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According to the Foreign Policy Center, widespread fatalism about the risk of terrorism means that many organizations are not taking precautions that could save lives and their business in the event of an attack… in spite of the fact that the real lessons of September 11 are that many lives were saved because emergency procedures had been drilled after the first attack in 1993. The real answer is knowledge and preparation; this week's articles will help provide information about terrorism and the actions you can take to help ensure that we are all prepared.

Learn what actions to include in your family disaster plan to prepare for and respond to terrorist threats. (Item #1) It is crucial for governments and businesses to coordinate a definitive approach to creating a more secure environment. (Item #2) It is a marvel that terrorists haven't already struck soft targets in the United States. (Item #3)

The psychological consequences of terrorism can be as devastating as the terrorist act itself. (Item #4) Terrorism seems to be a very costly business; how do terrorists afford it? (Item #5) Has our fiscal outlook deteriorated since 9/11? (Item #6)

As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns with regards to business continuity. If you have a topic you'd like to see covered, please email me at bmellinger@attainium.net

Best Regards,

Bob Mellinger
President
Attainium Corp

Quote of the Week

"No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices."
- Edward R. Murrow -

Articles

1. Terrorism
This document from FEMA is Part IV of FEMA's "Are You Ready" Guide. Completing Part 4 will enable you to: recognize important terms, take protective measures for terrorist threats, know what actions to take if an event occurs, identify resources for more information about terrorist threats.
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/terrorism.pdf

2. The Implications of Recurring Terrorism for Business
It seems clear now that if governments and businesses are to win the battle against terrorism, they must take a completely proactive stance-anticipating likely targets, substantially beefing up security, and establishing countermeasures to prevent future attacks from occurring.
http://www.irmi.com/EXPERT/Articles/2004/Wagner05.aspx

3. Terrorism's Soft Targets
Today, it is more difficult than ever for terrorists outside the United States to slip in and launch another attack by hijacking an airplane, smuggling a weapon of mass destruction into a seaport, blowing up a bus or a subway station, or poisoning our food or water supply. The good news stops there. The bad news is that the hardening of these targets has increased the appeal of shopping malls, sports arenas, hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, housing complexes and other "soft" targets that remain relatively unprotected against terrorist attacks.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/05/AR2006050501754.html

4. Understanding and Preparing for the Psychological Consequences of Terrorism
Beyond the physical damage caused by the event itself, terrorism is intended to have a psychological effect. It targets the social capital of a nation-cohesion, values, and ability to function. Therefore, successful counterterrorism and national continuity depend on effective interventions to sustain the psychological, behavioral, and social functioning of the nation and its citizens.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/reprints/2006/RAND_RP1217.pdf

5. 10 Things You Don't Know About Terrorism
Two and a half years into the 'war on terror', the US is running a $500 billion budget deficit, its highest ever and the country is struggling to cover war costs. Terrorism seems to be a very costly business. So how can terrorists afford it? The answer is simple: terrorism is their business.
http://www.progress.org/2004/napo03.htm

6. Economic Consequences Of Terrorism
This paper analyses the economic consequences of terrorism, both in terms of immediate policy response in the aftermath of the attacks and of medium-term policy implications for regulatory, trade and fiscal policy.
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/11/60/1935314.pdf