Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

PROTECTION AND PREVENTION: THREATS AND CHALLENGES FROM A HOMELAND DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE

JEFFREY D. MCMANUS

The Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.

1 INTRODUCTION

We recently passed an important anniversary in the United States on September 11, 2008. It is 8 years since the al-Qaeda attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Unfortunately, this attack in which almost 3000 people were killed in a single day, has been joined by other significant terrorist incidents against other countries. These attacks have caused death to hundreds more innocent civilians in places like Mumbai, India (July 11, 2006); Bali, Indonesia (October 2, 2005); London, United Kingdom (July 7, 2005); and Madrid, Spain (March 11, 2004). A war has been declared upon our nation and waged against our people. The intent of transnational terrorists is to try to shape and degrade political will through extreme acts of violence in order to diminish resistance to their ideologies and agendas. Our future freedom and security depend on our efforts in meeting this challenge. It is imperative that we have a comprehensive preparedness strategy that focuses our combined national efforts on proactive prevention and protection activities before a terrorist incident occurs. This approach can greatly lessen the overall risk of both terrorist attacks as well as nonintentional hazards, and even assist the response and recovery efforts following those incidents that do occur.

2 BACKGROUND

It is the role ...