This study is the result of the Transportation Security Against Terrorism Advanced Research Workshop funded by the NATO Programme Security Through Science held on 5–6 May 2008, under the guidance and direction of the Centre of Excellence Defence Against Terrorism in Ankara, Turkey.

The workshop was held to better understand the background and rationale of current transportation security policies and systems as related to terrorism. The organizers of the workshop felt the need to address transportation security in the fight against terrorism, an endeavour which required an interdisciplinary approach. This book and project attempted to lay the basic groundwork for future study of this issue.

The editors wish to acknowledge the contributions of the co-director of the workshop, Colonel Petar Nikolovski from the Ministry of Defense of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Assistant Prof. Dr. Hediye Tuydes also provided superb assistance in the planning and outline of the workshop and her efforts were much appreciated, and her name deserves special gratitude in the publication of this book. For his vision and contributions to the advancement of COE-DAT and these types of workshops we would also like to thank Captain (N) Tamer Unver, without whom this workshop would not have been possible.

The Centre of Excellence – Defence Against Terrorism (COE–DAT), under operation in Ankara since 2005 was established with the purpose of supporting NATO on defense issues related to terrorism. There are currently six other states (United States, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands and Germany) which contribute both staff and funds to the COE-DAT in addition to the framework nation of Turkey. The COE–DAT organizes numerous workshops and courses every year with the goal of advancing academic, institutional and practical knowledge, expertise and information on terrorism to interested parties in NATO, Partnership for Peace (PfP), and Mediterranean Dialogue countries, as well as Non-Triple nations and others.

The merit this volume possesses is ultimately due to the arguments and insights of the authors whose essays are collected here. We are grateful to them for their contributions to this volume.