Is America Safe?

Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Emergency Preparedness, Second Edition

Don Philpott

As potential targets such as military facilities, symbols of democracy, government buildings, and infrastructure are 'hardened' against possible terrorist attacks, terrorists will shift to softer targets: churches, schools, malls, mass entertainment centers, high-rise apartments, transportation centers, and energy facilities. Their goal will be to disrupt or destroy our economy, impose fear and uncertainty, break our national will, and deflect our attention and support from the Middle East. We could wait for it to happen, or we can prepare now. This new book empowers Americans by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand terrorist strategies, which, in turn, allow each of us to contribute to disrupting the terrorists' intended goals through observing and reporting suspicious activity, reducing target vulnerabilities, and minimizing casualties through education and preparation. The authors define terrorism and its origins and describe present-day organizations: where they operate, what their philosophies entail, and what their motivation and objectives are. They review different terrorist tactics and their desired effects, providing readers with guidelines and checklists for surviving them. Knowing how to prepare for, and how to survive an attack is a step toward marginalizing intended casualty rates, psychological impacts, and propaganda values. At the same time, the lifesaving skills presented in this book may also be used in naturally occurring catastrophic events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or earthquakes.

Bernan Press

Pages: 440 • Trim: 5¾ x 9

978-1-64143-307-5 • Paperback • December 2018 • $56.00 • (£43.00)

978-1-64143-308-2 • eBook • January 2019 • $53.00 • (£41.00)

Subjects: Political Science / Terrorism, Political Science / Security (National & International), Self-Help / Safety & Security / Survival & Emergency Preparedness, Political Science / Public Policy / City Planning & Urban Development

Is America Safe?

Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Emergency Preparedness, Second Edition

Paperback

eBook

Summary

As potential targets such as military facilities, symbols of democracy, government buildings, and infrastructure are 'hardened' against possible terrorist attacks, terrorists will shift to softer targets: churches, schools, malls, mass entertainment centers, high-rise apartments, transportation centers, and energy facilities. Their goal will be to disrupt or destroy our economy, impose fear and uncertainty, break our national will, and deflect our attention and support from the Middle East. We could wait for it to happen, or we can prepare now. This new book empowers Americans by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand terrorist strategies, which, in turn, allow each of us to contribute to disrupting the terrorists' intended goals through observing and reporting suspicious activity, reducing target vulnerabilities, and minimizing casualties through education and preparation. The authors define terrorism and its origins and describe present-day organizations: where they operate, what their philosophies entail, and what their motivation and objectives are. They review different terrorist tactics and their desired effects, providing readers with guidelines and checklists for surviving them. Knowing how to prepare for, and how to survive an attack is a step toward marginalizing intended casualty rates, psychological impacts, and propaganda values. At the same time, the lifesaving skills presented in this book may also be used in naturally occurring catastrophic events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or earthquakes.

Details

Bernan Press

Pages: 440 • Trim: 5¾ x 9

978-1-64143-307-5 • Paperback • December 2018 • $56.00 • (£43.00)

978-1-64143-308-2 • eBook • January 2019 • $53.00 • (£41.00)

Subjects: Political Science / Terrorism, Political Science / Security (National & International), Self-Help / Safety & Security / Survival & Emergency Preparedness, Political Science / Public Policy / City Planning & Urban Development

Author

Don Philpott has been writing and reporting on security, civil unrest, and terrorism for over 40 years. He was a senior correspondent with Reuters-Press Association, reporting on major events and trouble spots, including Northern Ireland, Lebanon, Israel, South Africa, and the Far East. He is the author of numerous books, including The Wounded Warrior Handbook and The Workplace Violence Prevention Handbook .

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Part I: Terrorism Today

1Twenty-First-Century Threats to the Homeland

2Counterterrorism Tactics

3Are We Winning the War?

4Terrorist Groups: Major Terrorist Organizations

Part II: A History of Terrorism

5America’s Birth: A Heritage of Conflict and Terror

6Domestic Terrorism

7International Terrorism

8 The Spread of Global Terrorism

Part III. Be Prepared

9Preparing for and Coping with a Disaster

10 Staying Safe at school, work and play

Resources