The present volume originated in an Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) which took place at the Cultural Centre of the Central Officers' Club, Ankara, 24–25 May 2007. This was a workshop hosted by the Centre of Excellence – Defence Against Terrorism (COE–DAT), which was opened in Ankara in 2005 with the purpose of supporting NATO on defence issues related to terrorism. Turkey is the framework nation, and at present six other nations also contribute with staff and funds, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands and Germany. Each year, COE–DAT organizes numerous workshops and courses, bringing academic rigour and institutional expertise in terrorism to interested parties in NATO, Partnership for Peace (PfP), and Mediterranean Dialogue countries, Non-triple Nations and others.

The framework of the workshop is reflected in this book. The first session considered what is new about today's terrorism and the phenomenon of suicide attacks, while the second session, “Defining the Threat,” analyzed specific aspects of this terrorism. The third session looked at terrorism's impact on modern society. The fourth and fifth sessions addressed “Countering Suicide Terrorism” and “Organizing to Fight Suicide Terrorism,” respectively.

The topic of suicide terrorism takes us right to the heart of the dilemmas of the 21st century. This type of attack has become the weapon of choice of “globalized terror”, a term explored by Laila Bokhari (see her chapter on “Jihad in a Globalized World”), who highlights the interplay between the local and global contexts of al-Qaeda's associates, with an emphasis on extremism within Europe's immigrant communities.

The scene is set by a historical review of suicide attacks in the first paper (see Brig.-Gen. Stanciu's “Factors Involved in Terrorist Attacks”). This wide-ranging analysis divides the phenomenon into three main headings: individual and psychological factors, the organization and its contribution, and the environments (political, social, cultural/religious, etc) in which the terror is nurtured.

While beginning with the topic of what is new about modern terrorism, Capt (N) Altunbulak and Lt.-Col. Sarıca's consideration of “Religious Motivations and Suicide Bombings” concentrates on the error of glibly associating al-Qaeda-type terror with Islam, and identifies this error in some of the security methods of the US and Britain. On a more positive note, Turkey's history can provide material for an informed and constructive dialogue between western governments and their Muslim citizens.

Ch.-Supt. Ahmet Eren is an expert on the wide spectrum of terrorism in Turkey. His paper concentrates on the mindset of members of the PKK terror organization, showing how they are dominated by an autocratic leadership style which values only obedience. In contrast, the Iraqi suicide volunteer Mervan Ebu Ubeyde comes from a privileged background, but has chosen to sacrifice himself, expressing his motives in the broadest of terms. Ahmet Eren notes the danger of creating a vicious circle if security forces react randomly to terror, and he writes against misconceptions about Islam.

The methods used by terrorist organizations to recruit and train suicide bombers is the subject of a study by Supt. Süleyman Özeren. His paper also provides a useful survey of relevant literature, including references to discussions from a psychological viewpoint of what makes a terrorist.

Another aspect of terrorism considered in this book takes its starting point from the fact that women suicide bombers have a high profile in some terror organizations. Laila Bokhari's second paper suggests that women's past role as victim or supporter may be changing, and considers the significance of this development. In the last five years, since Wafa Idris blew herself up in Jerusalem, radical Islamists have accepted female volunteers for suicide attacks. The web magazine “al-Khansaa” is aimed at women in pro-al-Qaeda families, and generally sees its readership in traditional supportive roles, although some sections provide information on training for combat.

Brian Fishman brings a wealth of information about the area which is now the undisputed focus of suicide attacks, Iraq. Here we learn, for example, that in the overwhelming majority of suicide attacks in Iraq no responsibility is claimed. In another section we are introduced to the main arguments used by Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi to justify suicide attacks according to one view of Islamic Law. Fishman also looks at the impact of suicide attacks on US public opinion, and argues that they are not shaping public opinion to any great extent.

William Gawthrop requires a certain stretch of the imagination if we are to accept one assumption in his paper, namely that people interrogated in investigations of al-Qaeda-style terror base their responses on a detailed grasp of Islamic Law and what it says on such subjects as informing, picking apart a brother's words, and giving a misleading impression. The article takes as its one authority on Islamic Law the 'Umdat as-Salik of Ahmad ibn Naqib.

Anthony Richards analyzes the 7 July 2005 London Bombings and evaluates the “Emergency Response, Intelligence and Causes.” In his survey of the reports and reactions of the UK government, he points out that the attack was not unexpected, and already many important steps had been taken like the creation of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre. In terms of the British government's response, Dr Richards notes that the “Countering International Terrorism” document (2006) emphasized the need to tackle inequalities in British society, a need which has been recognised and acted on for years. There is, however, “very little acknowledgement of the foreign policy sphere a being a major source of the problem.”

In “The Role of Intelligence in Combating Suicide Terrorism; Sharing Intelligence amongst States,” Ely Karmon demonstrates the international character of suicide attacks, and reviews the performance of existing international cooperation frameworks. Some of the criticisms made of the current structures are presented, not least Turkey's dissatisfaction with European efforts against the PKK.

Rolf Tophoven answers the question of how the police and/or private security personnel can provide on-site security against suicide terrorism, especially in situations where rings of defence can be established around a possible target area.

“The Law and Rules of Engagement against Suicide Attacks” is a long article in which Jonathan Edwards reviews the laws relating to orders issued to military personnel on the use of force in situations where there is a threat of suicide attacks. Attacks on land, sea and from the air are considered. While the emphasis is on the difficulties faced by US troops in Iraq, the article compares the laws of other countries. Incidents in which the orders have been tested are presented, for example the London Metropolitan Police's shooting of an innocent Brazilian man mistaken for a suicide bomber. There is a detailed account of the case concerning the shooting of the Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena and two intelligence officers in Baghdad in 2005.

Nick Ridley's article looks at many aspects of terrorism before touching on some financial aspects of various suicide attacks. He points out that “the financial outlay to a terrorist organisation… is comparatively small compared to other forms of terrorist attack,” and “these financial advantages are enhanced by the mobility and adaptability of the suicide terrorist.”

We are taken into the world of donors, charities and the “hawala”, the simple bank transfer widely used by extremist groups in financing terrorism, by Katharina von Knop's article. Dr von Knop analyzes the Safa Group, in which businessmen and others including Sami al-Arian had a complex network of connections and a strong interest in funding various extremist organizations.

Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Kibaroğlu's closing remarks reflect on some of the discussions which took place at the Ankara workshop.

Lt.-Col. Halil Sarıca, ARW Director