Breaking News: Terrorism/Homeland Security

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Released: 4-Jun-2008 8:00 AM EDT
Counterterrorism Expert Amos Guiora on Detainee Policy
University of Utah

University of Utah law professor Amos Guiora to testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Improving Detainee Policy: Handling Terrorism Detainees within the American Justice System." The hearing begins June 4 at 10:00 a.m. EDT in room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Released: 22-May-2008 8:45 AM EDT
Terrorism Fatalities Up, Not Down; Analysis Disputes New Report
University of Maryland, College Park

The University of Maryland's Gary LaFree, director of the world's largest and most comprehensive open-source terror database, disagrees with a new report challenging the "expert consensus" that international terrorism fatalities are rising. In large part, the issue is whether to count Iraqi civilian deaths as incidents of terror.

Released: 17-Apr-2008 3:35 PM EDT
Security from Chaos
Homeland Security's Science And Technology Directorate

There's safety (and security) in numbers " -- especially when those numbers are random. That's the lesson learned from a DHS-sponsored research project out of the University of Southern California (USC). The research is already helping to beef up security at LAX airport in Los Angeles, and it could soon be used across the country to predict and minimize risk.

Released: 4-Apr-2008 9:55 AM EDT
Does Raising the Terrorism Alert Level Cause Undue Stress?
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's color-coded system for warning the public of the risk of a terrorist attack does not appear to cause undue stress among law enforcement officers. The study is among the first to examine the psychological impact of the alert system on first responders.

   
Released: 26-Feb-2008 8:35 AM EST
STOP Terrorism Software
University of Maryland, College Park

Researchers at the University of Maryland's Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) have developed the SOMA Terror Organization Portal (STOP) allowing analysts to query automatically learned rules on terrorist organization behavior, forecast potential behavior based on these rules, and, most importantly, to network with other analysts examining the same subjects.

Released: 30-Jan-2008 10:00 AM EST
Professor Examines Jihad in New Book ‘Arguing the Just War in Islam’
Florida State University

"The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it . . . ."

Released: 29-Jan-2008 8:50 AM EST
Anthrax Spore Decontamination System Leaves No Trace
Georgia Institute of Technology, Research Communications

Researchers have developed prototypes of a rapid, non-disruptive and less expensive method to decontaminate bioterrorism hazards. Using flat panels that produce X-rays and ultraviolet-C light, the researchers can kill anthrax spores, even hidden ones, in two to three hours without any lingering effects.

Released: 19-Dec-2007 2:30 PM EST
Psychologists Protest APA Policy on Torture
University of Rhode Island

Psychology faculty members at the University of Rhode Island have signed a resolution opposing the position of the American Psychological Association that allows psychologists working in foreign prisons to assist teams in certain kinds of interrogations.

 
Released: 12-Dec-2007 2:00 PM EST
Torture Used in 98% of Nations With Any Political Violence: Study
University of Maryland, College Park

Torture has been practiced in recent decades by more than 98 percent of nations that experience any political violence, including Western democracies, according to a study by a University of Maryland researcher and colleagues. A second Maryland researcher finds that torture is rarely isolated and ends up being used broadly and institutionalized.

Released: 24-Sep-2007 9:40 AM EDT
New Report Reveals Impact of Global War on Terror on US National Guard Soldiers
Tufts University

Feinstein International Center report: Relying largely on the soldiers' own words, the report provides a composite narrative of the experience of National Guard troops -- from enlistment and training through deployment, combat and re-entry. In the past six years of the Global War on Terror, more than 1.5 million U.S. troops have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Of these, some 250,000 have been members of the National Guard.

Released: 14-Sep-2007 11:00 AM EDT
Bridge Strengthening Research
Homeland Security's Science And Technology Directorate

These days, a drive across a bridge is not always a pleasure cruise. Mindful of the war on terrorism, it can often be a cautious experience. This summer, the possibility of sabotage was quickly examined"”then dismissed"”when the I35W bridge tragically collapsed in Minneapolis.

12-Sep-2007 2:35 PM EDT
New AI Software May Key Successful Antiterrorism, Military and Diplomatic Actions
University of Maryland, College Park

A Perspectives piece in the September 14 issue of the journal Science looks at new University of Maryland software and models that can help policymakers or military planners predict the behavior of political, economic, and social groups, predictions that can be critical for success of antiterrorism, military or diplomatic actions.

Released: 13-Sep-2007 12:15 PM EDT
Researcher Probes for Motivations Behind “Ecoterrorist” Group
University of Alberta

A new study by University of Alberta researcher Paul Joosse cautions against any surety about the ideological motivations behind the Earth Liberation Front. The Earth Liberation Front (or ELF, for short) uses an organizational strategy called "˜leaderless resistance,' whereby small cells choose when, how, and against whom to act"”and then make a claim of responsibility on behalf of the mother group.

