International Terrorism Today: What We Need to Know

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The event will start on: Thursday, 04 November 2010 5:30 PM

And will end on: Thursday, 04 November 2010 7:00 PM

At Dyason House

124 Jolimont Road East , Melbourne Victoria

03 9654 7271     admin.vic@aiia.asn.au

Posted by: vic   

What if terrorists exploded a nuclear device in an American (or other Western) city?  President Obama is on record as saying that such an event is at the top of his list of worries.  Despite huge and expensive efforts to upgrade intelligence, counter-insurgency capacity and other means of limiting Islamist extremism, the threat remains alive in many quarters and in many ways.  From Afghanistan and Pakistan to Iran, Somalia and Yemen, and across Western societies from Europe to Australia, we are facing a challenge that is likely to persist for decades.  In the nine years since 9/11, America hasn't been subjected to another mass-casualty terrorist attack.  But that doesn't mean terrorism is no longer a threat to the US or wider world.

Dr Matt Levitt will discuss the ongoing efforts by terrorist groups to attack Western targets, and the reciprocal efforts by Western security agencies to thwart these attacks and trace those who would perpetrate them.

Dr Levitt is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Stein Program on Counter-terrorism and Intelligence.  From 2005 - 2007 he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the US Department of the Treasury where he played a central role in efforts to protect the financial system from abuse and to deny terrorists, weapons proliferators, and others the ability to finance threats to national security.  Previously he served the Washington Institute as founding director of its Terrorism Research Program after providing tactical and strategic analytical support for the FBI counter-terrorism operations which focused on tackling fundraising and logistical support networks for Middle Eastern terrorist groups.

Dr Levitt has written extensively on terrorism, the Middle East, Arab-Israeli peace negotiations, Hamas and Hezbollah, with articles appearing in major world newspapers.  His latest books are: "Hamas: Politics, Charity and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad" and "Negotiating Under Fire: Preserving Peace Talks in the Face of Terror Attacks".

 Event Flyer:  AIIAV - 2010 Levitt Matt Dr 04.11.10 (132.72 kB)

 Tickets payable at the door :

• Members                      $20
• Non-Members                $30
• Student Members            $10
• Student Non-Members    $15

Refreshments and snacks will be served.

Please advise us at least one day before the event.