State Department takes steps to combat terror overseas

The State Department is moving forward on several fronts to combat terrorism, the General Accounting Office reported Friday.

In the report, "Combating Terrorism: Department of State Programs to Combat Terrorism Abroad" (GAO-02-1021), GAO concluded that the department has enacted various initiatives designed to bolster information sharing agencies and to track known terrorists.

The department also is implementing innovations, both physical and virtual, aimed at enhancing the security of foreign missions and the department's diplomatic activities.

For example, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security has created programs to "prevent foreign intelligence agencies from detecting emanations from computer equipment, and computer-security programs," GAO said.

Additionally, the Bureau of Intelligence and Research is facilitating information sharing among federal and foreign agencies.