We have been fortunate as a nation. The terrorist incidents in this country however tragic—have occurred so rarely that the foundations of our society or our form of government have not been threatened. Nevertheless, the potential
for terrorist attacks inside the borders of the United States is a serious emerging threat. There is no guarantee that our comparatively secure domestic sanctuary will always remain so. Because the stakes are so high, our nation’s leaders musttake seriously the possibility of an escalation of terrorist violence against the
homeland.
The continuing challenge for the United States is first to deter and, failing that, to detect and interdict terrorists before they strike. Should an attack occur, local, State, and Federal authorities must be prepared to respond and mitigate the consequences of the attack.
To prepare to manage the consequences of such attacks effectively, the United States needs changes in the relationships among all levels of government. Our ability to respond cannot depend on a single level or agency of government. Rather we need a national approach, one that recognizes the unique individual skills that communities, States, and the Federal government possess and that, collectively, will give us the “total package” needed to address all aspects of terrorism.
