Post-Strike Attribution--A Political & Scientific Dilemma
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Robert McCreight
Rapidly and positively identifying those responsible for carrying out a terrorist attack is essential for numerous reasons. Primarily, public demand to respond, whether diplomatically or militarily, will be intense, particularly in light of the devastating potential harm wrought by attacks using weapons of mass destruction. Quick identification of culprits and methods of operation may also be essential in preventing further assaults. Furthermore, recent history shows that terrorists who would carry out such an attack are less likely to identify themselves with the potential for immediate and accurate retribution. The need for a reliable, credible and internationally recognized system for post-strike attribution is essential as we continue to face WMD threats from terrorist adversaries. Terrorism is an end in itself, with the ultimate objective not receiving credit, but making headway against the enemy through mass casualties. Taking these factors into consideration, this essay advocates the establishment of a formal process and international standardization for post-strike attribution. Such a process will serve to bring key entities together prior to an event, establish protocols to facilitate attribution decisions, and serve as a terrorism deterrent.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
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- An Automated Decision Support System Based on Game Theoretic Optimization for Emergency Management in Urban Environments
- A Study of Local Governments Participating in the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program and Populations Served
- Logistics and Staging Areas in Managing Disasters and Emergencies
- Assessing the Terrorist Threat to Singapore's Land Transportation Infrastructure
- Vulnerability of U.S. Cities to Environmental Hazards
- The Role of Homeland Security Information Bulletins within Emergency Management Organizations: A Case Study of Enactment
- Designing Homeland Security Policy within a Regional Structure: A Needs Assessment of Local Security Concerns
- Implementation of a Methodology for the Prioritizing of Suicide Attacker Recruitment Preferences
- Book Review
- Review of Meeting the Challenge of 9/11: Blueprints for More Effective Government
- Review of Emergency Management: Concepts and Strategies for Effective Programs
- Review of Precautionary Risk Management: Dealing with Catastrophic Loss Potentials in Business, the Community and Society
- A Review of America and the World in the Age of Terrorism
- Communication/News
- Post-Strike Attribution--A Political & Scientific Dilemma
Articles in the same Issue
- Research Article
- An Automated Decision Support System Based on Game Theoretic Optimization for Emergency Management in Urban Environments
- A Study of Local Governments Participating in the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program and Populations Served
- Logistics and Staging Areas in Managing Disasters and Emergencies
- Assessing the Terrorist Threat to Singapore's Land Transportation Infrastructure
- Vulnerability of U.S. Cities to Environmental Hazards
- The Role of Homeland Security Information Bulletins within Emergency Management Organizations: A Case Study of Enactment
- Designing Homeland Security Policy within a Regional Structure: A Needs Assessment of Local Security Concerns
- Implementation of a Methodology for the Prioritizing of Suicide Attacker Recruitment Preferences
- Book Review
- Review of Meeting the Challenge of 9/11: Blueprints for More Effective Government
- Review of Emergency Management: Concepts and Strategies for Effective Programs
- Review of Precautionary Risk Management: Dealing with Catastrophic Loss Potentials in Business, the Community and Society
- A Review of America and the World in the Age of Terrorism
- Communication/News
- Post-Strike Attribution--A Political & Scientific Dilemma
