DePaul University professors with expertise in terrorism, national security, aviation and psychology had the following reactions to Tuesday's attack on the World Trade Center and other targets:

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM EXPERT SAYS SOURCE OF TERRORISM MAY COME FROM WITHIN THE UNITED STATES

DePaul College of Law Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni, one of the world's leading authorities on terrorism and international human rights law and the author of two books on terrorism, said he believes the source of Tuesday's attack on the World Trade Center in New York and other targets may be from within the United States. Bassouni believes the type of U.S. reaction to Tuesday's terrorism will depend on the culprits.

"These terrorist acts will create a different sort of backlash depending on the perpetrators," he said. "If, as I suspect, these acts have been perpetrated by White extremists of the Timothy McVeigh order, then I think there will be one type of backlash. But, if the actions were carried out by a Muslim group, like Osama bin Laden, then it will not be backlash based on nationality but rather religion."

Bassiouni, president of the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul, was involved with the first U.S. terrorism study in 1978, and he currently serves as a consultant on terrorism for the U. S. Department of State.

(Bassiouni may be reached for interviews at DePaul: 312/362-8332.)

ATTACKS SHOW AMERICA'S VULNERABILITY, NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERT SAYS

The targets of Tuesday's terrorist acts carried global significance, according to Professor of Law Barry Kellman, a leading expert on terrorism, national security the Middle East and the legal aspects of international arms control. "The targets that the terrorists chose are astonishing symbols of American strength," he said. "The World Trade Center and Pentagon represent the height of American financial and military strength. American and United Airlines are both symbols of American power, prestige and dominance. Imagine this from the perspective of someone watching from halfway around the world."

Kellman also said that what happened Tuesday should be a wake-up call to America. "We shouldn't look at this as a flaw in American security, but rather as a sign that everyone is vulnerable and we have to be increasingly involved in world affairs," he said. "In the past, we've turned our back and allowed situations around the world to fester because they didn't directly affect us. Today's actions illustrate the need for America to be actively involved in world affairs."

Kellman is co-director of DePaul's International Criminal Justice and Weapons Control Center. He heads the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism and sits on the National Commission on Terrorism.

(Kellman can be reached at DePaul: 312/362-3258.)

ONLY A SOPHISTICATED ORGANIZATION WITH MAJOR RESOURCES COULD HAVE PERPETRATED THESE ATTACKS, ACCORDING TO TERRORISM EXPERT

"An attack of this magnitude and sophistication requires an organization with great resources, worldwide reach and probably support of a nation," said Thomas Mockaitis, chair of the history department and an expert on terrorism and counter-terrorism. "Very few organizations have this capability, and no one is sure at this point, but early suspicion has fallen on Usama bin Laden's association because of similarities with the attacks in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. We are in a state of attack on the territory and sovereignty of the U.S. The retaliation, the retribution is going to be truly terrible. The U.S. will hit hard wherever the base is, and it will be worse than any retaliation that we've every conducted before. It's important not to direct generalized rage at the Muslim community in Chicago, which has nothing to do with this."

(Mockaitis can be reached for interviews at DePaul: 773/ 325-7471).

MIDDLE EAST EXPERT WARNS AMERICANS NOT TO ASSESS BLAME WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS

Aminah McCloud, DePaul associate professor of religious studies and an internationally recognized authority on Muslim religion and culture, agreed.

"We know from the Oklahoma bombing that leaping to conclusions without sufficient evidence causes harm to American citizens" she said. "Following the Oklahoma tragedy, there were more than 250 attacks across the country on Muslim citizens. Airports had the authority to stop and hold anyone who looked Middle Eastern. This kind of reaction causes irreparable harm to innocent citizens. Every Muslim group has deplored the terrorism that has taken place in the United States this week. However, the disenfranchised will find someone to blame for their problems.

"Being a world power means we must be as even-handed in the world as we can be. Palestinians cheered the toppling of the World Trade building, but they aren't advocating the loss of lives. They saw the U.S. as vulnerable, and they know this country has not been even-handed when it comes to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Terrorism is not the way to get at anything, and everyone understands that. What the government should be doing instead of searching for someone to attack in retaliation is saying, ‘We should stop this now.'"

(McCloud can be reached at DePaul: 773/325-1290.)

TUESDAY'S ATTACK MOST CRIPPLING IN HISTORY FOR NATION'S AVIATION SYSTEM, TRANSPORTATION EXPERT SAYS

"This is the most blatant assault ever on the air travel system in the U.S.," said Joseph Schwieterman, director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University and an expert on the airline industry. "Never in modern times has the nation's air travel system been grounded like this."

Schwieterman said these attacks likely will change the way Americans view domestic air travel. "This will bring airport security concerns into the living room of every American," Schwieterman said. "The U.S. will have to move toward more aggressive security measures that other nations, especially in Europe, established years ago." Some of the measures Schwieterman sees being implemented in the wake of the attacks include more aggressive searches and increased security measures on the aircraft.

"Our focus has been too narrow, simply focusing on the threat of bombs and explosions and matching bags to passengers," Schwieterman aded. "What I think you'll see is a more rapid acceptance of new technologies to detect illegal firearms and increased measures on board the aircraft, such as heavy steel security doors to keep the flight crew safe and help prevent hijackings."

(Schwieterman can be reached at DePaul: 312/362 – 5732.)

WIDESPREAD ANGER IS EXPECTED, BUT PEOPLE MUST SEEK WAYS TO HEAL, PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR SAYS

Joseph Ferrari, a DePaul associate professor of psychology, whose expertise includes issues involving anger, said the attacks may trigger widespread anger, but that people need to get back to their normal lives as soon as possible so this tragedy does not paralyze the nation. "People want to strike out," he said. "They want revenge. We need to corner that. This kind of tragedy stirs the emotions of patriotism, love, compassion and the need to reach out."

Ferrari said that one way people can survive the emotional upheaval of a national disaster is to turn to spirituality. "This is a time for prayer--it's a time for prayer for the victims, families, survivors and for the people who caused this. We need enlightenment and we need to understand why people would do this. It's a time to try to be strong. We have to heal ourselves and the nation."

(Ferrari can be reached at DePaul: 773/325-4244)

Leonard Cavise is an expert in criminal law, evidence and criminal procedure. He also directs DePaul's Program for the Americas which trains Latin American human rights lawyers in trial advocacy. From a human rights perspective, Cavise says, " A massive, violent governmental response which kills thousands of civilians does nothing but escalate the level of violence and encourage terrorists."

Cavise also believes that in the wake of Tuesday's disaster balancing security and civil liberties may pose a problem. "Heightened security, we have learned from experience, means not only a greater police presence but also greater police power--and greater abuses of power. Nobody is going to repeal the Bill of Rights but I wouldn't expect a decrease in unlawful searches and seizures, racial profiling or police harassment of non-white people anytime in the near future."

Leonard Cavise, Associate Professor, College of Law,can be reached at DePaul: 312/362-6841