Terrorism, armed struggle Books

Book SynopsisThis book focuses on terrorism which is usually described as violence or the perception or threat of imminent violence. Terrorism has been used by a broad array of political organisations in furthering their objectives; both right-wing and left-wing political parties, nationalistic, and religious groups, revolutionaries and ruling governments. Those labelled ''terrorists'' rarely identify themselves as such, and typically use other generic terms or terms specific to their situation, such as: separatist, freedom fighter, liberator, revolutionary, vigilante, militant, paramilitary, guerrilla, rebel, jihadi or mujaheddin, or fedayeen, or any similar-meaning word in other languages. Sadly is has become a global profession which has come to colour all aspects of life from travel, to office locations to pervasive fear.

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Book SynopsisThis collection of essays represents a sample of the work carried out on the various urgent issues arising from the contemporary "war in terror" by researchers in the Department of Politics and International Relations, Swansea University UK and/or who attended the 2005 conference on politics and ethics at the University of Southern Mississippi (Gulf Coast). Certain specific topics are obviously prompted by this general theme; others dealt with in this book are perhaps not as obviously connected to it - though they are no less important for that. This book is therefore intended to cover some ground in both types of topic and it is to be hoped that its contents will stimulate further reflection and writing on the deep controversies that recent events in world politics have stoked. However misguided much of the debate has been, many have contended that the present era is witnessing a "clash of civilisations", in which fundamentally different value-systems confront each other with their mutually opposed and antagonistic views of the world. This position often undergirds a moral relativism, which denies that there are any universal values: all we have, according to this outlook, are the different values of different cultures seeking (insofar as they "clash") to impose themselves on others. In the first essay, James Beard counters this argument with a case for what he calls a "thin universalism", a relatively sparse but powerful set of fundamental values which can credibly be demonstrated to have universal application.Many who supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq now oppose it, not on the grounds that they were wrong at the outset but that hindsight and subsequent events have given them new reasons to revise their judgements. This has led some to think that arguments about whether a war is just, and justified, can very often only be satisfactorily made "down the line", thus excusing initial support for a conflict which thereafter goes badly wrong. In her article, Christine Stender reminds us of many of the considerations that were available in 2003 itself which readily led to just-war arguments against launching the invasion at the time. It may be easy for the passage of time to cause us to forget those factors. But, given that we can only become more adept at making just-war judgements by reflecting on past experience, it is crucial not to let them disappear in the morass of subsequent experience. Arguably, the Abu Ghraib scandal did more than any other single event to undermine what moral credibility the American occupation of Iraq ever had. It certainly raised acute questions about the conception of "virtue" that the role of combatant in war ought to necessitate and, in his essay, J. Joseph Miller subjects this issue to close philosophical scrutiny, with particular focus on the ethics of torture. Traditional just war theory has been composed of two elements: jus ad bellum, which sets out moral criteria which may sanction the resort to war, and jus in bello, which provides moral rules for its actual conduct. Recent events, and in particular the tragically chaotic situation of post-invasion Iraq, have helped to make the case for a third element: jus post bellum, which deals with the rights and responsibilities of just combatants with respect to the pursuit of a just peace once conflict has ended. This remains an under-researched area and, in their article, Mark Evans and Christine Stender introduce a wide-ranging set of considerations towards the construction of an adequate account of jus post bellum. A concept that has surged to the fore in recent times has been that of a "failed state", which has been invoked as part of arguments for "humanitarian intervention." (Afghanistan is perhaps the most obvious and pertinent example.) It is, however, a highly contentious concept and many think it has nothing other than ideological, polemical value. Whilst admitting that it is prone to such (mis)use, Mark Evans argues, in his essay, that it can be given a determinate and useful normative content, even if it does not necessarily sanction the kind of foreign policies which certain Western leaders have thought it does. Most liberal democracies have responded to the "terror threat" by introducing emergency legislation, or by otherwise suspending in some way what they would "ordinarily" have regarded as inviolable basic liberties and legal safeguards. Nazeer Patel argues that this dangerously undercuts the moral authority that these states claim for themselves and urges that we rethink how liberal democracy should appropriately respond to terrorism; it may take courage not to "overreact" against it, but he plausibly suggests a more measured and morally preferable attitude for it to take. Finally, in her essay, Claire Delisle focuses on one of the more bitter conflicts within a liberal democracy of recent times which has, it seems, been resolved in favour of peaceful accommodation: that between the Nationalist and Unionist communities in the north of Ireland/Ulster. The full story of how this peace became possible has yet to be fully told, and she adds a vital element to the tale, of how incarcerated combatants developed attitudes, strategies and a culture which built the foundations for a process that eventually brought "The Troubles" to what, it is to be hoped, is a permanent end. With the exception of the editor''s contributions, the research which is published here is the product of the intellectual labours of scholars who are in the early stages of their careers. This volume is, therefore, a compendium of work in progress and the authors hope that this publication will help to further their reflections; certainly, the issues with which they engage are a long way indeed from being exhausted in terms of the scholarly attention they demand. Obviously, their appearance together in the same volume should not be taken to imply that any of the contributors endorse anything of what any of the others argue.

