Misperceiving the Terrorist Threat,
Abstract
While the United States has been relatively free of terrorist incidents within its own borders, U.S. military and diplomatic personnel abroad have not been as fortunate. American tourists, businessmen, and facilities overseas have also been the targets of international terrorists over the years. This has led to growing frustration and anger on the part of the American public and pressure on the government to on the part of the American public and pressure on the government to do something about the terrorist threat. However, it is extremely difficult to counter a threat that is worldwide in scope, that is characterized by a multitude of diverse groups with varying tactics, and that stems from a complex array of political, economic, and ethnic/religious causes. Misperceptions of the terrorist threat to U.S. national security have led to attempts to design high-level policies to counter what are essentially low-level threats. Acknowledging that terrorism is not likely to threaten the nation's vital interests unless each episode is allowed to be perceived as a crisis may be the first step toward creating an effective and practical response.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA191572
Entities
People
- Jeffrey D. Simon
Organizations
- RAND Corporation