It has been nearly 15 years since 9-11 and the United States still faces terror threats. After years of war, ever more intensive and pervasive surveillance, enhanced security measures at major transportation centres, and many attempts to explain who the US are fighting and why and how to fight them, the threats continue to multiply.

Counterterrorism experts Martha Crenshaw and Gary LaFree provide a comprehensive critical look at how the US have dealt with the terror threat over the years. They argue that the US still finds it difficult to define just who and what it is we are fighting and at the same time we have yet to determine what is the best way to deter or eradicate terror threats. The book is a clear-eyed look at a history of determined efforts, some of which have worked and many of which have failed, and a glance forward at what can be done in the future.