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Book SynopsisSince 2001, Congress has appropriated about $640 billion for the global war on terrorism, the majority of this for operations in Iraq. In January 2007, President Bush announced "The New Way Forward" to stem violence in Iraq and enable the Iraqi government to foster national reconciliation. This new strategy established goals and objectives to achieve over 12 to 18 months. This book explores the post-Saddam governance and security in Iraq, the large-scale reconstruction assistance program undertaken by the U.S. in Iraq, the results of a U.S. supported election process designed to produce democracy and Iraq after the "surge".

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Book SynopsisOn September 11, 2001, this country suffered the most devastating terrorist attacks ever experienced on our soil. The series of co-ordinated attacks, perpetrated by 19 hijackers affiliated with al Qaida, killed 3,000 people, inflicted hundreds of millions of dollars of economic damage, brought commercial aviation to a standstill, and opened the eyes of the American people to the threat of terrorism as never before. To establish how the perpetrators were able to execute their deadly plot, Congress chartered the independent, bipartisan National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). In addition to providing a full account of the circumstances surrounding the attacks, Congress directed the 9/11 Commission to develop recommendations for corrective measures that could be taken to prevent future acts of terrorism.1 On July 22, 2004, the 9/11 Commission issued its final report, which included 41 wide-ranging recommendations to help prevent future terrorist attacks. Many of these proposals were put in place in 2004 with the passage of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act2, which brought about the most significant reorganisation of the intelligence community since 1947. Among the key provisions of that law was the establishment of a Director of National Intelligence to oversee the intelligence community and the creation of a National Counter terrorism Center to analyse domestic and international threats, share that information, and integrate activities to ensure unity of effort against terrorism. Yet, a year after it was issued, the lead authors of the 9/11 Commission Report, Governor Thomas H Kean and Representative Lee H Hamilton, asked as a result of these and other reforms, are we safe? We are safer - no terrorist attacks have occurred inside the United States since 9/11 - but we are not as safe as we need to be. There is so much more to be done, many obvious steps that the American people assume have been completed, have not been some of these failures are shocking. The 9/11 Commission concluded that "the 9/11 attacks revealed four kinds of failures: in imagination, policy, capabilities, and management. Determined to fill the gaps left by the Bush Administration and the Republican controlled Congress, and to provide the American people the security they deserve, the House of Representatives under the new Democratic leadership passed H.R. 1, the "Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007" within the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress. This comprehensive homeland security legislation included provisions to strengthen the nation''s security against terrorism by requiring screening of all cargo placed on passenger aircraft; securing mass transit, rail and bus systems; assuring the scanning of all U.S.-bound maritime cargo; distributing homeland security grants based on risk; creating a dedicated grant program to improve interoperable radio communications; creating a co-ordinator for U.S. non-proliferation programs and improving international co-operation for interdiction of weapons of mass destruction; developing better mechanisms for modernising education in Muslim communities and Muslim-majority countries, and creating a new forum for reform-minded members of those countries; formulating coherent strategies for key countries; establishing a common coalition approach on the treatment of detainees; and putting resources into making democratic reform an international effort, rather than a unilaterally U.S. one. When President George W. Bush signed H.R. 1 into law on August 3, 2007 without any limiting statement, it seemed that the unfulfilled security recommendations of the 9/11 Commission would finally be implemented. To ensure that they were, over the past year the Majority staffs of the Committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs have conducted extensive oversight to answer the question, How is the Bush Administration doing on fulfilling the requirements of the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007" (P.L. 110-53)? The Majority staffs of the two Committees prepared this report to summarise their findings. While the Majority staffs of the Committees found that the Bush Administration has taken some steps to carry out the provisions of the Act, this report focuses on the Administration''s performance with respect to key statutory requirements in the following areas: (1) aviation security; (2) rail and public transportation security; (3) port security; (4) border security; (5) information sharing; (6) privacy and civil liberties; (7) emergency response; (8) biosurveillance; (9) private sector preparedness; and (10) national security.

