MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University's Homeland Security Research Program Director Dean Alexander is available for interviews regarding the November 13, 2015, terror attacks in Paris and their relation to the U.S.

Alexander is a professor in Western's School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA) and teaches LEJA and homeland security courses. He also conducts homeland security-related research, writes articles for security publications and presents at international conferences on a regular basis.

Alexander's comments about the Nov. 13 attacks follow:

The multi-pronged terror attacks in Paris Friday night, which killed over 100 people and injured hundreds more, was apparently undertaken by or on behalf of Islamic State (otherwise often called ISIL or ISIS). These terror incidents increasingly raise concern about the challenge of foreign fighters and U.S.-based individuals becoming inspired or aligned with the Islamic State.

In relation to the former issue, there are some 25,000 persons from 90 countries participating in global conflicts, who aggravate and extend conflicts abroad, while threatening their countries-of-origin (or third-countries) should they return after their fight on foreign soil. Some 250 Americans are believed to have traveled to Syria and Iraq, fighting on behalf of a myriad of warring factions, including the Islamic State.

Particularly troubling for America are the dozens of U.S.-based individuals, particularly since 2014 and summer 2015, who have been charged with attempting to join the Islamic State, providing it material support, and engaging in violent acts on behalf of the group. Consequently, the nexus between the civil wars in those countries and U.S. interests at home and abroad is increasing rapidly—whether we like it or not.

Indeed, the lure for some Americans to join the Islamic State is strong, while, of late, some eschew foreign lands to conduct terror attacks in the United States. As the U.S. law enforcement community is investigating Islamic State-linked operatives in all 50 states, unfortunately, it is likely that a large-scale caliphate-associated attack in the homeland is only a matter of time.

Publications and Research

In September, "The Islamic State: Combating the Caliphate Without Borders," a book co-authored by Alexander became available. In it, Alexander and his co-author (Yonah Alexander, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies) investigate the Islamic State and offer insights into the nature of the IS and what the international community can do to combat it. More information is available at https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498525114/The-Islamic-State-Combating-The-Caliphate-Without-Borders.

In May 2014, Alexander published "Syria's Siren," an article in Intersec, The Journal of International Security, which expands on the opinion piece, "Restrict flow of foreign fighters to Syria," he published in the Peoria Journal Star April 19 (2014).

Additional commentary/expertise provided by Prof. Alexander include:

"Front & Center: Defeating terrorism is a team sport," Q&A (4/18/13) with Darryl E. Owens from Orlando Sentinelwww.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-front-and-center-sports-security-20130417,0,2130539.story

"Boston brothers in bombs," by Dean C. AlexanderToday's Zaman (4/22/13, Istanbul, Turkey)www.todayszaman.com/news-313405-boston-brothers-in-bombsby-dean-c-alexander-.html

"The Public's Role in Preventing Terrorism," by Dean Alexander and Terry Mors, Security Magazine (5/2/13)www.securitymagazine.com/blogs/14-security-blog/post/84314-the-publics-role-in-preventing-terrorism

"Is the Woman Next Door a Terrorist?" by Dean Alexander and Robert Ceresero, Security Magazine (September 2013, p. 52), http://digital.bnpmedia.com/publication/?i=173995

More information about Alexander's background is available on his WIU faculty webpage at www.wiu.edu/coehs/leja/faculty_staff/alexander.php