Prevention of Terrorism

The MIPT Terrorism Annual 2002, with contributions from D. Brannan, P. Chalk, K. Cragin, and S. Daly, National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, available at www.mipt.org. 

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding support from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT). Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or MIPT. 

Anti-terrorism, Crime ond Security Act 2001 Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 Terrorism Act 2006... 

The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 is concerned with the establishment of control orders. Breach of a control order is a critninal offence... 

In June of 1995, The White House issued Presidential Decision Directive 39 (PDD-39), United States Policy of Counterterrorism. PDD-39 directed a number of measures to reduce the nation s vulnerability to terrorism, to deter and respond to terrorist acts, and to strengthen capabilities to prevent and manage the consequences of terrorist use of NBC weapons. The laws of the United States assign primary authority to the states to respond to the consequences of terrorism the federal government provides assistance as required. 

In addition to the organized and loose networks that generally fund their own activities, there are a number of states that sponsor terrorism. This is of particular concern with regards to weapons of mass destruction, because the numerous resources that can be brought to bear in state development of CBRN weapons can in turn be transferred to terrorists. Disincentives do exist to prevent this proliferation. As of October 2004, the United States lists six countries as state sponsors of terrorism Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. Of these, five are pursuing WMD to one degree or another. Libya repudiated its WMD program as discussed below. 

In regard to listed hazardous chemicals/materials only, to prevent accidental releases and acts of terrorism (homegrown or otherwise) with these chemicals/materials tenets of PSM/RMP and recommendations provided by the Department of Homeland Security, many such incidents have a chance of being avoided or properly mitigated upon their initiation or actual occurrence. The obvious question is Why and how ... 

As a result, the security paradigm has not necessarily changed, but instead has been adjusted—reasonable, necessary, and sensible accommodations have been and continue to be made. Because we cannot foresee all future intentional acts of terrorism, we must be prepared to shift from the proactive to reactive mode on short notice—in some cases, on very short notice. Accordingly, we must be prepared to respond to, react to, and mitigate what we can t prevent. 

Measures for prevention of ecological terrorism and elimination of its consequences... 

Ricin and Proteins The threat of a nuclear attack is one reason that Congress established the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism in 2007. In December 2008, the Commission issued World at Risk, a report that cautions that a weapon of mass destruction is likely to be used somewhere in the world before the end of 2013 unless action is taken immediately to forestall such an event.22 There are two major categories of weapons about which they are most concerned. Obviously, nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists could kill enormous numbers of people, and the Commission agrees that the risk of a nuclear terrorist attack is increasing. However, they predict that it is more likely that terrorists will obtain and use a biological weapon first.23... 

Von Hippel, Frank, Recommendations for Preventing Nuclear Terrorism, Federation of American Scientists, Public Interest Report, Washington, D.C. Federation of American Scientists, November/December 2001. 

Addressing the Threat of Terrorism Guidelines for Prevention and Response (IFMA, 2002)... 

See the summaries of these cases in National Research Council of the National Academies, Committee on Research Standards and Practices to Prevent the Destructive Application of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism (Washington, DC The National Academies Press, 2004), pp.24-9. 

FDA has responded to the threat of terrorism with a unique approach towards the development of biopharmaceuticais intended to counter the adverse effects of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear substances [83]. In many instances, efficacy trials in humans cannot be ethically performed (e.g., anti-bioterrorism agents). In these instances, animal data can be used in place of human data to model the in-vivo pharmacodynamics. In particular, studies in animals can provide substantial evidence of the effectiveness of biopharma-ceutical products intended for possible use to reduce or prevent the toxicities of these agents under defined circumstances. Such studies should be conducted under GLP (21 CFR 58) and are appHcable when ... 

A second important application of miniaturized mass spectrometers which is currently growing rapidly in the USA is homeland safety and the prevention of civil (bio)terrorism. For such purposes, the miniaturized mass spectrometer can also include a system for wireless data transmission for remote site sensing.49... 

FEMA is not the only culprit a breakdown occurred on all levels of government. According to the National Response Plan that establishes a comprehensive all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents, local, state, and federal authorities are all designated specific responsibilities and duties. The mayor is responsible for coordinating local resources to address the full spectrum of actions to prevent, prepare for, and recover from major disasters, accidents or acts of terrorism. He/she requests state and, if necessary, federal assistance through the governor of the state when the jurisdiction s capabilities have been... 

Lewis states This is no less than a clash of civilizations, the perhaps irrational but surely historic reaction of an ancient rival against our Judeo-Christian heritage, our secular present, and the worldwide expansion of both. In contrast, most Americans believe that the solution to the problem of terrorism is to prevent the jihadists from attracting wide support in the Muslim world, to call for the Muslim majority to act against the ideology of the terrorists. Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes says that radical Islam is the problem, and moderate Islam is the solution (Joshua Muravchik and Charles Szom, Commentary, Feb 2008). 

In addition to congressional action. Presidential Decision Directive 39 (PDD-39), United States Policy on Counterterrorism, was issued in June, 1995. It specifies the responsibilities of federal agencies and their relationships to one another in the conduct of crisis management and consequence management. As defined in PDD-39, crisis management involves actions to anticipate and prevent acts of terrorism. United States law assigns... 

Another important aspect of terrorism is the emotional and psychological impact on first responders. Prevention methods should be developed... 

The CPPNM, which was opened for signature in 1980 and which entered into force in 1987, reflects a three-pronged approach" that characterizes the international law related to nuclear security prevention of nuclear terrorism through... 

When Norway was mentioned by Al-Qaeda as a terrorist target, the situation was also seen as an argument for the Defence in terrorism prevention The terrorism threat against Norway this week illustrates what tasks the Defence now faces. .. Norway is no longer an outpost when it comes to terrorism. Terrorism has no boarders. We can see that our security now is contingent upon situations far away, to what happens in the rest of the world. (Thorstein Skiaker, Lieutenant General and leader of National Joint Headquarters, in VG 24.05.2003)... 

Medicine was still far removed at that time from the levels of care and cure now available. Dr. Dodd was just beginning to treat tuberculosis with streptomycin, one of the miracle drugs that would reverse the ravages of tuberculosis, making it a treatable disease instead of a source of terror and death. Dr. Albert Sabin was at work then at the same hospital developing an oral vaccine for the prevention of poliomyelitis. We residents were treating two buildings full of polio patients in respirators, a stark reminder of how much a vaccine was needed. 

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