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Book SynopsisIn explaining the decision to invade Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein from power, the Administration asserted, among other justifications, that the regime of Saddam Hussein had a working relationship with the Al Qaeda organisation. The Administration assessed that the relationship dated to the early 1990s, and was based on a common interest in confronting the United States. The Administration assertions were derived from U.S. intelligence showing a pattern of contacts with Al Qaeda when its key founder, Osama bin Laden, was based in Sudan in the early to mid-1990s and continuing after he relocated to Afghanistan in 1996. Critics maintain that subsequent research demonstrates that the relationship, if it existed, was not "operational", and that no hard data has come to light indicating the two entities conducted any joint terrorist attacks. Some major hallmarks of an operational relationship were absent, and several experts outside and within the U.S. government believe that contacts between Iraq and Al Qaeda were sporadic, unclear, or subject to alternate explanations. Another pillar of the Administration argument, which has applications for the current U.S. effort to stabilize Iraq, rested on reports of contacts between Baghdad and an Islamist Al Qaeda affiliate group, called Ansar al-Islam, based in northern Iraq in the late 1990s. Although the connections between Ansar al-Islam and Saddam Hussein''s regime were subject to debate, the organisation evolved into what is now known as Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQ-I). AQ-I has been a numerically small but operationally major component of the Sunni Arab-led insurgency that frustrated U.S. efforts to stabilise Iraq. Since mid-2007, in part facilitated by combat conducted by additional U.S. forces sent to Iraq as part of a "troop surge", the U.S. military has exploited differences between AQ-I and Iraqi Sunni political, tribal, and insurgent leaders to virtually expel AQ-I from many of its sanctuaries particularly in Baghdad and in Anbar Province. U.S. officials assess AQ-I to be weakened almost to the point of outright defeat in Iraq, although they say it remains lethal and has the potential to revive in Iraq. Attacks continue, primarily in north-central Iraq, that bear the hallmarks of AQ-I tactics, and U.S. and Iraqi forces continue to conduct offensives targeting suspected AQ-I leaders and hideouts. As of mid-2008, there are indications that AQ-I leaders are relocating from Iraq to join Al Qaeda leaders believed to be in remote areas of Pakistan, near the Afghanistan border. That perception, if accurate, could suggest that AQ-I now perceives Afghanistan as more fertile ground than is Iraq to attack U.S. forces. The relocation of AQ-I leaders to Pakistan could also accelerate the perceived strengthening of the central Al Qaeda organisation.

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Book SynopsisCongress amended the 1996 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) to allow U.S. victims of terrorism to sue designated State sponsors of terrorism for their terrorist acts. The courts have handed down large judgements against the terrorist State defendants, generally in default, and successive Administrations have intervened to block the judicial attachment of frozen assets to satisfy judgements. This book provides background on the doctrine of State immunity and the FSIA; details the evolution of the terrorist State exception and some of the resulting judicial decisions; describes legislative efforts to help claimants satisfy their judgements; summarises the hostages'' suit against Iran and Congress''s efforts to intervene; summarises the status of lawsuits against Iraq and Libya; and provides an overview of proposed legislation (S. 3370, H.R. 3346, S. 1944, H.R. 394, H.R. 5167, and H.R. 2764). Appendix A provides a list of cases, including those covered by TRIA 2002 and the amount of compensation paid. Appendix B lists the assets of each terrorist State currently blocked by the United States and the total amount owed by each for terrorism judgements.

