Ultimate Terrorists by Jessica Stern
Since September 11, 2001, Stern's book The Ultimate Terrorists has taken on a deeper meaning. Written in 1999, when America held onto the idea that terrorist activity was something that took place on foreign shores, Stern's book details in advance many of the factors in play which created the 9-11 tragedy. Terrorists have shifted their perspective from activity which gains power for their political or religious party to choosing targets just for the purpose of 'making a statement.' Again, 9-11 was a vivid example of the meaninglessness of their fanatical approach. While buildings, lives, and economic power were lost, the resulting "War on Terror" has all but destroyed their ability to further their plans.
Nonetheless, The Ultimate Terrorists is a timely book on a vitally important subject. Jessica Stern, former National Security Council staffer, explains with chilling lucidity why it is becoming more likely that those threats will materialize into a major terrorist incident featuring a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). She has done a thorough job of research and presents her arguments with clarity and force. This book, combined with the new reality of a post 9-11 world, should be a wake up call for Americans.
The Ultimate Terrorists lays out three main points. First, the threat of chemical, biological and nuclear terrorism is indeed significant, and the emergence of nontraditional terrorist groups -- religious fanatics, death cults and disturbed activists -- adds a shiver of uncertainty to the mix. These groups do not have the social conscience which their predecessors possessed. They think nothing of destroying as many lives as possible for...
She insisted that working on these areas by which the country is most vulnerable to attack, the country would bolster both U.S. And international security efforts. Since the end of the cold war, Stern writes that "ballistic missiles are the least likely method of delivery," Stern writes, "and yet Congress regularly allocates more money to ballistic-missile defense than the Pentagon says it can use -- roughly ten times what is spent to prevent WMD terrorism."
Finally, Stern discusses how the threat of WMD terrorism, real as it is, has been exaggerated to the point of needless panic. In her examination of non-traditional terrorism, Stern points to a practical divide between will and ability. State-sponsored terrorists can do the most damage, but they're constrained by fear of retribution and of bad publicity. Fringe groups, on the other hand, may have the will to destroy, but they lack the money or the sponsorship to cause much damage. Therefore, one of the most important tasks for improving the security of our country is identifying any connections between the fringe groups, with the will, and the state sponsor who possess the money.
For example, how do we classify, or identify religious fanatics who are also state-sponsored political groups? Where do we put Japan's Aum…
