The Counter Terrorist magazine reviewed CRC Press\' Terrorist Recognition Handbook, by Malcolm Nance.

1. Book review
Terrorist Recognition Handbook,
Second Edition by Malcolm Nance reviewed by: chris graham
a fter returning from my
third tour of duty in Iraq,
I generally avoided books on
the ongoing war in that country. I was
extremely unimpressed with the accuracy
rather, he is a 20-year veteran of
intelligence operations in the balkans,
the middle east (including Iraq and
Afghanistan), and Africa. As a result, the
Terrorist Recognition Handbook is truly
a discussion of critical awareness,
including how to identify operatives,
profile suspects, and understand terrorist
training, motivation, and beliefs. This
section is essential in that it demystifies
and perspective of the accounts that a “practitioner’s manual,” as its subtitle the terrorist from a phantom-like enigma
were provided by major news outlets indicates. broken into six sections, this while simultaneously discouraging the
and many publishers. It often equally detrimental belief that
seemed to me that the U.S. Central terrorists are incompetent human
Command issued orders based on caricatures.
this flawed reporting. The only thing Later portions of the text
I was certain of was that little of expand on many of the topics
the “conventional wisdom” seemed introduced in section one. For
consistent with what I observed example, section two, “Identifying
on the ground in Iraq, living with the Terrorist Group and Its
Iraqis, conducting operations, and Cells,” explores how these groups
patrolling. organize themselves, while section
This changed when I encountered three, “Detection of Key Terrorist
malcolm Nance’s book The Terrorists Activities,” examines the typical
of Iraq. To my surprise, this volume signatures of terrorist actions.
accurately captured my perspective Discussion of the processes by
on encounters with members of which terrorists acquire safe
various terror groups in Iraq and houses, money, and transportation
provided additional information reveals the level of coordination
I was unaware of. Nance’s book necessary to support their efforts.
reflected lessons learned by “grunts” Also of particular note is Chapter
in the field, even if this knowledge 12, which discusses equipment and
hadn’t always filtered uphill. other indicators that may reveal
Furthermore, Nance went into a group’s intended use of nuclear,
significant detail, offering little biological, or chemical materials.
that I could dispute. Thus, when I In section four, “Predicting
learned that the second edition of an Attack,” the activities of our
Nance’s Terrorist Recognition Handbook: volume offers a wealth of information for opponents are further revealed. After
A Practitioner’s Manual for Predicting and any security, law enforcement, military, noting that attacks are preceded by
Identifying Terrorist Activities (crc press/ or intelligence personnel involved in surveillance, Nance discusses the elements
taylor and Francis Group, 2008) had counter-terrorism and anti-terrorism of surveillance in depth. Infiltration
been released, I immediately requested a operations. techniques, as well as the decision-making
copy. In section one of the Terrorist processes used by terrorist groups, are
Nance did not gain his insight by Recognition Handbook, entitled “Know analyzed. Perhaps the most useful portion
earning a phD and watching cNN; the terrorist,” Nance begins with
42 The Counter Terrorist ~ September/October 2008

2. of this section—indeed, of the book
as a whole—is chapter 17, “point of
Danger: Law Enforcement Traffic Stops
and encountering terrorists.” because
the patrol officer is far more likely to
encounter militant activity than other
specialized personnel, this chapter
provides a number of detection ideas that
can be implemented in the field. Finally,
this section concludes with chapter 18,
“Point of Failure: Terrorist Operations
and Tactics.” This chapter discusses the
types of terrorist action that may unfold
if not detected and interdicted in earlier
stages. In doing so, this piece familiarizes
the reader with a wide range of attack
methods previously employed and likely
to be implemented in the future.
Nance closes out the textual portion
of his book with section five, “The New
Field of Terror,” which explores several
key developments in modern terrorism.
Individual chapters are devoted to the
examination of al-Qaeda and related Circle 193 on Reader Service Card
worldwide movements, to suicide
terror and its implementation, and to
major developments in the Iraq War
between 2003 and 2008. Finally, in If you
section six, Nance provides a number
of supplemental resources, including
read one
a bibliography, a list of known global book on
terror groups, and checklists for explosive
materials.
radical
malcolm Nance has acquired a level Islam this
of understanding that surpasses that
of many senior government officials year, read
with regard to the topics of terrorism, this!
Iraq, and Afghanistan, and he shares his
vast knowledge with us in the second
edition of the Terrorist Recognition
Handbook. Though Nance withholds $12.95
some technological details for security plus shipping
purposes, this book is an excellent
introduction to terrorist methodologies
for both vigilant first responders
To order go to:
and personnel who are preparing for www.wakeupamerica.ws or Amazon.com
deployment. • or, call Woodmont Publishers at 561-441-5484
Circle 249 on Reader Service Card
The Counter Terrorist ~ September/October 2008 43