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Book SynopsisThis book highlights terrorism trends and ongoing issues to provide a framework for detailed discussion. Al-Qaida (AQ) and associated networks remained the greatest terrorist threat to the United States and its partners in 2007. AQ and its affiliates seek to exploit local grievances for their own local and global purposes. They pursue their own goals, often at large personal cost to the local population. AQ also utilises terrorism, as well as subversion, propaganda, and open warfare; it seeks weapons of mass destruction in order to inflict the maximum possible damage on anyone who stands in its way, including other Muslims and/or elders, women, and children. This book examines these networks, which are adaptive, quickly evolving new methods in response to countermeasures. This is an edited, excerpted and augmented edition of a Country Reports on Terrorism publication.

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Book SynopsisThis book looks at the increasing militant activity in western Pakistan which poses three key national security threats: an increased potential for major attacks against the United States itself, a growing threat to Pakistani stability and a hindrance of U.S. efforts to stabilise Afghanistan. A U.S.-Pakistan relationship marked by periods of both co-operation and discord was transformed by the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the ensuing enlistment of Pakistan as a key ally in U.S.-led counterterrorism efforts. Top U.S. officials have praised Pakistan for its ongoing co-operation, although long-held doubts exist about Islamabad''s commitment to some core U.S. interests. Thus this book also examines the influence of Islamist militants and the "talibanisation" of western Pakistan, which appears to be ongoing and may now threaten the territorial integrity of the Pakistani state. This is an edited, excerpted and augmented edition of various government publications.

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Book SynopsisThe September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have drawn attention to the security of many institutions, facilities, and systems in the United States, including the nation''s water supply and water quality infrastructure. These systems have long been recognised as being potentially vulnerable to terrorist attacks of various types, including physical disruption, bioterrorism/chemical contamination, and cyber attack. Damage or destruction by terrorist attack could disrupt the delivery of vital human services in this country, threatening public health and the environment, or possibly causing loss of life. This book discusses the tools of terrorism, not only our water infrastructure; but also commercial vehicle security, bioterrorism, maritime security and WMD proliferation.

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Book SynopsisThe National Counter-terrorism Center (NCTC) was established in 2004 to ensure that information from any source about potential terrorist acts against the U.S. could be made available to analysts and that appropriate responses could be planned. As a component of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the NCTC is composed of analysts with backgrounds in many government agencies and has access to various agency databases. It prepares studies ranging from strategic assessment of the future terrorist threats to daily briefings and situation reports. It is also responsible, directly to the President, for planning (but not directing) counter-terrorism efforts. This book provides an overview of the history, background, and issues for Congress with regard to the National Counter-terrorism Center.

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Book SynopsisThe imperative for the exchange of terrorism-related intelligence information among law enforcement and security officials at all levels of government is founded on three propositions. The first is that any terrorist attack in the homeland will necessarily occur in a community within a state or tribal area, and the initial response to it will be by state, local, and tribal emergency responders and law enforcement officials. Second, the plotting and preparation for a terrorist attack within the United States will also occur within local communities. Third, information acquired for one purpose, or under one set of authorities, might provide unique insights when combined, in accordance with applicable laws, with seemingly unrelated information from other sources. This book describes the Nation-wide Sar Initiative (NSI), and the rationale for the sharing of terrorism-related Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), and how the NSI seeks to achieve this objective.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the drivers of violent extremism, with special reference to the Muslim world in the past three decades. This book summarises what we know and what we do not know about the drivers of violent Islamist extremism. This book identifies some of the most common misconceptions or pitfalls in the study of violent extremism in order to avoid potentially counter-productive approaches when designing development assistance programs with a counter-extremism component.

