Terrorism and WMDs: Awareness and Response, Third Edition is fully updated to include the latest technology and tactics surrounding the threats posed by terrorist groups--detailing plausible contexts in which chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) weapons could be used by such actors.
Experienced author Gus Martin has collaborated on updating this resource, with two new chapters at the start of the book outlining the historical origins of terrorism, terrorist typologies, and the evolution of the modern terrorist environment including large-scale regional conflicts and domestic violent extremism in the United States. Additional coverage of new case studies have been added throughout. This includes an examination of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and additional events that have occurred since the last edition's release. Domestic U.S. threats--from hate, extremist, and supremacist groups--are discussed, as well as emergent and novel tactics being used in the Israel-Gaza conflict and the 2022 Russian invasion and subsequent Russia-Ukraine conflict are examined.
This includes the use of drone attacks by both Ukraine and Russia and Russia's occupation and bombardment of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), highlighting what could be argued are terror-like tactics that challenge the precepts of accepted international law. In the Middle East, Israel's response in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attack by Islamist terrorists--with its subsequent operations in Gaza and an unprecedented operation involving exploding pagers and communications radios in Lebanon and Syria--evoked international criticism and controversy.
Coverage also focuses on the chemistry and biology of weapons of mass destruction and, the development and history of their use, as well as the human health effects of such weapons. Added references, chapter questions--and the addition of recent terrorist acts to relevant sections--all present the modern threat environment and realistic WMD material access and attack capabilities. Given that terrorist weapons and delivery methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the book provides a comprehensive, current survey of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
As such, Terrorism and WMDs, Third Edition continues to serve as an invaluable resource to students and professionals studying and working in the fields of terrorism, Homeland Security, and emergency response.
John Pichtel is a professor of natural resources and environmental management at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where he has been on the faculty since 1987. He earned his PhD in environmental science at Ohio State University, MS in soil chemistry/agronomy at Ohio State, and BS in natural resources management at Rutgers University. His primary research and professional activities have been in management of hazardous materials, remediation of contaminated sites, and environmental chemistry. Dr. Pichtel teaches courses in emergency response to hazmat incidents, management of solid and hazardous wastes, environmental site assessment, and site remediation. Dr. Pichtel is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. He holds memberships in the Institute of Hazardous Materials Managers, the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the Indiana Academy of Science. He was selected as a Fulbright Scholar in 1999 and again in 2005. Dr. Pichtel has received extensive training from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in response to chemical, biological, radiological, and explosives hazards. He has written two books addressing waste management and cleanup of contaminated sites, and has authored or coauthored approximately 50 research articles. He has served as a consultant in hazardous waste management projects and has conducted environmental assessments and remediation research in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, and Poland.
Gus Martin is a professor and founding chair of the criminal justice administration department at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he teaches courses on terrorism and extremism, criminal law, and the criminal justice system. He has served as founding director of the School of Public Service and Justice. He also served as Associate Vice President for Human Resources Management, Acting Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration and Public Policy, Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs, and Chair of the Department of Public Administration. He began his academic career as a member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, where he was an administration of justice professor. His current research and professional interests are terrorism and extremism, homeland security, and the administration of justice. Dr. Martin is the author of several books on the subjects of terrorism and homeland security. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Martin served as Managing Attorney for the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh. He was also Special Counsel to the Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands on the island of St. Thomas. Prior to serving as Special Counsel, he was a "floor" Legislative Assistant to Congressman Charles B. Rangel of New York. Dr. Martin received his AB degree from Harvard College, JD from Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, and PhD from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
