With all eyes on the Sochi Olympics and the very real threat of terrorism by so-called “Black Widows,” Wednesday, February 5, 3 pm ET, The Halli Casser-Jayne Show, Talk Radio for Fine Minds talks to Anne Speckhard, Ph.D world renowned expert on the psychology of terrorism and author of Talking to Terrorists: Understanding the Psycho-Social Motivations of Militant Jihadi Terrorists, Mass Hostage Takers, Suicide Bombers & “Martyrs”. While many might call themselves “terrorism experts,” Dr. Speckhard has done what most have not: She has talked to terrorists, interviewing over four hundred terrorists, suicide bombers, terrorist supporters, family members, close associates and hostages investigating what puts individuals on the terrorist trajectory and what might also take them back off it. 

Dr. Speckhard has been working in the field of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since the 1980’s. She has provided expert consultation to European and Middle Eastern governments as well as to NATO, OSCE and the U.S. Department of Defense regarding programs for prevention and rehabilitation of individuals committed to political violence and militant jihad. In 2006-2007 she worked with the U.S. Department of Defense to design and pilot test the Detainee Rehabilitation Program in Iraq.