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Book SynopsisThis new book examines a variety of issues related to terrorism on a global scale, as well as the policies and legal actions surrounding these issues. Topics discussed include an analysis of selected legislative proposals addressing Guantanamo detainees; ocean piracy; terrorism issues in Latin America; enemy combatant detainees and the lack of a comprehensive plan to destroy the terrorist threat in Pakistan.

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Book SynopsisThis new book examines terrorist attacks and the counterterrorism practices put in place in response to these threats. Topics discussed include terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India and the implications for U.S. interests; the role of the U.S. Navy in irregular warfare and counterterrorism; U.S.-China counterterrorism cooperation; operational environment of counterinsurgency and the foundations of insurgency and counterinsurgency.

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Book SynopsisThe involvement of insurgent and extremist groups in criminal activity is an issue that has been a concern of U.S. administrations for decades. In recent years, some observers have claimed that interactions between international terrorists and criminals are increasing. If true, expanded links between criminal and terrorist networks could increase U.S. vulnerability to attack by terrorist groups with enhanced criminal capabilities and financial resources. An expanded range of combined criminal and terrorist activity could also affect the global economy and U.S. foreign policy goals. This new book examines the security threats and U.S. policy regarding international terrorism and transnational crime, and also looks at the terrorism hot spots of Latin America, Southeast Asia and Somalia.

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Book SynopsisOn 5 November 2009, a lone attacker strode into the deployment center at Fort Hood, Texas. Moments later, 13 Department of Defense (DoD) employees were dead and another 32 were wounded in the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since September 11th, 2001. This book is an examination of the counterterrorism lessons learned from the Fort Hood attack, which evidences the need for a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to counterradicalization and homegrown terrorism across all agencies which are critical to keeping our country safe.

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Book SynopsisThe Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI) is the lead federal enforcement agency charged with counter-terrorism investigations. Since the September 11th, 2001 attacks, the FBI has implemented a series of reforms intended to transform itself from a largely reactive law enforcement agency focused on investigations of criminal activity into a more proactive, agile, flexible and intelligence-driven agency that can prevent acts of terrorism. This book provides background information on key elements of the FBI terrorism investigative process. Also discussed are the ways in which international terrorists and insurgents use the Internet, strategically and tactically, in pursuit of their political agendas, as well as a focus on the terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility, deportation and removal.

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Book SynopsisThe May 1st, 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces in Pakistan has led to a range of views about near-and long-term security and foreign policy implications for the United States. Experts have a range of views about the killing of Osama bin Laden. Some consider his death to be a largely symbolic event, while others believe it marks a significant achievement in U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. The degree to which Osama bin Laden''s death will affect Al Qaeda and how the U.S. responds to this event may shape the future of many U.S. national security activities. This book addresses the implications and possible considerations for Congress related to the U.S. killing of bin Laden including military considerations, implications for Pakistan and Afghanistan, and U.S. security interests and foreign policy considerations among others.

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Book SynopsisOver the course of half a century, polls have repeatedly shown that most Americans refuse to accept the official story of the Kennedy Assassination. That story, set forth by the media and by a Presidential Commission dominated by representatives of the most powerful private forces in the nation, was that the President was killed by a lone assassin with radical tendencies and an abnormal mind. It is demonstrated in this book that everything we can know about the cover-up suggests not a government or FBI or Mafia conspiracy, but a treasonous conspiracy executed by a network of wealthy private interests whose goals were at odds with almost everything the energetic 35th president of the United States was doing. That network set up Lee Harvey Oswald as a patsy and went into action promoting the cover story within hours of the assassination. From the afternoon of 22 November 1963, to the release of the so-called Warren Report and beyond, a group of interconnected individuals seized control of the investigation and of the official account. That story is now told here.

