Author: Malcolm Nance
ISBN No: 1420071831
Review date: 05/12/2025
No of pages: 480
Publisher: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group
Year of publication: 11/09/2012
Brief:
Another book on terrorism? Well, not any old book: the American author, Malcolm Nance, was at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
The book ranges over terrorist cells, weapons, tactics, and finances. Of most use to the security officer and manager is the chapter ‘terrorist surveillance techniques’ because as Nance writes: “Apart from the attack itself, the most predictable and observable part of a terrorist attack is when terrorists conduct surveillance on a potential target.” As Nance says, stalkers, burglars, and foreign spies do surveillance too, whether posing as tourists or fro a hotel room. “Terrorists generally have a bigger budget with more discretionary spending than the average police force, so don’t be surprised if they demonstrate high sophistication.” Do you know what is suspicious – people pacing off distances on the pavement? And if you spot something odd, do you know who to report to? Note that Nance tells of the 9-11 skyjackers visiting a strip club beforehand, we presume because no-one would suspect terrorists would go to plot there. Hence, a safe place. Terrorists, Nance says, will do whatever it takes, so assume nothing.
Unusually for an American book, this handbook roams worldwide, with assurance. Nance ends with the gloomy thought that Iraq has become ‘the post-graduate school of global terrorism’.
About the author: A 20 year veteran of the US intelligence community, he has been deployed on anti-terrorism and counter-terrorism intelligence operations in the Balkans, Middle East, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and sub-Saharan Africa.
