Research Foundation for the Study of Terrorism

The Research Foundation for the Study of Terrorism

The new 'anarchist threat' has its own (slight) intellectual support unit, the Research Foundation for the Study of Terrorism. RFST's trustees are Paul Wilkinson, Michael Ivens of Aims, Norris McWhirter of the Freedom Association and John Newton Scott. Its address is 40 Doughty Street, the address of Aims. Their first contribution came out at the end of 1987 - Anarchist group Class War are systematically harassing London docklands residents - there are 'Bash the Rich' marches, a pamphlet, Written in Flames, telling you who to bash - and Without A Trace on evading arrest apres-bash. Also involved are the Direct Action Movement (DAM) and groups named Hurricane and Flamethrower - oh, and the Animal Liberation Front. So there you are; they're all in it together. Battle Stations!

RFST aren't even close (and probably didn't try to be). Class War have never been at the centre of anything and provoke the same mixture of disdain and suspicion among anarchists as Militant do from socialists. The 'Bash the rich' marches were indeed Class War's idea; but the last one was in 1985. The campaign of yuppie-harassment never amounted to much more than aerosols, noise and bent aerials. Without A Trace is a forensics manual. Neither it nor Written in Flames has any connection with Class War. The Animal Liberation Front is supported by a wide variety of people, including anarchists, Christians and a character in the TV soap, Brookside. In any case all ALF actions are local and uncoordinated.^[1]

The Research Foundation for the Study of Terrorism

People

TRUSTEES

• Professor Paul Wilkinson MA (Chairman);

     Professor of International Relations, University of Aberdeen

• Michael Ivens CBE
• Norris McWhirter CBE
• John Newton Scott OBE TD

COUNCIL

• The Duke of Valderano (Chairman);

     Lecturer and former instructor in anti-terrorism

• Colin Beer;

     Former Chief Superintendent of Police.

• Don Emilio Beladiez, Marques de la Conquista Real;

     Ambassador of Spain

• Lt General Jose de Bettencourt Rodrigues;

     Former Minister for the Army, former Commander in Chief Portuguese Forces in Africa. Grand Cross of Military Merit Of Portugal.

• Sir John Biggs-Davison MP
• Sir Ian Easton KCB DSC;

     Former Commandant of The Royal College for Defence Studies

• Nicholas Elliot CBE;

     Formerly Foreign Office - expert on Middle East

• Pierre Emmanuelli;

     Secretaire Generale, Monde et Enterprise (France).

• Ian Greig;

     Former Senior Executive, Institute for the Study of Conflict.

• Anthony Harrigan;

     President, United States Business and Industrial Council,
     President, USIC Educational Foundation.

• Sir Arthur Hockaday KCB CMG;

     Former Assistant Secretary General (Planning & Policy) NATO
     Former Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence.

• Commander William Hucklesby QPM FRGS;

     Former Head of Anti-Terrorist Squad.

• Dr Ortwin Lowack (West Germany)
• The Count of Nuvolara;

     Professor at the University of Milan.

• Monsignore Giorgio Orioli, Viscount of Oriola;

     Chorepiscipus of Antioch of the Syrians and Procurator at the Holy See.

• Ronald Payne;

     Writer on Terrorism

• Norman Reddaway CBE:

     Former Assistant Under Secretary of State, FCO and Ambassador to Poland.

• Sir Julian Ridsdale CBE MP
• Dr Edward Rozek PhD MA;

     Professor of Politics and Comparative Ideologies, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA.

• Dr Alan Sabrosky PhD MA
• The Duke of St Albans OBE

     Former Colonel in Intelligence

• T F Utley CBE
• Dr M H Waring PhD MA (Brazil)

Notes

1. ^ Phil Edwards and Robin Ramsay The 'Terrorist Threat' in Britain Lobster No. 17, November 1988.