Protecting American Interests Abroad: U.S. Citizens, Businesses, and Non-Governmental Organizations
Abstract
Nearly half a century ago the renowned British novelist and international traveler, Evelyn Waugh, presciently observed that, "In a few years' time the world will be divided into zones of insecurity which one can penetrate only at the risk of murder and tourist routes along which one will fly to chain hotels, hygienic, costly and second-rate." Today, many Americans would likely agree with that assessment: simultaneously comforted by the monochromatic familiarity of restaurants and hotels that have become indistinguishable from one another whether located here or abroad; while increasingly leery of a world beyond our borders seen as populated by terrorists, kidnappers, brigands and bandits. It is perhaps not surprising that such a world view of palpable threat and acute risk should exist given the seeming unrelenting litany of terrorist attacks, high-profile kidnappings, aircraft hijackings, extortions and robberies that have deliberately targeted or randomly entangled Americans either travelling or working abroad. To a large extent, this perception is grounded in an undeniable reality: for over three decades, terrorists have targeted the United States-and in turn its citizens-more often than any other country. The report of the National Commission on Terrorism last year drew attention to precisely this lamentable situation: "Terrorists attack American targets more often than those of any other country." Recent testimony before a Senate Committee respectively by the Director, Central Intelligence, George Tenet and a senior State Department official further attested to this fact: with both men agreeing that "The United States remains a number one target of international terrorism. As in previous years, close to one-third of all incidents worldwide in 2000 were directed against Americans."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 03, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA391933
Entities
People
- Bruce Hoffman
Organizations
- RAND Corporation