Counterterrorism is defined as "offensive measures taken to prevent, deter, pre-empt, and respond to terrorism". In contrast, anti-terrorism is defined as "Defensive measures used to reduce the vulnerability to terrorist acts". This important, ground-breaking work addresses the multiple facets of legal authority that affect our ability to fight transnational terrorism. Over the last decade, the American public has benefited from the work of many federal agencies, this book examines in detail the roles they play, the highly esoteric nature of counterterrorism law, and the importance of adhering to the rule of law when engaged in counterterrorism. Among areas examined in detail are Afghanistan, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda; the DOJ torture memo; the philosophy of terrorism; war crimes jurisdiction; the 9/11 Commission; current and future national security principles; the National Security Act and IC reform; the National Counterterrorism Center; the organization and structure of the intelligence community; the National Security Council system; communications surveillance; the PATRIOT Act, and much, much more.