Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The Office of Strategic Services was formed in 1942, to collect and analyze strategic information required by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was abolished in 1945, and President Harry S. Truman established the Central Intelligence Group in1946. Today’s CIA was born in 1947, and its mission is to “collect information that reveals the plans, intentions and capabilities of our adversaries…produce timely analysis that provides insight, warning and opportunity to the President and decision makers charged with protecting and advancing America’s interests…[and conduct] covert action at the direction of the President to preempt threats or achieve US policy objectives. The CIA has established a Counter-Terrorism Center (CTC) that integrates intelligence and operations personnel working in this field and coordinates international cooperation against terrorists.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Composed of the governments of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the ASEAN issued a 2001 Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism, “to counter, prevent and suppress all forms of terrorist acts in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other international law, especially taking into account the importance of all relevant UN resolutions.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The “Bureau of Investigation” was formally named in 1909, a force of 34 agents under the Department of Justice. Today its mission statement is “to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats and to enforce the criminal laws of the United States."

Israel Security Agency (ISA): Israel enacted a Prevention of Terrorism ordinance as soon as the nation was founded in 1948. The ISA, also known as “Shin Bet,” is said to have three “operational departments”: The Arab Affairs Department, focusing on anti-terrorist operations and political subversion by Arab terrorists; The Non-Arab Affairs Department, focusing on all non-Arab nations; and the Protective Security Department, focusing on the protection of Israeli government buildings and embassies, defense industries, scientific installations, industrial plants, and the El Al national airline.

National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC): Established August 2004 “to serve as the primary organization in the United States Government (USG) for integrating and analyzing all intelligence pertaining to terrorism and counterterrorism (CT) and to conduct strategic operational planning by integrating all instruments of national power.”

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO): Established in 1949 with its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, NATO is an organization of nations that “agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.” NATO’s first mission outside of Europe came when it took control of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (in 2003). The 2007 member nations are Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States,

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): Composed of 56 member states from Europe, the Caucasas, Central Asia, and North American, the ISCE covers most of the northern hemisphere. Created during the Cold War, it focuses on conflict prevention, and is involved in arms control, border management, military reform, and policing (including post-conflict efforts).

The Organization of American States (OAS): Formed of nations in the Western hemisphere (North, Central, and South America), the OAS deals with issues common to the region. It drafted The Declaration of San Carlos on Hemispheric Cooperation for Comprehensive Action to Fight Terrorism. Specific measures noted in the Declaration included the commitment to develop security standards and practices related to tourism and recreational facilities.

The Secret Intelligence Service (UK): The SIS, also known as MI6, “provides the British Government with a global covert capability to promote and defend the national security and economic well-being of the United Kingdom. SIS operates world-wide to collect secret foreign intelligence in support of the British Government's policies and objectives.”

Shin Bet: Another name for the Israel Security Agency (ISA)

The United Nations (UN): Formed in 1945, in the wake of World War II, the UN has 192 member states. In September 2006 the United Nations adopted a Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Its International Criminal Court (ICC) was formed in 2002, and deals with offenses covered by international law, including war crimes and genocide. UN peacekeeping activities are carried out by groups--including military forces--provided by the member states.

U.S. Department of Defense: According to the official web site, “the mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. The department's headquarters is at the Pentagon.” The department was created in 1947 by President Harry Truman, and in addition to overseeing the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the DOD is responsible for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA).
 
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: The Department was established under the National Strategy for Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Act of 2002, “to mobilize and organize our nation to secure the homeland from terrorist attacks.” This Cabinet-level agency oversees the Coast Guard, customs and border protection, immigration and customs enforcement, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), Federal Emergency Management (FEMA), and the Secret Service.

U.S. Department of Justice: The official mission statement reads, “To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.” Under the Attorney General, the Justice Department maintains federal judges nationwide, and deals with issues from corporate fraud to identity theft to obscenity. Under the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and in conjunction with the FBI, it maintains Joint Terrorism Task Forces, “small cells of highly trained, locally based, passionately committed investigators, analysts, linguists, SWAT experts, and other specialists from dozens of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies.”
 
U.S. Department of State, Counterterrorism Office: The office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism coordinates the efforts of all of the U.S. governmental agencies to enhance cooperative efforts involving foreign governments.

U.S. Department of the Treasury: By its own statement, “the Department of the Treasury is the primary federal agency responsible for the economic and financial prosperity and security of the United States.” Its counter-terrorism activities include seeking sanctions against terrorist organizations or governments believed to support terrorism, gathering and analyzing information from the intelligence, law enforcement, and financial communities to reveal how terrorists and other criminals earn, move, and store money, and freezing the assets of terrorists here in the United States.

In addition to the overarching governmental groups and organizations, there are also groups whose mission is to physically react to terrorist threats, bringing to bear their military strength and expertise. Some of these include:

Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG-9, Germany): Formed in 1973 following the terrorist killings at the 1972 Munich Olympics, CSG-9 features three components, one focused generally on counterterrorism, another on maritime response , and a third on airborne response.
 
Metropolitan Police, Counter Terrorism Command (Britain): A division of the London Metropolitan Police Service, the Counter Terrorism Command played a key role in the bombings in the London Underground in July 2005.

Sayeret Mat’kal (Israel): Also known as General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269, Sayeret Mat’kal is involved in most Israeli counterterrorism actions, as well as the resolution of hostage situations inside the country borders.

SEAL Team Six (USA): The Naval Special Warfare Group responsible for US counterterrorist operations in maritime environments.

Special Air Service (SAS, Britain): One of the best-known counterterrorist groups in the world, made up of about 80 persons, operating surveillance and sniper units and assault groups.

Tactical Assault Group (TAG, Australia): With the No. 1 Commando Regiment, a part of the Army Reserves, the TAG is the primary antiterrorist unit in Australia.

Key Web Sites:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
The Organization of American States (OAS)
The Secret Intelligence Service (UK)
The United Nations (UN)
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Justice  
U.S. Department of State, Counterterrorism Office
U.S. Department of the Treasury, terrorism and financial intelligence
Terrorism 101