Fool Me Twice: Intelligence Failure and Mass Casualty Terrorism

Fool Me Twice is Dr. Thomas E. Copeland’s scholarly analysis of intelligence failure and mass casualty terrorism. The study evaluates whether surprise and intelligence failure leading to mass casualty terrorism are inevitable, exploring the extent to which four factors contribute: failures of public policy leadership, analytical challenges, organizational obstacles, and the inherent problems of warning information.

Copeland applies existing theories of surprise and intelligence failure to case studies of five mass casualty terrorism incidents: the World Trade Center 1993 bombing, Oklahoma City 1995, Khobar Towers 1996, the East African Embassy bombings of 1998, and September 11, 2001. Through rigorous analysis, he identifies patterns and systemic weaknesses in the intelligence community’s ability to prevent catastrophic attacks.

Published by Brill/Martinus Nijhoff, a leading academic publisher, the book reflects Copeland’s expertise gained from his career in intelligence and national security, including work with LexisNexis serving the FBI, DEA, INS, SEC, DOJ, and TSA. He holds a Ph.D. in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.