NCJ Number
238519
Editor(s)
Brian Michael Jenkins,
John Paul Godges
Date Published
2011
Length
223 pages
Annotation
This anthology consists of research-based commentaries on how America has responded to terrorism since 9/11.
Abstract
Part 1, "Humbled by Hubris," contains four papers that offer contrasting explanations of what went wrong in America's initial response to the 9/11 attacks, which involved an ousting of the Taliban regime and a rousting of al Qaeda from its haven in Afghanistan; however, as soon as victory seemed achieved, it started slipping away. Various explanations for this are offered. The three papers of Part 2, "Hopeful amid Extreme Ideologies and Intense Fears," focus on the ideological challenge of radical Islamism and how this can be countered from within Islam itself. Coupled with the extreme ideology is a fanatical commitment to killing masses of people even if it means the sacrifice of one's own life. This has led to a focus on the security and rational control of nuclear weapons in order to prevent terrorists from having access to them. The three papers of Part 3, "Torn Between Physical Battles and Moral Conflicts," focuses on finding a balance between the use of force and a strategy that addresses the grievances of those motivated to support terrorists. Care must be taken to show that America is not an evil Nation that only cares about destroying its enemies, as claimed by the terrorists. The three papers of Part 4 focus on defensive and preventive strategies, with attention to their practicality, rationality, and public acceptance. The three papers of Part 5 address how responses to terrorist threats can inspire responses to terrorism's victims, lead to an assessment of how American values of liberty and civil rights must be maintained while focusing on security, and an assessment of risks Americans are willing accept in order to prevent the erosion of American values. Chapter references