Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment, Readings and Interpretations [Paperback]

Russell Howard (Author), Reid Sawyer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0072837780 | ISBN-13: 978-0072837780 | Publication Date: September 4, 2002

Colonel Russell Howard and Captain Reid Sawyer have collected and organized new and reprinted articles and essays by political scientists, government officials, and members of the nation's armed forces. The editors and several of the authors write from practical field experience in the nation's war on terrorism. Others have had significant responsibility for planning government policy and responses. The contributors include a majority of the significant names in the field including General Barry McCaffrey, Martha Crenshaw, Bruce Hoffman, Barry Posen, Jessica Stern, Ashton Carter. Part One of the book analyzes the philosophical, political, and religious roots of terrorist activities around the world and discusses the national, regional, and global effects of historical and recent acts of terrorism. In addition to material on the threats from suicide bombers, as well as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons, there are also important contributions analyzing new and growing threats: narco-terrorism, cyber-terrorism, genomic terrorism, and agro-terrorism. Part Two deals with past, present, and future national and international responses to--and defenses against--terrorism. Essays and articles in this section analyze and debate the practical, political, ethical, and moral questions raised by military and non-military responses (and pre-emptive actions) outside of the context of declared war. Five detailed Appendices: Chronology of Terrorism Incidents, Groups Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Terrorist Group Profiles, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Definitions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book presents the best, most current thinking in the field." -- General Barry R. McCaffrey, USA (Ret.), former member of the National Security Council and director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

From the Author

In 1984 when I first became involved in anti-terrorism and counterterrorism efforts, most terrorism was ideological. It was part of the East versus West, Left versus Right confrontation- a small but dangerous side-show to the greater, bipolar, Cold War drama. In the past, terrorism was almost always the province of groups of militants that had the backing of states hostile to America. Under the old rules, as Brian Jenkins stated decades ago, "terrorists wanted a lot of people watching, not a lot of people dead." They did not want large body counts because they wanted converts. Today's terrorists, explains former CIA Director James Woolsey, are not particularly concerned about converts and don't want a seat at the table. "They want to destroy the table and everyone sitting at it." The events of September 11 are compelling evidence of the "new terrorism" and its tactics. Clearly, terrorists now want a lot of people watching, and a lot of people dead.

Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment, draws on the expertise of academics, policymakers, and those who are charged with carrying out policy to explain the "new terrorism" and its many ramifications. As the title implies, perhaps the most important feature of the book is to provide alternative ideas on how to counter the "new terrorism." Among the contributors are internationally recognized terrorism experts Martha Crenshaw, Bruce Hoffman, Magnus Ranstorp, Richard K. Betts, Barry Posen, Jessica Stern, and Ashton Carter. Reid Sawyer and I have selected new as well as previously published essays for Terrorism and Counterterrorism that analyze the roots of terrorist activity and the global effects of these acts, debate U.S. political and military options for retaliation and future protection, and apply theory to practice in an easily understood format. -Colonel Russ Howard

Product Details

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill (September 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072837780
• ISBN-13: 978-0072837780
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,053,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take It From A Polisci Major, February 24, 2004

By 

The Jigga Man - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment, Readings and Interpretations (Paperback)

This book is most certainly an excellent guide to anyone who has the slightest interest in Militant groups. Terrorism may be a pejorative term, and this text attempts to take the reader beyond that and into an in depth analysis of trends, tactics and much more. Though I may be biased since it is required reading for my POLS376 class (Political Violence), it is most definitely not for everyone as it is not an easy read. Though the Cindy Combs book "Terrorism in the 21st century" may be the most definitive source on this subject next to Hoffman, I still must give credit where it is due. However, I did have one major gripe with this text. The coverage of terrorist tactics and training was lacking to say the least, so I recommend that you buy pick up the Combs book to complement this one. Wish me luck on my midterm! lol

5.0 out of 5 stars Great insights but first rate experts, September 19, 2002

By 

Perry M. Smith (Augusta,, Ga. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment, Readings and Interpretations (Paperback)

This is a very timely book which draws on the expertise of many first rate people. I especially liked the articles by Russ Howard and Richard Betts. Must reading for all citizens interested in the most important issue of our day.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A textbook - essential for understanding current affairs, January 6, 2003

By 

[e-mail] (Oxford, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment, Readings and Interpretations (Paperback)

This volume of essays was written and compiled as a college textbook for upper level undergraduate and graduate level seminars on terrorism and counterterrorism. These essays were written on both sides of the 9/11 divide, as such some of them predicted the occurrence of (large scale)acts of terror on American soil while others prescribe strategies for countering the terrorist threat in the future. Readers other than college students will find the book of interest too. After all, members of the general public, not simply college students, have asked such questions as "Why does America inspire such hatred?" or "What strategies should the US employ in the war against terror?" This book addresses these, and numerous other questions.

Although written by a variety of authors, the volume is well edited. Any work dealing with the US government and the bureaucratic responses to terrorism could easily be overwhelmed by a host of acronyms offputting to the general reader. The editors avoid this problem by consistent definition of acronyms and generous appendices covering foreign terrorist organizations, significant terrorist incidents, and weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to its coverage of specific incidents, the book addresses theoretical issues which will remain current in spite of the developments which will continue to unfold across the front pages of our daily newspapers. My favorite essays in the book were the ones which dealt with the intelligence failures prior to 9/11 as well as the ones which made specific recommendations to change or improve the intelligence community. I'll be curious to see which recommendations are incorporated into US policy in the future.