International Security

The United States' color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) has failed to motivate relevant actors to take costly protective measures in response to a terrorist alert, particularly after increases in the threat level appeared to be politically manipulated. The HSAS has neither shared relevant information regarding its alerts nor generated enough confidence in the government to convince the public to take necessary actions. An alternative trust-based alert system could succeed where HSAS has failed.

Richard Falkenrath provides a detailed assessment of The 9/11 Commission Report.

Peacekeeping and peacemaking in these places, although engaging important humanitarian concerns, never addressed the vital security interests of the United States, and none of these conflicts could begin to threaten its survival.

The author challenges the scholarly community to pay greater attention to the role of emotion and emotional relationships in international relations.

Ernest May and Philip Zelikow dispute several points made by Richard Falkenrath in his review of The 9/11 Commission Report. Falkenrath replies to their criticisms.

The vulnerability of theUnited States to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, is explained by the failure of U.S.intelligence agencies to address the rise of the terrorist challenge following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Unionand the end of the Cold War.