On September 11, 2001, nineteen foreign terrorists of Middle Eastern descent hijacked four planes; two were flown into the World Trade Centers, one hit the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed into an empty field in Pennsylvania. Almost three thousand Americans were killed in the attacks. Terrorism and Homeland Security: Defending the United States offers a bold new perspective on a spectrum of terrorism and security-related issues ranging from defining terrorism, its causes, structure, and methods; to the sources of Islamic fundamentalism; to Osama bin Laden's declaration of War on America; to the failures of the Intelligence Community; to new legislation to fight terrorism; to challenges in protecting public safety and civil liberties; to the transformation of government in securing the homeland; and finally to the rule of law in prosecuting terrorists.