Salon: The enemy is closer than we think - terrorism and the USA

[steve2470]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/07/19/london_attacks/index.html

A top counterterrorism expert says the London suicide bombers may not have acted alone -- and America may be next.

By Mark Follman


July 19, 2005 | The terrorist attacks that rocked London's mass transit system on July 7 were a shock but not a surprise. The British government had expected, planned for and thwarted plots to carry out similar attacks for years. Though the bus and subway bombings were no less devastating for the friends and families of the 55 people killed and more than 700 injured, the storyline quickly became one of British stoicism and resilience -- the bustling capital took a punch to the gut but stood tall, essentially getting back to business by late that day.

But a different shock wave hit several days later, as investigators began to dig out details of how the attacks were executed -- by four British nationals from Leeds, radical Islamists who had concealed, even from their own families, their plans to commit mass murder using their own bodies as weapons. One was a respected counselor at a primary school; two had left behind their own young children. Nearly four years into the U.S.-led global war against terrorism, the first ever "homegrown" suicide attacks carried out in Western Europe had redefined, chillingly, the parameters of the battle.

"What this shows us is that in many societies the enemy is closer than we think -- and that includes the United States," says Bruce Hoffman, a top counterterrorism expert and director of the RAND Corporation in Washington. Hoffman says the threat of suicide attacks is more acute in Europe than in the U.S., but he warns against the "false expectation" that it won't happen here. "We simply can't stop all terrorist threats and live hermetically sealed off from this particular menace," he says. "There is no such thing as a perfect defense."

Late last year, in a RAND report titled "Three Years After: Next Steps in the War on Terror," Hoffman wrote that suicide attacks are "perhaps the ultimate 'smart bombs'" and that it appeared "very likely" that there will be more suicide attacks in the United States in the future.

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[wli]

1. Given how fishy the attacks they're citing were...

... this is tantamount to a threat to carry out the things themselves. Operation Northwoods is coming to a Democratic voting district near you.

[rexcat]

2. It will be interesting to hear the spin from the repukes...

when the next terrorist attack occurs in the US. Bush* is the poster boy for terrorist recruitment.

[brak]

6. People are reactionary and fearful by nature

another attack would likely bring, in addition to horror and tragedy, another republican administration. the general public equate war and vengeance with the republican party.

[AlwaysQuestion]

3. Yep, let's ratched up some more hate--can't get enough of it

I find one part particularly interesting

"...how the attacks were executed -- by four British nationals from Leeds, radical Islamists who had concealed, even from their own families, their plans to commit mass murder using their own bodies as weapons. One was a respected counselor at a primary school; two had left behind their own young children..."

Besides wondering how authorities can be so sure at this point, I think there is an insidious suggestion that all Muslims are now suspect. I mean it seems these bombers had disguised themselves within the community as just regular guys. Keep that kind of talk up and we can really ratched up the hate. It's downright crazy. And don't the neocons get off on this stuff.

[Carolab]

4. Salon sucks. eom

[shance]

5. Sure it could happen, given what happened to the Brits, which is

more than quite baffling to be sure.

Here are some questions that have not been answered as to the latest bombings in England?

Why were private British and American demolition and security companies somehow entangled in the mess?

Why were the cameras turned off during the bombings?

Why was Rudy Guilini present at the site coincidentally when he was available at the New York bombings?

British and American citizens deserve the answers to these questions.