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Book SynopsisTerrorism, sadly, seems here to stay and to stay with a vengeance. It seems that the United States was not prepared for it and now must play catch-up. In doing so, even an agreement on how to define terrorism is in doubt and what to do about it seems beyond comprehension at the moment. This volume presents a broad cross-section of analyses of weaknesses and actions in the ongoing battle, including: An overview of the U.N. Convention against torture and the removal of aliens; ocean piracy and its impact on insurance; the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India and the implications for U.S. interests; addressing Guantanamo detainees and analysis of selected legislative proposals; border security along the U.S. international border; amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act set to expire in 2009; Latin American terrorism issues; ''Homeland Security Intelligence''; ''Renditions'' and constraints imposed by laws on torture; enemy combatant detainees and habeas corpus; and the emergence of the Lal Masjid as a militant entity in Pakistan. This book consists partially of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.

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Book SynopsisTerrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. This book presents and reviews important data on terrorism such as: the role of the European Union in the implementation of individual measures against international terrorists; educational background and what predisposes people to join extremist movements; the legal challenges pertaining to the prevention and detection of internet abuse for terrorist activities; the role of emotions that lead to terrorism; the socio-legal consequences of the political reframing of terrorism post 9/11; the impact of terrorist attacks on passenger travel; the risk to water ecosystems from terrorist attacks; a mathematical model of military and non-military procedures to counter terrorism; and others.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the legal and trial issues arising from the United States'' war on terrorism. The detention of alleged enemy combatants at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the potential transfer of such individuals away from the Guantanamo detention facility, have been the focus of significant legislative activity during the 111th Congress. Also discussed, herein, is Attorney General Holder''s decision to try certain detainees in federal criminal court, including those accused of conspiring to commit the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and to try other detainees by military commission. Attention has focused on the procedural differences between trials in federal court and those conducted under the Military Commissions Act.

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Book SynopsisAl Qaeda has evolved into a significantly different terrorist organisation than the one that perpetrated the September 11 2001 attacks. At the time, Al Qaeda was composed mostly of a core cadre of veterans of the Afghan insurgency against the Soviets, with a centralised leadership structure, made up of mostly Egyptians. Most of the organisation''s plots either emanated from the top or were approved by the leadership. The core leadership, headed by Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, is thought to live in the mountainous tribal belt of north-west Pakistan, where it continues to train operatives, recruit, and disseminate propaganda. This book focuses on the history of Al Qaeda, the actions and capabilities of the organisation and non-aligned entities, and an analysis of select regional Al Qaeda affiliates.

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Book SynopsisTerrorism, sadly, seems here to stay and to stay with a vengeance. It turns out that the United States was not prepared for it and now must play catch-up. In doing so, even agreement on how to define terrorism is in doubt and what to do about it seems beyond comprehension at the moment. This volume presents a broad cross section of analyses of weaknesses and actions in the ongoing battle including bioterrorism; torture as an interrogation technique; nuclear terrorism; defence space activities; and the terrorist watch list screening.

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Book SynopsisTerrorism, sadly, seems here to stay and to stay with a vengeance. It turns out that the United States was not prepared for it and now must play catch-up. In doing so, even agreement on how to define terrorism is in doubt and what to do about it seems beyond comprehension at the moment. This volume presents a broad cross section of analyses of weaknesses and actions in the ongoing battle including the cost of global war on terror operations since 9/11; Russia-Georgia conflict; enemy combatant detainees; homeland security intelligence; and an analysis of state-connected terrorist movements.

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Book SynopsisThe emphasis of counter-terrorism policy in the United States since Al Qaeda''s attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) has been on jihadist terrorism. However, in the last decade, domestic terrorists, people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements, have killed American citizens and damaged property across the country. In this respect, domestic terrorists are a widely divergent lot, drawing from a broad array of philosophies and world-views. These individuals can be motivated to commit crimes in the name of ideas such as animal rights, white supremacy, and opposition to abortion. The expression of these world-views, as opposed to violence in support of them, involves constitutionally protected activities. This book provides background regarding domestic terrorists, detailing what constitutes the domestic terrorism threat as suggested by publicly available U.S. government sources and potential issues for Congress.

