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Al Queada's Next Terror Target: The American Way of Life

By: Richard Brzakala

With the announcement of an increased security alert, it would apear that America's focus has been primarily on airlines and airport security in the hopes of staving off another 9/11 type attack. One would hope that ALL of the "intelligence chatter" and leads that are coming in to the Homeland Office from "reliable sources" are not part of a larger misinformation campaign hatched by Al Queada operatives and designed to serve as a red-herring.

Given al Queada's international reach, formidable network of alliances and financial backing it is not inconceivable for someone like Osama Bin Ladin to recount his CIA training and launch a propaganda juggernaut (instead of highjacked airplanes) by leveraging his support network and disseminating propoganda in order to capitalize on the fear of an already besieged public.

Contrary to the Bush administration belief that another aerial asault is around the corner , I believe that the terror will not be unleashed from the skies as witnessed on sept 11. nor will the enemy try to enter through airport gates or border crossings in can or mexico..Al Queda does not need to go to ellaborate means of foiling the security measures Bush has put into place. The terrorists have already landed, they have been on North American soil for many months, if not years and are waiting and ready, given the opportunity, to strike at America's greatest vulnerability, its people and their daily way of life.

Unlike two years ago when Al Queda is said to have targeted financial, military and legislative targets, it is expected that the next attack will come with the assistance of other domestic religious militant groups, and impact Americans beyond comprehension by affecting their lives and the simple routines they take advantage of and for granted in their daily lives. It has been said of America that never has there been a time in its history where it stands as such a powerful military power, but at the same time been so vulnerable.

Aside from the numerous dirty-bomb and bio-hazard scenario's that play out every day across our media, Al Quadai may be planning a more sinister and lasting terror as it may be preparing to take aim at the softer targets and institutions in our daily lifes, e.g. hospitals, hotels, shopping malls, churches/synagoges, movie theatres or even our schools. All the places we either visit, worship or share with our families and friends will become victimized because of their vulnerability and the futility of our governments and military to protect us everywhere all the time.

What will America do when a half dozen MacDonalds are bombed in several cities and its children start becoming the innocent casualties at home instead of abroad. When suicide bombers decide to target public venues, events or holidays- no one will be safe, anywhere, anytime.

Bringing body bags back from a military campaign in Iraq or Afganistahn is one thing, smelling the destruction (as anyone in New York City will atest) in one's own backyard so to speak lasts a lifetime and is not easily forgotten.

If Al Queada resorts to suicide bombers on American soil, it will be for many Americans unbearable and beyond comprehension. Many Israli's have for years struggled to understand the senselessness of kiling innocent people. But terror's purpose, as is al Queada's is exactly that to bring horror to America and to victimize as many innocent lifes as possible.What better way to do this then bringing it to America's daily life with the disruption and threat of terror on a personalized level and where a superior military power like the US is unable to stop it once it is unleashed.

The US have all of the military might at its disposal, but are the American people phsycologicaly prepared to fight a battle at home, something that was was once thought of as unimaginable. No one ever thought that terrorists would strike at America with such brovado. No one except terrorists. They did the unthinkable.

In order for Americans to be trully prepared they must lose their false sense of security and prepare themselves for the unthinkable. It happened once already and despite all the preparedness is likely to happen again.

We will never forget the twin towers collapsing and all of the horrific images that followed. Real terror does not come in the instantaneous explosion of a bomb blast, the deafening sounds that are heard or the screaming that accompanies the aftermath. Real terror comes in the minds of the survivors, the victims families and the general public who become horrified at the possibility that it will never end. Just ask any person who lived in Northern Ireland in the 70's what life was like living in a semi-military state where at any moment, anyone, anywhere was a target. Your life changes, so does your pcyhe.

In a report released April 2002, the US intellegigence community stated that it believes that there are as many as 2000 suspected al Queda operatives in North America. The number of silent sympathizers who provide either indigeneous logistical support, social assistance through assimilation, housing, financial support and public documentation are even greater in numbers.

US federal intelligence reports and FBI officials believe that al-Qaeda cells are embedded in most U.S. and Canadian cities with sizable Islamic communities.Toronto, New York, Montreal, Detroit, New Jersey,Vancouver, Los Angeles and Florida are all believed to contain cells and their supporters.

Social ethnic cultural groups and religous organizations in many cases act as the initial support networks for these individuals. In time these 'sleepers' move out beyod their ethnic or religous comfort and security zones blending into the community at large. Witness Nabil al-Marabh who resided in Toronto's Parkdale community and was later suspected of making the suicide pilots' phony identification.In the United States, Mohamad Hammoud serves as a classic case whereby a Lebanese national in July 2002 married a US citizen for the sole purpose of obtaining a green card, but was later convicted, among other things, of financing suspected Hizbullah terrorists.

Authorities in the U.S. believe that there may be as many as tweleve Hizbullah cells working with Al Queda in US cities who are following a pattern of social assimilation similar to that of Hammoud's operation.

American intelligence and military officials now know that the events of Sept 11 were planned far in advance. They expect that al-Quaida will act again, but the only question is where and what target(s)?

Contrary to what many are expecting Al Queada will probably do the unexpected and not risk failure by undertaking another strike using commercial planes. Hydro and water, along with the many oil and natural gas depots and refineries that are strewn across all major urban centres are the most vulnerable and suseptible to being compromised. High-jacked fuel trucks or transport trucks in highly condensed metropolitan areas are a regular and inconspicuous and routine site that may offer up the same lethal potential as befell the twin towers- only this time it may be from the ground up instead of the sky.

The many sleeper cells that are suspected of existing across North America have been deliberately strewn across or near specific large metropolitan areas to remain camoflauged in larger metropolitan centres, but just as importantly to remain close to their intended targets. These same cells by now are deeply assimilated into many ethnic communities who perhaps in many cases unknowingly and unwittingly support them.

Lawrence MacAulay's Sept. 3 2002 directive to Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Director Ward Elcock stated the importance of investigating the threat posed by the development of nuclear weapons, acquisition of chemical, biological or radiological devices and efforts by rogue states to help groups obtain these dangerous materials. In that same letter MacAulay identified Sunni Islamic extremism as the driving force behind the assaults on the U.S. by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, as a priority for investigation and confirmed the resolution and capability of terrorists to plan, organize and execute attacks to produce mass casualties.

One of the most frieghtening observations noted in the report stated that nearly all the world's terrorist groups have a presence in Canada, engaging in activities such as fundraising, recruitment, document forgery and planning of terrorist incidents.

In the US authorities have believed for some time now that the Hizbullah terror group (spawned in 1985, in the aftermath of Israeli and Syrian invasions of Lebanon) is increasingly linking up with Al Qaeda cells in America. US officials and terrorism experts say that the merging of each groups resources could pose the greatest challenge yet to North American security since the 9/11 attacks.

I believe America's greatest challenges are yet to be faced when it is expected that the war on terrorism will begin to be fought on American soil and not on some desert thousands of miles away. The Bush's administration policy of expending valuable resources and intelligence in fighting terror abroad ( i.e. Afghanistan and more recently Iraq) may have compromised America more now then ever before.

Perhaps it is not too late to redirect those resources and look into our own backyard in the hopes of uncovering the dangers that lie within before the unthinkable becomes reality !

(About the Author: Richard Brzakala is a part-time freelance writer who's social and political commentaries have appeared in a number of Canadian and US Newspapers.)