This volume of presentations by a group of authorities on international terrorism and Al Qaeda constitute a valuable synopsis of current knowledge on this terrorist group and the policies in place to counter threats of future attacks. The articles 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, from academia, research centers, government agencies and the media, represent a cross section of recognized experts on Al Qaeda and international terrorism. Karen J. Greenberg is the Executive Director of the Center on Law and Security at the New York University School of Law. She is a visiting Professor of European Studies at New York University and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is co-editor of The Torture Papers (Cambridge, 2005).