Description

In the aftermath of the catastrophic attacks of September 11, 2001, President Bill Clinton’s time in office was portrayed as one in which vital opportunities to confront growing threats to US security were missed. Firmly challenging this characterization, James Boys explores the long-misunderstood approach adopted by the Clinton administration as it sought to define an effective response to acts of political violence. Boys argues that only by understanding the efforts of Clinton and his team to address international terrorism can we make sense of the reasoning behind the actions of GeorgeW. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, all of whom inherited, continued, and expanded on Clinton-era policies and practices. Drawing on official documents and on interviews with key players, he reveals the evolution of counterterrorism strategy throughout the Clinton administration, as well as the ramifications that it has today.

CONTENTS:

• The Clinton Administration and Terrorism.
•  THE HISTORY, 1676-1976.
• Three Centuries of North American Political Violence, 1676-1976
•  Bipartisan Hesitancy, 1977-1992.
• THE THREATS, 1993-2001.
• Trouble in the Heartland: Domestic Political Violence.
• Rogue States: An Axis of Evil?
• Cyberterrorism: Hack and Attack.
• Nemesis: Bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
• THE TOOLS, 1993-2001.
• Eyes in the Skies: Drones.
• A New Art Form: Rendition.
• CONCLUSION.
• Reflections on Clinton’s Counterterrorism Strategy.

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