BY: JAROD BLEIBDREYPROFESSOR ALAN HAZEN, M.S.C. J

FEBRUARY 25 , 2012

Terrorist Related Hazards

Purpose

The purpose of this presentation is to address the multiple areas of concern for terrorist related hazards, and programs designed to combat these specific possible threats.

Threat #1 – Biological Threats

Biological warfare is a major area of concern as the introduction of an infectious disease would create mass hysteria and a wide range of possible outcomes…to include multiple fatalities.

Required needs of intended terrorist organization

Possible contamination methods

This type of threat requires a small biology lab, with little funding. The more funding available to an organization, the greater the contamination could be.

Funding – lowNeeds – lowPotential damage - High

Terroristic organizations may contaminate one of themselves or another person, animal or material object. Contamination could occur strictly through contact.

“Dirty” bomb, loaded with microbes. Detonation would cause initial exposure.

Biological Threat Continued

CAMRA ZADD

The Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA), led by Michigan State University and Drexel University. This program is designed to fill critical gaps in risk assessments of microbial hazards. Bioterrorism was the chief cause for this programs creation.

The Center of Excellence for Zoonatic and Animal Disease Defense (ZADD), led by Texas A&M University and Kansas State University. This program is designed to research and safeguard the nations agriculture and animals from disease plus biological threats, natural or man-made.

Programs Designed to Combat Biological Threats

ZADD NCFPD

ZADD also aids in combating against food contamination via meat or produce.

The National Center for Food Protection and Defense, led by University of Minnesota. This program is designed to defend the safety and security of the American food system, through standards, accountability and screening of food items. This protects the public from biological or chemical contamination of food.

Programs Designed to Protect Against Biological Threats Continued

Threat #2 - Explosives

Current usage of suicide bombers, remote detonated bombs, and multiple explosive methods have created this threat to be not just perceived but achieved. Terrorist organizations are capable of utilizing multiple methods to achieve a specific explosive result.

Necessities Possible methods of detonation

Multiple means create a violent explosion, and thus no limited list can be created for identification.

Financing – LowNecessities –

Dependent upon desired effect

Possible threat - High

Suicide bomberPlanted explosiveRemote detonationUse of mass

transportation device as improvised explosive, as seen on 9-11 of 2001 in New York.

Explosions Continued

ALERT NTSCOE

The Center of Excellence for Awareness and Location of Explosives-Related Threats, led by Northeastern University and University of Rhode Island. Designed to develop new means and methods to protect America from explosives related threats.

The National Transportation Security Center of Excellence, established in accordance with HR1. Designed to develop new technologies, tools and advanced methods to defend, protect and increase the resilience of the nation’s multimodal transportation.

Programs Designed to Combat the use of Explosive Devices

Threat #3 – Chemical Hazards

Chemical warfare is the use of bioengineered chemicals, which causes a physical or neurological reaction within animals, to result in a specific outcome…usually death.

Chemical Hazards continued

The necessary cost to create and produce a chemical weapon is considerable. However, stockpiled weapons may be obtained and utilized by insurgent groups. The probable risk is low, but possibility is present.

Chemical Hazard Protection

Currently, no specific program is implemented to deal exclusively with Chemical weapons, or their possible usage.

The Geneva Protocol of 1925 requires inspection of all chemical weapon factories, while the Chemical Weapons Convention, 1997, requires the destruction and prohibition of all chemical weapons. Unfortunately, to date, no terrorist organization is party to this convention.

Threat #4 - Recruitment

Terrorist organizations are recruiting members through personal reference, internet or any other method. Religious background is not a portion of their criteria, rather a mutual hatred toward their primary target.

Recruitment Continued

The key to any gang, or criminal organization is numbers. In essence, the more people committed to a cause, the stronger the organization, (Battin-Pearson et al, 1998).

Program to Combat Recruitment - START

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), is led by the University of Maryland.

Designed to disrupt terrorists and terrorist groups through grounded findings on the human element of the terrorist threat.

This program takes information on a global scale and then compiles the information for evaluation and decision, (US Department of Homeland Security).

Preventive Measures

This office has established a key program to aid in preventing terrorist attacks prior to any major attack materializing.

“An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure” – Henry de Bracton

Preventive Programs – C2I

The Center of Excellence in Command, Control and Interoperability (C2I), is led by Purdue University and Rutgers University. This program is designed to create the scientific basis and specific technologies needed to analyze massive amounts of information, in order to detect security threats quickly.

Response

Response to any event is crucial in obtaining information, ensuring maximum safety after the fact, and restoring order efficiently.

PACER CHC

The National Center for the Study of Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response (PACER), is led by Johns Hopkins University. This program is designed to optimize our nations preparedness in the event of a high consequence disaster.

The Coastal Hazards Center of Excellence, led by the University of North Carolina and Jackson State University. This program performs research and develops educational programs to enhance the nations ability to protect populations, properties, and economies from natural disasters. Although the CHC is designed for natural disasters and response, their information and training cross references to terroristic acts as well.

Response Programs

Response Programs Continued - CREATE

The Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE), is led by the University of Southern California. This program is designed to develop tools to evaluate the risks, costs and consequences of terrorism.

Conclusion

In closing, the many programs specific to combating terrorism within the United States of America, is growing. Already a vast web of areas are covered and demonstrate the concern toward terroristic acts. September 11th was a realization for the American people, the Department of Homeland Security is the answer of that realization.

Department of Homeland Security – “Preserving our Freedoms, Protecting America”

References

Battin-Pearson, S. R., Thornberry, T. P., Hawkins, J. D., and Krohn, M. D. 1998. Gang Membership, Delinquent Peers, and Delinquent Behavior. Bulletin. Youth Gang Series. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Web search on February 25, 2012 of http://DHS.govChalk, Peter 2006, West European Terrorism and

Counter-Terrorism, New York: St. Martin's PressHiggins, Rosalyn, 2007, "The General International

Law of Terrorism." Terrorism and International Law. Edited by Rosalyn Higgins and Maurice Flory. New York: Routledge,. Pages 13–29.