Preventing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Terror Campaign in the United States

U.S. Counter IED (C-IED) efforts continue to be directed at combating IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan, however, as terrorists broaden their target selection standards, so too should the U.S. broaden its C-IED efforts. IED attacks and IED terror campaigns are currently occurring all over the world, yet America is unprepared to prevent an IED terror campaign in the homeland. This thesis will propose how to prevent a domestic IED terror campaign by utilizing the intelligence triggers indications and warnings, and open source intelligence as well as placing increased emphasis on the importance of international and interagency cooperation. The benefits of this thesis could be the development of a methodology for intelligence sharing between federal agencies, state authorities, and local U.S. law enforcement personnel against an aspect of terrorism that has not yet affected America.