Product Description

The need to contend with terrorism can be found in almost every sphere of life: Security, prevention and suppression of terrorism, legal and ethical dilemmas regarding democratic issues, such as the individualÂ’s human rights, intelligence interrogations, the right of the public to know, as well as coping with social, psychological, and media-related issues. This book deals with all relevant aspects of counter-terrorism and analyzes decision-makersÂ’ main dilemmas. It is based on accumulated experience in the field all over the world, particularly in the State of Israel. The method of presentation is to portray the main dilemmas in each sphere of counter-terrorism - defining the threat and appropriate countermeasures, evaluating intelligence, offensive and defensive action, legal and judicial issues, media coverage, international cooperation - and to analyze them in terms of IsraelÂ’s accumulated experience, comparing them, in many cases, to the experience of other countries.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #288316 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 334 pages

Customer Reviews

Superlative
This is the most thorough, cogent, and intelligently written work on terrorism and the ways to defeat it to grace the open literature in recent times. Unlike the more common offerings in this field, Ganor's work goes to great lengths to avoid or at least identify potential bias and to present opposing views. Nor does the author shy away from tough issues. Deterrence is one such topic. While noting that deterrence can be a matter of image (p. 63), he also recognizes the difference between deterring nations or terrorist organizations vs. deterring individuals or networks (p.64). He analyzes measures intended to deter terrorists, concluding that, ultimately, the attacker becomes used to a given measure and learns to live with it or overcome it (p.74). Yet he also addresses the complexities inherent in making public the thresholds set for deterrents (p.94).

Another example is his thoughtful note that public warnings should only be issued when accompanied by concrete guidelines to follow that are directly related to the warning (p. 260) -- a welcome contrast to the post-9/11 proliferation of nonspecific warnings that often give the appearance of emerging to offset future claims of failing to alert the public.

For clarity, analysis, and insight, Ganor's book is without peer.

The Most-Comprehensive Book I've Seen
Dr. Ganor is an expert on counter-terrorism from the country with the most experience in that area -- Israel. He has spent his life sturying counter-terrorism. This book is based on his doctoral discertation 'Israel's Counter-Terrorism Strategy.' It has been expanded to cover the world rather than just Israel.

Most of the book is presented in the form of dilemmas. For instance, is terrorism a crime such as murder where the individual who did it should be hunted down, tried, imprisoned, etc.? Or is it a form of warfare where the individual perpetrator is less important than the organization be it govermental or otherwise behind him? The answer to this question determines what investigative techniques can be used, what incarceration rules should be followed, how extradition agreements are applied (murderers can be extradited, political activists are not ).

All of these examples are just in the first chapter. There are ten chapters, each of which cover one area of dilemmas. Chapter 8, for instance covers the media. The terrorists understand and play for media attention. On the other (and darker) side, coverage of terrorists increases viewership or numbers of newspapers sold.

This book is the most complete, most thought-out comprehensive discussion on counter-terrorism that I have seen. Note my emphasis on counter-terrorism. This is a book on how to fight terrorism, it is not a book on terrorism per se.

Highly recommended. I hope our leaders read this.

The BEST book for a forgotten reader -- legislators
This is the most enlightening book I've read as a lawmaker. Dr. Ganor pens an easy-to-understand account, not only of the obvious problems with terrorism, but those involving America's future decisions on how to lead without sacrificing US civil liberties.

EXCELLENT!

REP. BURKE DAY
Chairman
Public Safety & Homeland Security
Ga House of Representatives