORIES TO THE VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS 
AND PROTOCOLS, SO THIS INFORMATION NEED NOT BE INCLUDED 
IN POST SUBMISSION. 
 
-- THE RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN EACH COUNTRY 
RELATING TO TERRORISM AFFECTING U.S. CITIZENS OR 
FACILITIES THAT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON U.S. 
COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS, INCLUDING RESPONSES TO 
EXTRADITION REQUESTS. 
 
-- SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT, IF ANY, FOR INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM, AND PARTICULARLY TO SPECIFIC TERRORIST OR 
UMBRELLA GROUPS, TO INCLUDE: 
 
¶A.  POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT; 
 
¶B.  DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION 
AND DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES; 
 
¶C.  PROVIDING SAFE HAVEN TO TERRORISTS OR TERRORIST 
GROUPS (I.E., GROUPS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM); 
 
¶D.  PROVIDING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, OR 
ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING OR DEVELOPING SUCH WEAPONS, TO 
TERRORISTS OR TERRORIST GROUPS; 
 
¶E. POSITIONS (SUCH AS VOTING RECORDS) ON MATTERS 
RELATING TO TERRORISM IN THE UNGA AND OTHER 
INTERNATIONAL BODIES. 
 
¶8.  SAFE HAVEN ASSESSMENTS.  PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILED 
ASSESSMENTS WITH RESPECT TO EACH FOREIGN COUNTRY BEING 
USED AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR TERRORISTS OR TERRORIST 
ORGANIZATIONS. UNDER THE STATUTORY DEFINITION [TITLE 22 
OF THE UNITED STATE CODE SECTION 2656F(D)(5)]: SAFE 
HAVEN IS AN AREA IN THE TERRITORY OF THE COUNTRY THAT 
IS USED BY A TERRORIST OR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION TO 
CARRY OUT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING TRAINING, 
FUNDRAISING, FINANCING, AND RECRUITMENT, OR AS A 
TRANSIT POINT, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF WHICH EXPRESSLY 
CONSENTS TO, OR WITH KNOWLEDGE, ALLOWS, TOLERATES, OR 
DISREGARDS SUCH USE OF ITS TERRITORY AND IS NOT SUBJECT 
TO A DETERMINATION UNDER SECTION 405(J)(1)(A) OF THE 
APPENDIX TO TITLE 50 [COUNTRIES SUPPORTING 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM ON THE EXPORT CONTROL LIST], 
SECTION 2371(A) OF TITLE 22 [COUNTRIES THAT THE 
SECRETARY OF STATE DETERMINES WILLFULLY AID OR ABET THE 
INTERNATIONAL PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE 
DEVICES AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION TO 
INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS]. 
 
SAFE HAVEN ASSESSMENTS SHOULD INCLUDE: 
 
-- THE EXTENT OF KNOWLEDGE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 
COUNTRY WITH RESPECT TO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES ON THE 
TERRITORY OF THE COUNTRY. 
 
-- THE ACTIONS OF THE COUNTRY: 
 
¶A.  TO ELIMINATE TERRORIST SAFE HAVENS IN ITS 
TERRITORY, 
 
¶B.  TO COOPERATE WITH U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS, 
AND 
 
¶C.  TO PREVENT THE PROLIFERATION OF AND TRAFFICKING IN 
WMD IN AND THROUGH THE TERRITORY OF THE COUNTRY. 
NOTE:  IF SAFE HAVEN DOES NOT APPLY TO YOUR COUNTRY, 
THERE IS NO NEED TO STATE THAT. 
 
¶9.  INFORMATION ON TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. THIS 
INFORMATION IS PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL 
COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER.  POST CAN INCLUDE INFORMATION 
ON GROUPS ACTIVE IN THEIR COUNTRIES AND THE 
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH ACTIVITY IN COUNTRY. 
 
IN THE CASE OF STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM (CUBA, IRAN, 
SYRIA, AND SUDAN), THIS INFORMATION SHOULD INCLUDE: 
 
-- SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENTS TO THOSE GROUPS DIRECTLY, OR PROVIDED IN 
SUPPORT OF THEIR ACTIVITIES; 
 
-- PROVISIONS OF SIGNIFICANT MILITARY OR PARAMILITARY 
TRAINING OR TRANSFER OF WEAPONS BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS 
TO THOSE GROUPS; 
 
-- PROVISION OF DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION OR PRIVILEGES BY 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO THOSE GROUPS; 
 
-- PROVISION BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS OF SAFE HAVEN FROM 
PROSECUTION TO THESE GROUPS OR THEIR MEMBERS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMMISSION, ATTEMPT, OR PLANNING OF 
AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM; 
 
¶10.  INFORMATION ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENT COOPERATION. 
THE CRT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION 
CONCERNING EACH FOREIGN COUNTRY THAT THE U.S. HAS 
SOUGHT COOPERATION DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS WITH 
IN THE INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION OF AN ACT OF 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS OR 
INTERESTS: 
 
-- THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY IS 
COOPERATING IN APPREHENDING, CONVICTING, AND PUNISHING 
THE INDIVIDUAL(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACT. 
 
--THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY IS 
COOPERATING TO PREVENT FURTHER ACTS OF TERRORISM 
AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS IN THE COUNTRY.  (THIS 
INFORMATION SHOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO ANY 
FOREIGN COUNTRY FROM WHICH THE U.S. HAS SOUGHT 
COOPERATION IN THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN THE 
PREVENTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST 
U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS.) 
 
¶11.  POSTS SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE IMPORTANT FOLLOW-UP 
INFORMATION TO MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS FROM PRIOR YEARS THAT 
CONTINUED INTO 2008, INCLUDING RESOLUTION OR 
CONTINUATION OF TERRORIST PROSECUTIONS FOR ACTS 
COMMITTED IN PRIOR REPORTING YEARS. 
 
¶12.  IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL POSTS TO DRAW A 
DISTINCTION BETWEEN HOST GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AIMED AT 
SUPPRESSING TERRORIST ACTIVITY AND THOSE AIMED AT 
SUPPRESSING LEGITIMATE POLITICAL OPPOSITION OR DISSENT. 
 
¶13. WHEN REPLYING: 
 
  (A) SLUG FOR S/CT: RHONDA SHORE AND NCTC (AND INCLUDE 
AS AN INFO ADDRESSEE FOR NCTC: RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON 
DC); USE THE TAGS PTER, ASEC. 
 
  (B) USE THE SUBJECT LINE: (NAME OF COUNTRY): 2008 
COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 
 
  (C)  PROVIDE AN EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT (INCLUDING 
E-MAIL ADDRESS). 
 
¶14.  DEPARTMENT GREATLY APPRECIATES THE VOLUME OF WORK 
THAT GOES INTO POST CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS EFFORT. S/CT 
IS PREPARED TO RESPOND TO ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS POSTS 
MAY HAVE TO ASSIST IN PREPARING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. 
PLEASE FORWARD ALL QUESTIONS TO S/CT RHONDA SHORE AT 
SHORERH2@STATE.GOV, ON THE OPEN NET SYSTEM. THROUGH 
ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE DATA COLLECTION AND 
REPORTING, WE EXPECT THIS YEAR'S COUNTRY REPORTS ON 
TERRORISM WILL REFLECT THE BEST EFFORT YET TO EXPLAIN 
THE CONTINUING THREAT. 
 
¶15.  MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
 
RICE