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Book SynopsisSadly, the threat of violent extremism in America is nothing new. Throughout our history, misguided groups, including international and domestic terrorist organizations, neo-Nazis and anti-Semite hate groups, have engaged in horrific violence to kill our citizens and threaten our way of life. Most recently, al-Qa''ida and its affiliates have attempted to recruit and radicalise people to terrorism here in the United States, as we have seen in several plot and attacks, including the deadly attack on our service members at Fort Hood. In August 2011, the Obama Administration announced its counter-radicalisation strategy. It is devised to address the forces that influence some people living in the United States to acquire and hold radical or extremist beliefs that may eventually compel them to commit terrorism. This is the first such strategy for the federal government, which calls this effort "combating violent extremism" (CVE). This book examines the CVE strategies currently being employed, with a focus on their risks and challenges.

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Book SynopsisAl Qaeda has evolved into a significantly different terrorist organization than the one that perpetrated the September 11, 2001, attacks. At the time, Al Qaeda was composed mostly of a core cadre of veterans of the Afghan insurgency against the Soviet Union, with a centralized leadership structure made up mostly of Egyptians. Most of the organization''s plots either emanated from the top or were approved by the leadership. Some would argue that the Al Qaeda of that period no longer exists. Out of necessity, due to pressure from the security community, in the ensuing years it has transformed into a diffuse global network and philosophical movement composed of dispersed nodes with varying degrees of independence. Understanding the origins of Al Qaeda, its goals, current activities, and prospective future pursuits is key to developing sound U.S. strategies, policies, and programs. The focus of this book is on the history of Al Qaeda, known (or attributed) actions and suspected capabilities of the organization and non-aligned entities, and an analysis of select regional Al Qaeda affiliates.

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Book SynopsisTerrorism, sadly, seems here to stay and to stay with a vengeance. It turns out that the United States was not prepared for it and now must play catch-up. In doing so, even agreement on how to define terrorism is in doubt and what to do about it seems beyond comprehension at the moment. This book presents various topics including Lal Masjid and it''s aftermath; closing the Guantanamo detention center; and also with a focus on Afghanistan.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides insightful recommendations for the Department of Defense against perpetrators of "targeted violence" -- those individuals who conduct pre-meditated attacks against specific individuals, populations, or facilities. While this book focuses on predicting violent behaviour, it also discusses the most effective means of responding to the challenge of targeted violence and prevention measures, with a focus on targeted violence affecting institutions of higher education and identifying the markers and warning signs of domestic lone wolf terrorists in our midst.

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Book SynopsisState and local law enforcement and homeland security officials, in partnership with local community members, are the first line of defence against the evolving threat posed by violent extremism -- ideologically motivated violence to further political goals. In recent history, the United States has faced violent extremist plots by neo-Nazis and other anti-Semitic hate groups, racial supremacists, and international and domestic terrorist groups. Given the critical role state and local law enforcement officers play in countering violent extremism (CVE), it is important that they receive high-quality CVE-related training. This book provides an assessment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice''s (DOJ) efforts to ensure the quality of violent extremism training that the departments provide or fund for state and local partners.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the U.S.-foreign partnership efforts to prevent nuclear smuggling and terrorist travel. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) established the Megaports Initiative in 2003 to deter, detect, and interdict nuclear or other radiological materials smuggled through foreign seaports. The Initiative funds the installation of radiation detection equipment at select seaports overseas and trains foreign personnel to use this equipment to scan shipping containers entering and leaving these seaports, regardless of destination. Additionally, the U.S. government has identified four key gaps in foreign countries'' capacity to prevent terrorist travel overseas. The book evaluates how U.S. capacity-building efforts address those gaps and assesses the extent to which the U.S. government is measuring progress in its efforts to close those gaps.

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Book SynopsisSecretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton convened an Accountability Review Board for Benghazi to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding the 11 September 2012 killings of four U.S. government personnel, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, John Christopher Stevens, in Benghazi, Libya. A series of attacks involving arson, small-arms and machine-gun fire, and use of rocket-propelled grenades, focused on two U.S. facilities in Benghazi, as well as U.S. personnel en route between the two facilities. In addition, the attacks severely wounded two U.S. personnel, injured three Libyan contract guards and resulted in the destruction and abandonment of both facilities. This book examines whether the attacks were security related; whether security systems and procedures were adequate and implemented properly; the impact of intelligence and information availability; whether any other facts of circumstances in these cases may be relevant to appropriate security management of U.S. missions world-wide; and finally, whether any U.S. government employee or contractor, breached her of his duty.

