Optimal Resource Allocation: With Practical Statistical Applications and Theory

CHAPTER 13

Counter-Terrorism: Protection Resources Allocation

This section is based on a presentation made by the author at the joint meeting of CREATE¹ and GAZPROM² delegation in Los Angeles in 2007. The meeting was dedicated to problems of defense against terrorists' attacks.

13.1 Introduction

For decades, the United States has focused its military and intelligence capabilities on potential enemies beyond its own borders. After September 11, 2001, it has become increasingly clear that our enemies have the ability and determination to reach through our defenses and strike at critical assets here at home.

Modern terrorism has gone from the frame of simple intimidation to the active destruction of the chosen country: the goal of terrorists' attacks is to cause the maximum possible material damage and/or human casualties. It is obvious that terrorists' activity is getting more and more organized and modern counter-terrorism is a real war with an invisible enemy.

The problem of protection of human beings, material objects, and political/historical objects of possible terrorist attacks arose. A defender usually spends more resources than terrorists, so optimal allocation of these resources is very important. It is clear that terrorists have many advantages: they choose the time of the attack, they choose the object of the attack, and they choose the weapon of destruction. In general, a defender does not know what terrorists' intentions are.

The proposed mathematical model was developed ...