Counterterrorism & Homeland Security
As long as there have been terrorists, there have been efforts to stop them. These sources and analyses provide background on an evolving discipline, and keep you up to date on U.S. homeland security and global counterterrorism trends.
Terrorism Profiling--Terrorism Profiling Won't Work, According to MI-5
Terrorism profiling wouldn't work, according to an MI-5 study revealing that terrorists in the UK are not demographically distinct.
History of Biometrics
Biometry, or biometrics, is the application of statistical analysis to biological data. The term biometrics is used to refer to both the science and technology of measuring biological data. Law enforcement and intelligence use such data to identify criminals, including those who commit terrorist acts.
Profiling Passengers Pros & Cons
Airport security screening increasingly relies on passenger profiling techniques. Some argue passenger profiling helps identify terrorists, but others say it violates our civil rights.
Technologies and Terrorism: New, Updated and Controversial Counterterrorism Tech
Are Biometrics terrorism's best barometers at borders and ports? Will Artificial Intelligence and Smart Cards outsmart terrorists? Here, a compendium of new, updated and future technologies designed to thwart terrorism.
Medical Research Makes Biological Warfare Headway
Medical researchers took an important step toward an antidote for botulinum toxin, one of the deadliest biological warfare or bioterrorism agents, in May 2008.
Global Consensus on Security is a Challenging Problem
The fifth Worldwide Security Conference, held in Brussels in February 2008, demonstrated the challenges that violent extremism still poses to global security.
Terrorist Threat--Terrorist Threat Alerts Could Contribute to Health Risks
Terrorist threat alerts and other signals to the general public to fear an imminent terrorist attack may contribute to keeping stress levels high, which in turn is proving to have significant physical consequences.
Controversial Counterterrorism and Security Technologies
Are Biometrics terrorism's best barometers at borders and ports? Will Artificial Intelligence and Smart Cards outsmart terrorists? Here, a compendium of new, updated and future technologies designed to thwart terrorism.
Nuclear Terrorism -- United States Steps to Counter Nuclear Terrorism's Threat
The United States has taken some measures to prevent and respond to nuclear terrorism. Whether they are adequate is still unclear.
Election 2006--Candidates for U.S. Senate Address Homeland Security
The continuing threat of terrorist attack has made Homeland Security a crucial 2006 election issue. Find out here where Democratic and Republican Senate candidates stand on topics from energy independence to immigration reform to Homeland Security state grant distribution. This article is the first of 3 segments covering races alphabetically. Candidates from Arizona to Massachusetts are in Segment 1.
How Long Can the Government Hold a Terrorism Suspect?
Nearly all governments outlaw what is called administrative detention of suspected criminals, but it is just as true that nearly all declare exceptional circumstances when the rules don't apply, among them 'national security.' Each country its own rules for how long a terrorism suspect can legally be detained without charge: from indefinite detention for 'enemy combatants' at the U.S. detention f…
China Human Rights Violations Parade as Counterterrorism
China takes advantage of the opportunity offered by the Global War on Terror to crack down on the the Turkic speaking, Chinese minority of Uyghur Muslims.
What is Data Mining and What Does it Have to Do With Counterterrorism
The occasional emergence of "data mining" in U.S. news about counterterrorism programs leaves many of us wondering, "what is data mining?" Fine definitions, uses, and the potential applications in counterterrorism here.
Leadership Communication Styles As a Counterterrorism Tool
Understanding leadership communication during war is a key to winning it. A psychological study of Bush and bin Laden before and after 9/11 suggests ways to measure their intentions -- even when they don't mean to betray them.
Controversial Counterterrorism and Security Technologies
Are Biometrics terrorism's best barometers at borders and ports? Will Artificial Intelligence and Smart Cards outsmart terrorists? Here, a compendium of new, updated and future technologies designed to thwart terrorism.
How Real is the Threat of Terrorist Attack on U.S. Soil?
The threat of a terrorist attack by a "global network of extremists" on U.S. soil is a hotly debated topic. But focus on this threat is clouding our ability to distinguish different extremist groups, and their distinct goals.
9/11 Five Years Later: a Review of the State Department Counterterrorism Report
The State Department reviews counterterrorism successes and challenges five years after 9/11. Good intentions, technological advances and innovative programs abound, while an understanding of terrorism remains in short supply.
Stopping the Spread of Nuclear Weapons
Controlling the development and spread of nuclear weapons is basic to current U.S. counterterrorism strategy. Here, About.com Guide Keith Porter reviews the American response at the 2005 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty review conference.
Civilian Cyber Security Needs Upgrading
This 2005 report by the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee finds a need for more long-term research into protecting civilian infrastructure: the computers we use daily at home and work, and the networks that support them.
Reagan National Security Decison: Managing Terrorist Incidents
"Information sharing" and cooperation between agencies are post-9/11 innovations in counterterrorism. A generation ago, President Reagan divided responsibilities for terrorist attacks among the State Department, the Federal Aviation Agency, FEMA and others. Read the original document here.
U.S. State Department Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
This State Department Office cooperates with foreign governments, multilateral organizations and others to develop and implement global counterterrorism strategies using diplomatic, economic, intelligence and law enforcement tools.