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Book SynopsisA terrorist attack in a major city using an RDD or an IND could result not only in the loss of life but also have enormous psychological and economic impacts. Major cities are assumed to be preferred targets of such attacks, and local governments, along with their states, have primary responsibilities for early response (within the first 24 hours), with assistance from federal sources, as necessary, coming later. A disjointed or untimely response could increase the impact and undermine public confidence in federal, state and local governments'' ability to respond to an attack. This book provides background for understanding the RDD threat and responses, and presents issues for Congress.

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Book SynopsisTwo years on from the bloody and destructive suicide attack on a United Nations (U.N.) facility in Abuja, Nigeria, the Nigerian terrorist organisation Boko Haram continues to pose a threat to both the United States and our allies. Since that attack, Boko Haram has received increased international attention, has carried out near-daily attacks throughout much of Nigeria, and has taken part in operations in other parts of West Africa. They remain a lethal and growing threat to the people of Nigeria, the international community, Americans in the region, and potentially the United States Homeland. This book discusses Boko Haram''s growing and emerging threat to the U.S. Homeland and provides statements from a hearing on Boko Haram: emerging threat to the U.S. homeland.

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Book SynopsisPractical and legal hurdles, including the difficulty of locating hidden Al Qaeda members and the unfeasibility of enforcing judgements in terrorism cases, hinder victims'' attempts to establish liability in U.S. courts against, and recover financially from, those they argue are directly responsible for the September 11 terrorist attacks. Instead, victims have sued numerous individuals and entities with only indirect ties to the attacks, including defendants who allegedly provided monetary support to Al Qaeda prior to September 11 2001. This book summarises the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) and jurisdiction in cases against foreign defendants and analyses the recent court of appeals decision.

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Book SynopsisTerrorism in East Africa has remained a concern of the United States since 1998, when al Qaeda bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. As part of its efforts to address this threat, State launched PREACT in 2009 as a program for long-term engagement and capacity building in East Africa. PREACT -- which focuses on countering terrorist threats, including al Shabaab, an al Qaeda affiliate based in Somalias -- managed by State''s Bureau of African Affairs and provides assistance in a region composed of 12 partner countries. This book examines PREACT, including the role it plays in U.S. counterterrorism assistance to East Africa; the extent to which funds allocated for PREACT since 2009 have been disbursed; and the extent to which State considers key factors in managing PREACT.

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Book SynopsisAfter more than a decade of combating Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States now faces an increasingly diverse threat from Al Qaeda affiliates in the Middle East and Africa and from emerging groups that have adopted aspects of Al Qaeda''s ideology but operate relatively or completely autonomously from the group''s senior leadership. U.S. counterterrorism debates have focused on "formal" Al Qaeda affiliates, and policymakers increasingly are considering options for addressing the range of threats posed by the wider spectrum of groups inspired byor similar in goals and aspirations toAl Qaeda. This book examines Al Qaeda-affiliated groups in the Middle East and Africa, as well as the "Islamic State", and Nigeria''s Boko Haram.

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Book SynopsisBook & CD-ROM. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence ("HPSCI" or "the Committee") conducted a comprehensive and exhaustive investigation into the tragic attacks against two U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya on September 11-12, 2012. The nearly two-year investigation focused on the activities of the Intelligence Community ("IC") before, during, and after the attacks. During the course of thousands of hours of detailed investigation, HPSCI reviewed thousands of pages of intelligence assessments, cables, notes, and emails; held 20 Committee events and hearings; and conducted detailed interviews with senior intelligence officials and eyewitnesses to the attacks, including eight security personnel on the ground in Benghazi that night. This report details the findings and conclusions of HPSCI''s investigation.

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