TERRORISM: COMMENTARY ON SECURITY DOCUMENTS VOLUME 120 U.S. Preparedness for Catastrophic Attacks

Terrorism: Commentary on Security Documents is a hardbound series that provides primary-source documents and expert commentary on the worldwide counter-terrorism effort. Among the documents collected are transcripts of Congressional testimony, reports by such federal government bodies as theCongressional Research Service (CRS) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and case law covering issues related to terrorism. Most volumes carry a single theme, and inside each volume the documents appear within topic-based categories. The series also includes a subject index and otherindices that guide the user through this complex area of the law.Volume 120, U.S. Preparedness for Catastrophic Attacks, discusses the critical topic of U.S. preparedness for catastrophic events. Doug Lovelace introduces documents that will inform researchers and practitioners of international law and national security about the ability of the United States toprevent and deter a catastrophic attack, as well as to mitigate and cope with the effects of such an attack. This volume is divided into three sections: (1) Deterring and Defending Against Catastrophic Attacks; (2) Warning, Detection and Reaction to Catastrophic Attacks; and (3) Policy Voids and Initiatives Regarding Catastrophic Attacks on the United States. In each of these sections Doug Lovelace hasselected CRS and GAO reports that provide insightful analysis of the issues at hand. Volume 120 examines diverse topics such as infrastructure protection, threat detection technology (biosurveillance, advanced spectroscoping portals for detection of nuclear materials), evacuation policy, cyberspacesecurity, and federal assistance to state and local authorities for emergency preparedness.

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

A. DETERRING AND DEFENDING AGAINST CATASTROPHIC ATTACKS

Commentary by Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr.

DOCUMENT NO. 1: Critical Infrastructures: Background, Policy, and Implementation, CRS Report RL30153, John D. Moteff, June 7, 2010

DOCUMENT NO. 2: Critical Infrastructure Protection: Key Private and Public Cyber Expectations Need to Be Consistently Addressed, GAO-10-628, David A. Powner, July 2010

B. WARNING, DETECTION AND REACTION TO CATASTROPHIC ATTACKS

Commentary by Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr.

DOCUMENT NO. 3: Biosurveillance: Efforts to Develop a National Biosurveillance Capability Need a National Strategy and a Designated Leader, GAO-10-645, William O. Jenkins, Jr., June 2010

DOCUMENT NO. 4: Detection of Nuclear Weapons and Materials: Science, Technologies, Observations, CRS Report R40154, Jonathan Medalia, June 4, 2010

DOCUMENT NO. 5: The Advanced Spectroscopic Portal Program: Background and Issues for Congress, CRS Report RL34750, Dana A. Shea et al., May 21, 2010

DOCUMENT NO. 6: The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and All-Hazard Warnings, Issues for Congress, CRS Report RL32527, Linda K. Moore, August 26, 2010

C. POLICY VOIDS AND INITIATIVES REGARDING CATASTROPHIC ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES

Commentary by Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr.

DOCUMENT NO. 7: Federal Evacuation Policy: Issues for Congress, CRS Report RL34745, Bruce R. Lindsay, April 29, 2010

DOCUMENT NO. 8: Homeland Defense: DOD Can Enhance Efforts to Identify Capabilities to Support Civil Authorities During Disasters, GAO-10-386, Davi M. D'Agostino, March 2010

DOCUMENT NO. 9 Fiscal Year 2011 Department of Homeland Security Assistance to States and Localities, CRS Report R41105, Shawn Reese, April 26, 2010

DOCUMENT NO. 10: Cyberspace Policy: Executive Branch Is Making Progress Implementing 2009 Policy Review Recommendations, but Sustained Leadership Is Needed, GAO-11-24, David A. Powner, October 2010

SUBJECT INDEX