Volume 2, Issue 4

This paper provides an overview of current U.S. port security programs, discussing efforts both to protect ports as a target and to prevent international goods movement from being used as a vector for terrorists, their weapons, or their supplies. We provide an overview of U.S. government activities in the years leading up to 9/11, and details about each of the main port-security efforts after 9/11. We also evaluate these efforts and find opportunities for improvement in terms of effectiveness, prevention versus recovery planning, use of available resources, priorities and implementation, and funding. Although much has been accomplished to secure the nation’s ports since 9/11, this analysis concludes that much is yet to be done.

In assembling 13 essays in "Terrorism and the International Business Environment," Gabriele Suder has very effectively compiled a broad overview of perspectives on current and future impacts of the globalization of terrorism on international business. Suder’s intent is to develop guidelines in the economic and corporate sectors for adjusting to the growing threat of terrorism in a post-September 11th context. Since the long term implications of globalized terrorism for the international business community are instability, complexity and uncertainty, Suder encourages industry to redevelop methodologies of quantifying and mitigating the risk, transcending beyond traditional measures such as "country risk," and incorporate new metrics such as "geopolitical risk." Through this collection of essays, Suder succinctly outlines potential ramifications for all business sectors from terrorism as a global concern.

Review of book titled "Terrorism," edited by Rosemay H.T. O'Kane

Robert Pape thoroughly examines the misperceptions about and motivations behind suicide terrorism in his book, Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism. He uses empirical data and a multidisciplinary approach to support his argument that suicide terrorism is used to meet the secular and strategic goal of compelling the withdrawal of military forces.

Ghost Wars provides an historical review of and perspective on the the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and the resulting resistance The author discusses how a favorable environment was created conducive to the rise of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban and how the U.S. handled the rising threat of terrorism.

Review of "Homeland Security Field Guide: A Pocket Reference for WMD & Terrorism Response"

This is a selective list of papers or other educational products that have been published elsewhere, but in the opinion of the editor may be of interest to JHSEM readers.

The building of barriers and buttresses against the terrorist threat is often a fruitless exercise in protecting critical infrastructure. The terrorist threat is a amorphous hazard which can influence many aspects of human life and is a hazard that is unlikely to disappear in any foreseeable future. As the community becomes numbed to terrorist events, there is a strong likelihood that terrorists will divert their attention from direct population targeted actions to hard economic targets, some of those being critical infrastructure that has major economic and societal importance.The best defense against the terrorist threat is intelligence backed up by innovative policing. The best response to a terrorist incident is emergency reaction followed by good circumvention activities that will limit the consequential damage from the initial incident. The use of appropriate Circumvention Planning will also assist in assuring the community and business that those entrusted with looking after society are back in control. The rapid regaining of community and business confidence will be in itself a defeat for the terrorist.

This is a call for papers for a special issue of the Journal of Alpine Research.