A MILNET ANALYSIS
 
An analysis from the editors at MILNET, a leading source in Military Defense
and Terrorism information.
 
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TERRORISM FAILS TO PRODUCE U.S. TERROR IN JULY
 
As the month of July of 2002 approached, the U.S. Federal Bureau of
Investigation, prompted by the Office of Homeland Security and a "wealth of
credible but general threats", issued confidential warnings to police and
federal agencies all over the nation.  Of most concern were U.S. Independence
Day celebrations across the nation.
 
However, only one event during the holiday period even remotely appeared to
be a terrorist attack -- a begrudged boyfriend's attack at the El Al counter
in the crowded Los Angeles airport terminal.  Or so the FBI and LA Police have
deemed the attack.  Israel, quite naturally, says it was most likely a
terrorist attack.
 
In any case, the massive fear producing attack did not come, thank god. 
However, this does point out that regardless of their good intentions, the
U.S. government is continuing to do the terrorist's job for them, inciting
fear and indeed panic almost on a monthly basis.
 
Anyone who has studied terrorism will know that terrorists do tend to pick
important dates for attacks, but usually they are important to Arabs and Jews,
not Americans.  September is not an important month to Americans but
extremely important to Arabs fighting the cause against Israel -- there is
even a terrorist group named for September -- Black September. 
 
Big terrorist attacks against Israelis will tend to occur on special dates
to terrorists or Israelis -- for instance passover seems to be a big
favorite of Islamic terrorists. 
 
Of course, looking at a calendar of Terrorist events over the decades since
1947, there don't appear to be many months that don't have some event a
terrorist could "hang his hat on". 
 
No, unfortunately, we have to refute our own theory.  There is probably some
nice Arab-Israeli event in July that could be used as the symbolic event for
an attack on U.S. interests.
 
Being super-hawks, we at MILNET would like the U.S. to get into this mode too.
 
For instance, we could have the annual September 11 attack on terrorists
worldwide.  Budget and deliver tons of munitions on terrorist training camps,
financial centers, and hideouts.  If we only could pinpoint them. 
 
Or perhaps the U.S.S. Cole memorial attack. The Khobar Towers Memorial Response
or the First World Trade Center Memorial Devastation.
 
You see, the problem is that our, at times, faceless enemy doesn't really have
a place we can go to retaliate or celebrate destruction with destruction.  And
we, of course, aren't really serious about this whole concept.  We ARE the good
guys and we don't go indiscriminatingly bombing random targets for the short
feeling of satisfaction it might buy others. 
 
Our enemies, however, aren't as nice -- their lack of morals is hidden in
Islamic rhetoric of the Jihad of course, so many in the Middle East feel like
they are on the side of right in this battle.  And unfortunately, our
compassion for the suffering and poor have led many in the western world to
side with the peoples used as shields by the terrorists. 
 
No one wants a Palestinian child to go hungry, grow up missing a parent, never
live in a nice home or attend a school that has not been shelled. 
 
We are reminded however, that two attempts have been made to end it all with an
offer of a homeland for the Palestinians, a rather incredible result of
violent blackmail, that never-the-less could have ended it all.  But clearly
that does not seem to be the goal of the leaders.  And still the people suffer
and the kind hearted westerners rale at the Israelis and their U.S. supporters.
 
And so, to, will the violence in America continue.  Just not last weekend. 
 
Of course, there is still time left this summer and there is of course,
bloody September.
 
© Copyright, 2002, Michael Crawford, MILNET

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