Chasing Ghosts: The Policing of Terrorism Test Bank

Exposing the Myth of Counterterrorism

Since 2001, the United States has invested heavily in counterterrorism efforts, creating or reorganizing over two organizations for every apprehension made. The FBI’s ‘ghost-chasing’ efforts involve following up on millions of tips, but less than 1 in 10,000 leads are productive, often pointing to trivial or aspirational terrorist enterprises.

The High Cost of Counterterrorism

John Mueller and Mark G. Stewart’s Chasing Ghosts systematically examines the counterterrorism efforts of the FBI, NSA, DHS, and local agencies, evaluating their capacities and scrutinizing the myth of the mastermind. The book also explores public opinion and the trillion-dollar cost of domestic counterterrorism since 2001.

Is the Chase Worth the Effort?

Standard evaluative procedures suggest that the costs of counterterrorism often far outweigh the benefits. As Chasing Ghosts shows in vivid detail, the question of whether the chase is worth the effort remains unanswered.