Released: 10-Sep-2007 2:30 PM EDT
Local First Responders Critical During Terrorism Threat
Rowan University

The importance of ensuring readiness of local first responders cannot be overemphasized in that they will be on the incident scene long before regional, state and federal resources arrive, says Dr. Robert Fleming, Rowan University.

Released: 7-Aug-2007 2:30 PM EDT
UC San Diego Fighting Terrorism on the Medical Front
UC San Diego Health

A cooperative research project involving seven institutions in the United States and Peru, led by Joseph Vinetz, M.D., professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease at the UCSD School of Medicine, has received a biodefense grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Released: 1-Aug-2007 5:35 PM EDT
International Food Supply a Soft Target for Terrorists
Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)

Senior bioterrorism and biodefense advisor to the U.S. Department of State recognizes a safe, international food supply as a "soft target" for terrorists, and described to international food professionals some catalysts for improving safety from acts of intentional contamination.

Released: 17-Jul-2007 5:15 PM EDT
In the Wake of the UK Terror Scare, Are Americans Ready for Disaster?
Saint Louis University Medical Center

Saint Louis University's Heartland Centers is playing a major role in developing an incident command system for first responders, public health officials and leaders, which lays out a response plan to natural disasters, bioterrorism and other emergencies.

Released: 12-Jul-2007 2:40 PM EDT
In the Wake of the UK Terror Scare, Are Americans Ready for Disaster?
Saint Louis University Medical Center

The Heartland Centers at Saint Louis University are leading the local production of the National Incident Management System program, which lays out a clear response plan to natural disasters, bioterrorism and other emergencies for all jurisdictions, from city and state health departments including human services departments to the FBI and Homeland Security.

Released: 28-Jun-2007 9:00 PM EDT
T-Rays vs. Terrorists
IEEE Spectrum Magazine

Terahertz radiation can see through clothes and tell if that's Play-Doh in your pocket or a pound of plastique.

Released: 23-May-2007 4:20 PM EDT
World’s Largest Unclassified Database of Terror Attacks Now Live Online
University of Maryland, College Park

The world's largest unclassified database of terrorism attacks is now available online for general use by researchers, policy-makers, media and the general public "“ an important tool that the researchers say may help develop more effective responses to terrorism.

Released: 22-May-2007 4:15 PM EDT
World’s Largest Unclassified Database of Terrorism Incidents to Debut
University of Maryland, College Park

Demonstration and debut of the world's largest unclassified database of terrorism incidents "“ the Global Terrorism Database. Developed by START, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism based at the University of Maryland, the database will be freely available online to policy-makers, researchers the media and the general public. START is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Released: 16-Apr-2007 1:20 PM EDT
Media Coverage of Pakistan Stokes Global Terrorism Fears
University of Maryland, College Park

A New University of Maryland study finds patterns of coverage in major U.S. newspapers that may still be contributing to public confusion over the need for a global "War on Terror" and the public's perception of the global terrorist risk.

Released: 5-Dec-2006 5:50 PM EST
Book by Psychology Professor Focuses on Terrorism
Binghamton University, State University of New York

Terrorism has plagued the United States throughout its history, though some seem to believe it began with the Oklahoma City bombing and the Sept. 11 attacks. A new book by a Binghamton University faculty member argues that studying the history of terrorism in this country can lead to an understanding of the changing nature of the problem, methods for coping with the threat and the psychological, political and legal principles involved.

Released: 30-Nov-2006 7:45 PM EST
Book Examines Media Bias in Coverage of President’s Speeches
Virginia Tech

Jim A. Kuypers, assistant professor of communication at Virginia Tech, reveals a disturbing world of media bias in his new book Bush's War: Media Bias and Justifications for War in a Terrorist Age (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 2006).

Released: 1-Nov-2006 3:15 PM EST
Cybersecurity Expert Says Nationwide Use of Computerized Voting Poses Risk
Purdue University

Many of the paperless computerized voting systems adopted in wake of the "hanging chad" presidential election controversy in 2000 have the potential to create more problems than they solve. According to Eugene Spafford, director of CERIAS, the technology may cause a debacle reminiscent of the 2000 election.

Released: 31-Oct-2006 5:00 PM EST
Findings Could Foil Two Potential Bioterror Agents
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College

Two lethal and easily transmitted viruses -- both potential bioterror agents -- may soon be much less dangerous, thanks to research led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Released: 9-Oct-2006 2:40 PM EDT
LOGIIC Helps Keep Oil, Gas Control Systems Safe
Sandia National Laboratories

For the past 12 months, Sandia has served as the lead lab in Project LOGIIC (Linking the Oil and Gas Industry to Improve Cyber Security). The project was created to keep U.S. oil and gas control systems safe and secure, and to help minimize the chance that a terrorist attack could severely damage or cripple America's oil and gas infrastructure.

