Countering Terrorism: Dimensions of Preparedness (Belfer Center Studies in International Security)

The United States now knows that it is vulnerable to terrorist attacks. In Countering Terrorism, experts from such disparate fields as medicine, law, public policy, and international security discuss institutional changes the country must make to protect against future attacks. In these essays, they argue that terrorism preparedness is not just a federal concern, but one that requires integrated efforts across federal, state, and local governments.The authors focus on new threats -- biological attacks, "dirty bombs" containing radioactive materials, and "cyberattacks" that would disrupt the computer networks we rely on for communication, banking, and commerce -- and argue that US institutions must make fundamental changes to protect against them. They discuss not only the needed reorganization of government agencies but such institutional issues as establishing legal jurisdiction to respond to new threats, preparing health workers for attacks involving mass casualties, and equipping police, fire, and other emergency workers with interoperable communications systems. The final essays examine how Israel, Japan, and the United Kingdom have dealt with domestic terrorism, and what the United States can learn from their examples. The Architecture Of Government In The Face Of Terrorism / Ashton B. Carter -- Intergovernmental Challenges Of Combating Terrorism / Arnold M. Howitt And Robyn L. Pangi -- Dealing With Terrorism After September 11, 2001 : An Overview / Philip B. Heymann -- Lessons Of The War On Drugs For The War On Terrorism / Jonathan P. Caulkins, Mark A.r. Kleiman, And Peter Reuter -- Biological Terrorism : Understanding The Threat And America's Response / Gregory D. Koblentz -- Nuclear Terrorism : Risks, Consequences, And Response / Jim Walsh -- Covert Biological Weapons Attacks Against Agricultural Targets : Assessing The Impact Against U.s. Agriculture / Jason Pate And Gavin Cameron -- Cyber Attacks : Protecting America's Security Against Digital Threats / Michael A. Vatis -- U.s. Preparations For Biological Terrorism : Legal Limitations And The Need For Planning / Juliette Kayyem -- Ambulances To Nowhere : America's Critical Shortfall In Medical Preparedness For Catastrophic Terrorism / Joseph A. Barbera, Anthony G. Macintyre, And Craig A. Deatley -- Emergency Communications : The Quest For Interoperability In The United States And Europe / Viktor Mayer-schönberger -- Israel's Preparedness For High Consequence Terrorism / Ariel Merari -- Consequence Management In The 1995 Sarin Attacks On The Japanese Subway System / Robyn L. Pangi -- Civil Liberties, Terrorism, And Liberal Democracy : Lessons From The United Kingdom / Laura K. Donohue. Arnold M. Howitt And Robyn L. Pangi, Editors. In Cooperation With The Executive Session On Domestic Preparedness. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

The United States now knows that it is vulnerable to terrorist attacks. In Countering Terrorism, experts from such disparate fields as medicine, law, public policy, and international security discuss institutional changes the country must make to protect against future attacks. In these essays, they argue that terrorism preparedness is not just a federal concern, but one that requires integrated efforts across federal, state, and local governments.The authors focus on new threats — biological attacks, "dirty bombs" containing radioactive materials, and "cyberattacks"that would disrupt the computer networks we rely on for communication, banking, and commerce — and argue that US institutions must make fundamental changes to protect against them. They discuss not only the needed reorganization of government agencies but such institutional issues as establishing legal jurisdiction to respond to new threats, preparing health workers for attacks involving mass casualties, and equipping police, fire, and other emergency workers with interoperable communications systems. The final essays examine how Israel, Japan, and the United Kingdom have dealt with domestic terrorism, and what the United States can learn from their examples.

The United States now knows that it is vulnerable to terrorist attacks. In Countering Terrorism , experts from such disparate fields as medicine, law, public policy, and international security discuss institutional changes the country must make to protect against future attacks. In these essays, they argue that terrorism preparedness is not just a federal concern, but one that requires integrated efforts across federal, state, and local governments. The authors focus on new threats--biological attacks, dirty bombs containing radioactive materials, and cyberattacks that would disrupt the computer networks we rely on for communication, banking, and commerce--and argue that US institutions must make fundamental changes to protect against them. They discuss not only the needed reorganization of government agencies but such institutional issues as establishing legal jurisdiction to respond to new threats, preparing health workers for attacks involving mass casualties, and equipping police, fire, and other emergency workers with interoperable communications systems. The final essays examine how Israel, Japan, and the United Kingdom have dealt with domestic terrorism, and what the United States can learn from their examples. In this collection of essays, experts from such fields as medicine, law, public policy, and international security discuss institutional changes the country must make to protect against future attacks. They argue that terrorism preparedness is not just a federal concern, but one that requires integrated efforts across federal, state, and local governments The terrorist attacks that occurred in the fall of 2001 have changed Americans' perception of domestic and international terrorism.