Admiral warns of terror threat (Terrorist attacks in Asian seas prevented)

Pittsburgh Tribune Review ^ | Feb. 14, 2006 | David M. Brown

[FairOpinion]

An international effort that includes the U.S. Navy has prevented potential terrorist attacks in Asian seas and waterways aimed at disrupting global commerce, a high-ranking Naval officer said Monday in Pittsburgh. "There has been planning that has been thwarted, so we have to be on the guard," said Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, a Butler County native and commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet since August 2004.

Although the fleet operates on the other side of the world, the trade it helps protect has a large impact on the U.S. economy, he said.

"There is a strain of al-Qaida in Southeast Asia, called Jemaah Islamiya. They are actively pursuing a maritime terrorism capability," including diving and mining training, said Greenert, 52, a 1971 graduate of Butler High School and 1975 graduate of the Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in ocean engineering. "There has not been (an attack) in the Seventh Fleet arena. However, there has been a host of them defused."

Within the past two years, the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities have disrupted several terrorist plans in that region before they reached execution phases, and have helped foil terrorists that "might have targeted a U.S. Naval vessel," Greenert said. He said he could not be more specific because of intelligence concerns.

[FairOpinion]

And how much more is going on, that we never hear about...

We are obviously doing a lot, and getting international cooperation against the terrorists.

[RexBeach]

My God, the Seventh Fleet is down to just 70 ships? Yikes? My word, force levels haven't been that low since well before WW2.

I know, newer ships can project power further and more forcefully than ever; but one ship can still only be in one place at one time.

[expatguy]

Lots.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia