Produced by staff at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, this book provides the reader with a brief overview of the terrorist threat and then highlights both current and enduring issues surrounding homeland security. The book illuminates controversies surrounding the Federal Government’s creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the powers granted to government in the United States PATRIOT Act, as well as current issues regarding security of vulnerable infrastructure and lessons learned from recent experiences. The book is a collective volume, written by noted terrorism experts, homeland security practitioners, government officials, police, military, business professionals, and educators. It is organized into five parts. Part I describes the threat to the homeland from terrorists waging a type of warfare not well understood by many. Part II reviews a diverse group of vulnerable United States targets, such as aviation, transportation, and cyberspace, as well as food, water, and porous borders. Part III addresses the ability of national, State, and local agencies to respond to acts of terrorism. Part IV deals with the complicated issue of civil liberties in a democratic nation under attack. It explores the tension sometimes encountered in assuring both the personal freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution and the safety of citizens from terrorist attacks. Part V asks whether the lessons learned from natural and man-made disasters can be used to better prepare the Nation for certain types of terrorist attacks. What is clear is that while much has been done to secure the American homeland since September 11, much more remains to be done, not only by the Federal Government but also by State and local governments, the private-sector, and ordinary citizens. Figures and bibliography