Released: 28-Sep-2006 12:00 PM EDT
Study Shows Internet to be Resilient Against Terror Attack
Ohio State University

Researchers have simulated what would happen to Internet reliability in the United States if terrorists were able to knock out various physical components of the network. The good news is that it would be very difficult to cause major disruptions across the country, although destruction of some key parts could seriously degrade Internet quality.

23-Aug-2006 4:20 PM EDT
New Anthrax Inhibitor Could Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Strain
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

In a new approach to treating anthrax exposure, a team of scientists has created an inhibitor designed to tackle the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant strains. Reporting in PNAS, researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Toronto describe the new anthrax toxin inhibitor, which performed successfully in both laboratory and animal tests.

Released: 24-Aug-2006 5:55 PM EDT
Invention Targets Terrorist Weapons
University of Wyoming

University of Wyoming researchers have developed and patented a technology that can rapidly detect explosives such as the liquid compounds that were part of a recently-thwarted plot to detonate bombs on as many as 10 U.S.-bound airliners.

Released: 15-Aug-2006 7:40 PM EDT
Rapidly Deployable Chemical Detection System Tested
Sandia National Laboratories

Through late June and early July, Sandia researchers in Livermore tested the Rapidly Deployable Chemical Detection System (RDCDS) during Oakland A's games at McAfee Stadium. The system, which can be packaged and deployed within 24 hours locally, is designed to provide swift yet effective protection at high-profile events.

Released: 14-Aug-2006 6:40 PM EDT
Sensors Could Detect Traces of Chemicals on Passengers
University at Buffalo

At the University at Buffalo's multidisciplinary Center for Unified Biometrics and Sensors, (CUBS) researchers from several academic departments have proposed development of a biometric sensor that could detect traces of chemicals on the fingers of airline passengers.

Released: 10-Aug-2006 4:25 PM EDT
Experts Available to Discuss Terrorism
University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

University of Texas at Austin faculty available to discuss terrorism.

Released: 3-Aug-2006 3:40 PM EDT
Why *Did* The United States Launch The War On Terror?
University of New Hampshire

When the Bush administration launched its "war on terror" immediately following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, it did so without a "war narrative" "“ a cohesive and consistent story firmly developed in the minds of the public that prepared them politically and psychologically for the conflict, according to a new study co-authored by a University of New Hampshire professor.

Released: 24-Jul-2006 2:25 PM EDT
Pediatric Aspects of Emergency Preparedness
Boston Children's Hospital

Whether of terrorist or natural origins, limited attention has been paid to the needs of children during large-scale public health emergencies. Children are highly vulnerable to chemical or biological agents, don't carry IDs, and may be unable to communicate, notes Michael Shannon, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Biopreparedness at Children's Hospital Boston.

Released: 11-Jul-2006 6:35 PM EDT
Book Details Use of Fear to Support War on Terror
Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

A new book by David Altheide, Regents' Professor at Arizona State, asserts that the U.S. government used the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon, as a catalyst to unleash a sophisticated propaganda campaign. That campaign was designed to scare the American people into giving up civil liberties, as well as supporting the war in Iraq, Altheide says in his new book, "Terrorism and the Politics of Fear."

Released: 5-Jul-2006 4:40 PM EDT
Govt. Terrorism Deterrence Strategies of Limited Effectiveness
University of Maryland, College Park

Government attempts to deter terrorism can backfire and promote invigorated reprisals and a cycle of violence, according to a new study by University of Maryland researchers. The study is based on a review of the world's largest open-source database of terrorist incidents at the DHS-funded National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) housed at Maryland.

Released: 8-Jun-2006 4:55 PM EDT
Preparedness Is Crucial in the Aftermath of al-Zarqawi’s Death
Rowan University

Emergency management and terrorism preparedness expert Dr. Robert Fleming says the U.S. cannot let its guard down after the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Released: 8-Jun-2006 8:50 AM EDT
University of Haifa Iraq Expert Baram: End of al-Qaida in Iraq
University of Haifa

The death of Zarqawi signals the beginning of the end of the al-Qaida organization and of Sunni rebellion in Iraq", says one of the world's leading experts on Iraq, Prof. Amatzia Baram of the University of Haifa.

Released: 23-May-2006 5:55 PM EDT
Terror Attacks Against Companies Drop Stock Values Significantly
Ohio State University

Terrorist attacks targeting specific companies cost those firms an average of $401 million in stock value per incident, according to a new study. Researchers studied 75 terrorist incidents around the world between 1995 and 2002 and found that the target companies saw their stock prices drop an average of 0.83 percent on the day of the terrorist incident.

Released: 25-Apr-2006 4:00 PM EDT
Jihadis Use Media as a Weapon
Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Jihadis place a great deal of emphasis on developing comprehensive PR and communication strategies to aid their side in the media war. That's according to communication researchers at Arizona State University who studied recently declassified al-Qaida documents and other open source reports captured in Iraq and Afghanistan.



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