Includes index.

This volume contains the presentations that were made in a meeting held in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. They constitute a valuable synopsis of current knowledge on al Qaeda and the policies in place to counter threats of future terrorists attacks. The papers in this book will contribute to understanding how al Qaeda has evolved from a movement to an ideology, what influence it has on Middle East stability, and what continued threat it is to the United States, Europe, and other areas of the world. The contributors are from academia, research centers, government agencies, and the media. They represent a cross section of recognized experts on al Qaeda and international terrorism. Karen J. Greenberg -- First page of the book