Peter Chalk

Providing a description of the evolving terrorist threat, this book's goal is to compare the underlying risk of attack to the architecture of financial protection that has been facilitated by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA). The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) requires insurers to offer commercial insurance that will pay on claims that occur from a terrorist attack, and for losses on the scale of 9/11, TRIA provides a "backstop" in the form of free reinsurance. The authors describe the evolving terrorist threat with the goal of comparing the underlying risk of attack to the architecture of financial protection that has been facilitated by TRIA.

Understanding how terrorist groups learn may aid in developing strategies to combat terrorist activities Better ways are needed to understand how terrorist groups become more effective and dangerous. Learning is the link between what a group wants to do and its ability to actually do it; therefore, a better understanding of group learning might contribute to the design of better measures for combating terrorism. This study analyzes current understanding of group learning and the factors that influence it and outlines a framework that should be useful in present analytical efforts and for identifying areas requiring further study.

This book includes case studies of the organizational learning activities of five major terrorist groups and a methodology for ascertaining what and why they learned.

Focuses on the nation's emergency management infrastructure and prioritises a future research and development portfolio for thwarting potential terrorist bio-attacks against U.S. livestock and related produce. Motivated by the growing threat of terrorism to the nation's homeland, the Office of Science and Technology, in conjunction with the RAND Science and Technology Policy Institute, organized and convened a Blue Ribbon Panel in early December 2003 to prioritize a future research and development agenda for combating biological acts of agro-terrorism directed against U.S. livestock and related produce. This report contains the papers submitted for the two-day conference, provides an overview of the findings and recommendations of the forum's breakout groups, and discusses the wider threat contingencies related to agro-terrorism.

Reviews four countries' domestic intelligence services to assess whether the creation of such an agency in the United States, apart from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, would be beneficial. (PW); Since the September 11, 2001, attacks, critics have charged that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), while qualified to investigate terrorist incidents after the fact, is not wel equipped enough to adequately gather and a assess information to prevent attacks. Given the bureau's law enforcement and prosecutorial cultural, many believe that the burden of countering terrorism, the FBI's main focus now, in addition to the load of taking on "ordinary" crime, may be too much. To better inform debate, researchers analyzed the domestic security structures of four allied countries-the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia-weighing both their positive and negative aspects.

Assesses the vulnerabilities of the agricultural sector and the food chain to a deliberate act of biological terrorism and explores the likely outcomes of a successful attack. Over the past decade, the United States has endeavoured to increase its ability to detect, prevent and respond to terrorist threats and incidents. The agriculture sector and the food industry in general, however, have received comparatively little attention with respect to protection against terrorist incidents. This study aims to expand the current debate on domestic homeland security by assessing the vulnerabilities of the agricultural sector and the food chain to a deliberate act of biological terrorism and exploring the likely outcomes of a successful attack.

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the security implications of the spread of infectious diseases, including case studies of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and major public health challenges currently confronting the United States.

This title examines the social and economic development policies enacted by Israel, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom to inhibit a resurgence of terrorism within their jurisdictions, with the aim of informing U.S. decision makers as they develop policy to counter terrorism.

Outside supporters, including state and non-state sponsors, of insurgent movements offer various forms of assistance to insurgents based on a wide range of motivations. The most useful forms of outside support for an insurgent movement include safe havens, financial support, political backing, and direct military assistance. Because states are able to provide all of these types of assistance, their support has had a profound impact on the effectiveness of many rebel movements since the end of the Cold War. However, state support is no longer the only, or indeed necessarily the most important, game in town. Diasporas have played a particularly important role in sustaining several strong insurgencies. More rarely, refugees, guerrilla groups, or other types of non-state supporters play a significant role in creating or sustaining an insurgency, offering fighters, training, or other forms of assistance. This report assesses post-Cold War trends in external support for insurgent movements. It describes the frequency that states, diasporas, refugees, and other non-state actors back guerrilla movements.It also assesses the motivations of these actors and which types of support matter most. This book concludes by assessing the implications for analysts of insurgent movements.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, is undergoing a profound transformation that could lead to a variety of outcomes, from the consolidation of democracy to return to authoritarianism or military rule, to radical Islamic rule, or to violent disintegration. The stakes are high, for Indonesia is the key to Southeast Asian security. The authors examine the trends and dynamics that are driving Indonesia's transformation, outline possible strategic futures and their implications for regional stability, and identify options the United States might pursue in the critical challenge of influencing Indonesia's future course. Steps the United States might take now include support for Indonesia's stability and territorial integrity, reestablishment of Indonesian-U.S. military cooperation and interaction, aid in rebuilding a constructive Indonesian role in regional security, and support for development of a regional crisis reaction force. A continued strong U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region will reinforce the U.S. role as regional balancer.

U.S. policy toward Colombia has been driven to a large extent by counter-narcotics considerations, but the evolving situation in that South American country confronts the United States with as much of a national security as a drug policy problem.