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FEATURE ARTICLE

Simulated Terrorist Attacks: Virtually Risk-Free

by Leonard A. Hindus

The Anti-Terrorist Force Protection Program allows the miltary to rehearse defensive tactics from a first- person point-of-view.

The guided missile destroyer was visiting a foreign port. The captain, a highly decorated, battle-hardened veteran, scrupulously followed Navy regulations, setting up a defensive perimeter of crewmen in motorized launches that patrolled the area 24 hours a day.

Without warning, a sleek speedboat raced toward the Naval vessel. The launches moved to intercept but were no match for the smaller craft, which was loaded with explosives. It zipped past the defenders and rammed the destroyer.

Had this been an actual attack, it would have cost the lives of countless American crewmen and inflicted millions of dollars in damage to the ship.