21st Century Essential NBC Reference Series: Terrorism and Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Independent Study Course ... Destruction WMD, First Responder Ringbound)

This is an up-to-date independent study course training manual instructor guide produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on terrorism and emergency management. The course goal is stated as follows:

"This course is an introduction to political terrorism, ranging from low-level acts of threats and acts of violence that may represent significant risk to human life and property to large-scale acts of violence using "weapons of mass destruction" that may have devastating, long-term effects. The course will address the following: The nature of terrorism and its many forms; Policies and programs to reduce the risk that terrorism presents to society; Policies and programs to manage terrorist events; and Policies and programs to manage the consequences of terrorist violence." Primary course objectives include:

"1. Students will develop an understanding of the complexity of the American federal system and how it affects policy making, fiscal relations, and policy management. 2. Students will develop an understanding of the complexity of government programs in terms of the participation by agencies and actors from Federal, State and local governments and, to a lesser extent, the involvement of actors from the nonprofit and private sectors. 3. Students will develop an understanding of bureaucratic politics and how politics affects policy design, decision making, program implementation, and administration. 4. Students will develop an understanding of international law and how governments deal with international problems. 5. Students will develop an understanding of the administrative processes involved in managing major disasters."

A brief history of terrorism is stated:

"Terrorism has been used in political and nonpolitical conflicts since humans were cave dwellers. Terrorism is distinguished from other forms of violence or threats in terms of its intended impact and victims. Terrorism is also a matter of perception. An act may be perceived differently by different individuals and groups. Defining terrorism precisely has been a serious problem because "one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter." If you agree with the cause, you don’t call them terrorists. By most legal and political definitions, terrorism involves: a) the use or threat of extraordinary violence; b) goal-directed or rational behavior; c) the intent to have a psychological impact broader than the immediate victims; and d) the choice of victims for their symbolic, rather than their instrumental, value. In essence, terrorism involves the use or threat of violence that is beyond what is "usual" or common in a society. Terrorism is goal-directed or rational behavior and not just the acts of crazy people. There is a purpose, although it may be difficult to discern. ! Terrorism may be politically motivated, but it may also be religiously, criminally, or even economically motivated. The "protection rackets," forcing store owners and residents to pay for "protection" from outsiders or the gang operating a scheme, has been a common form of criminal terrorism. The message, the threat, is all important and the intent is to communicate it to a target group. Dead victims are not terrorized, but their families, friends, political allies, coworkers, and others are."

This is the complete instructor guide made available by FEMA as part of the Emergency Management Institute Independent Study program, described this way by FEMA:

Within the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Fire Administration, operates the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). EMI produces independent study courses to train the general public as well as specific target audiences. The EMI Independent Study program consists of self-paced courses designed for people who have emergency management responsibilities and the general public. . .and college credit can be obtained through a for-fee service. Each Independent Study Course