ABSTRACT
Terrorism is a political act, though its use and processes have very speci–c, horri–c components and consequences. In this country terror is perhaps no longer perceived to be the same thing it was in the years immediately following the events of September 11, 2001-events that tragically introduced international terrorism to the American public. Terrorism on American soil was not new, since political activists, extremists, and radicals had used bombs, kidnapping, hijackings, and hostage taking as tactics in campaigns to press their points of view into the public awareness. But foreign terrorists striking on the American mainland had a devastating eœect physically, psychologically, and emotionally that, a decade later, still inhabits the nation’s psyche. Governments-federal, state, and local-continue to struggle to reduce the anxiety levels among the general public. In addition, private sector security has never been so –nely tuned.
