RAND Experts Available to Discuss the Death of Osama bin Laden

Terrorism experts from the RAND Corporation are available from Washington D.C. and Los Angeles to conduct interviews on the death of Osama bin Laden. Among the topics they can address:

• How much of a military and psychological blow is bin Laden's death to Islamic radicals? Is al Qa'eda finished?
• Will bin Laden's death produce military benefits for U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan?
• Will Islamic radicals consider bin Laden a martyr, and respond with increased terror attacks? Are they strong enough to conduct them, or have they been too weakened over the last several years?
• How difficult was the mission to find and kill bin Laden? How important were intelligence-gathering efforts to locate him?
• Why did it take so long to find him? And is it surprising where he was discovered?

RAND Experts on Terrorism and Afghanistan/Pakistan Issues

Brian Michael Jenkins, RAND senior adviser and considered the nation's top expert on Osama bin Laden and al Qa'eda. He is the author of "Will Terrorists Go Nuclear?" and "The al Qa'eda-Inspired Terrorist Threat."

John Parachini, director of the RAND Intelligence Policy Center who focuses on how the U.S. government can capture terrorists' digital information as well as scenario development for counterterrorism planning. He is co-author of "Getting Inside the Terrorist Mind."

Seth Jones, senior political scientist and recently an advisor to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan. He is the author of "Defeating Terrorist Groups," "Counterinsurgency in Pakistan," and "Beating Back the Taliban."

Arturo Munoz, senior political scientist focusing on Taliban strategy and tactics and Taliban propaganda and psychological operations. He served as a member of the CIA's Counter Terrorism Center immediately following 9/11. He is the author of "Afghanistan's Local War: Building Local Defense Forces."

Terrence Kelly, senior researcher who is currently leading a research project examining security force assistance for Afghanistan. In 2009 he served on Gen. Stanley McChrystal's assessment team.

Dick Hoffmann, defense research analyst and former Navy SEAL officer. He focuses on special operations and special operations training, joint military operations, counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, and military strategy and planning.

Angel Rabasa, senior policy analyst who has written extensively about extremism, terrorism, and insurgency. He is the author of "Deradicalizing Islamist Extremists" and "Building Moderate Muslim Networks."

Todd Helmus, behavioral scientist and who focuses on counterterrorism, counterinsurgency operations, and military special operations. He is co-author of "Social Science for Counterterrorism: Putting the Pieces Together."