Major terrorist attack on West a certainty: Italian Defence Minister

Agence France-Presse | June 25, 2002

[HAL9000]

ROME, June 25 (AFP) - A major terrorist attack is certain to hit the West "sooner or later", Italian Defense Minster Antonio Martino said Tuesday.

"We know for certain that a terrorist attack of major proportions will sooner or later hit the West. We do not know where, nor which shape it will take," Martino said.

He said there was no clear indication of where precisely the target of an attack would be.

"The United States? Europe? Italy? And if it is Italy, where and when? There are too many things that we do not know," he said.

"Personally, I fear the threat of a bacteriological attack, which the West is still underprepared to handle," the minister said.

Martino expressed concern that Italy did not yet know enough about any possible attack to "have truly guaranteed the security of the public."

He said Italy had "done what was within its power" to ensure security -- for example by reinforcing air controls -- but that it would need to do "even more."

"We must not allow ourselves to become terrorised, as that would play into the hands of the terrorists," the minister said.

[oldsalt]

This is a good example of why we have to remember that the best defense is a good offense. Throughout history the winners of battles and campaigns and wars have been those on offense. You don't win a war with defensive manueverings or static fronts,{see Korea or Vietnam.).You win wars by taking the initiative and carrying the battle to the enemy.

President Bush's initial speeches post-911 were on track, now is not the time to assume a defensive posture and try to out wait an enemy thereby handing them the initiative IMHO.

[Mixer]

Profiling, right or wrong: Thoughts for frequent
travelers

To ensure we Americans never offend anyone - - - -particularly
fanatics intent on killing us - airport screeners will not be allowed to profile people. They will continue random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, Secret Service agents who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips, and Medal of Honor winning former Governors. Let's pause a moment and take the following test.

In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred
by:

(a) Olga Corbett
(b) Sitting Bull
(c) Arnold Schwartzeneger
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:

(a) Lost Norwegians
(b) Elvis
(c) A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon
by:

(a) John Dillinger
(b) The King of Sweden
(c) The Boy Scouts
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40


In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:

(a) A pizza delivery boy
(b) Pee Wee Herman
(c) Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.


In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked, and a 70 year
old
American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard by:

(a) The Smurfs
(b) Davy Jones
(c) The Little Mermaid
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.


In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver
was murdered by:

(a) Captain Kid
(b) Charles Lindbergh
(c) Mother Teresa
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40


In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:

(a) Scooby Doo
(b) The Tooth Fairy
(c) Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid who had a few sticks of
dynamite left over from the train job.
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40


In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:

(a) Richard Simmons
(b) Grandma Moses
(c) Michael Jordan
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40


In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:

(a) Mr. Rogers
(b) Hillary, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems
(c) The World Wrestling Federation to promote its next villain:
"Mustapha the Merciless"
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40


On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked and destroyed and thousands
of
people were killed by:

(a) Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd
(b) The Supreme Court of Florida
(c) Mr. Bean
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40


In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:

(a) Enron
(b) The Lutheran Church
(c) The NFL
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40


In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:

(a) Bonnie and Clyde
(b) Captain Kangaroo
(c) Billy Graham
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40



Hmmm . . . nope, no patterns anywhere to justify profiling.

[Mixer]

Meant to send reply 3 to you as well...Ping

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

"We know for certain that a terrorist attack of major proportions will sooner or later hit the West. We do not know where, nor which shape it will take," Martino said.

My issue with this is that it is unclear what he is saying. Does he have intelligence information that strongly correlates to a major attack, but no details? Or is he saying it because 'it stands to reason'?

How can one be certain about something, but then claim he doesn't know when, where, or how it will happen? It is impossible to disprove such a statement, but if it happens he can claim prescience. Heck, I am certain that, sooner or later, in some manner, an event will happen to wipe out all life on the planet in an instant. Try disproving THAT!

[luvbach1]

I don't think Europe is a major target for a major hit. Why? Because much of Europe is serving the terrorist cause by characterizing Bush's (and America's) war on terror as reckless over-reaction.Terrorists would jeopardize a support base (albeit indirect) if they were, for instance, to knock down the Eiffel Tower. Even the French surrender monkeys might get perturbed.

[luvbach1]

To the political correctness freaks, those masters of reverse-think, the very fact that there is such a distinct pattern is the reason not to profile.That we musn't single out a particular group is their sole concern. To them the pattern represented by that group's multitudinus offenses hardly matters.

[cascademountaineer]

Well you know what sparky, they did try and hit the eiffel tower. In 1994. Then they tried to hit the Parliament.

So whats your idea of a "western" nation can I ask?

[luvbach1]

Of course France is a Western nation, but if you re-read my post I didn't say that Western Europe had never been targeted. Yes, they did unsucessfully try to hit the Eiffel Tower years ago. My point clearly was that, in my opinion, it will not be targeted for a major terrorist hit NOW for the reasons stated in the post to which you responded. I could be wrong, but I think my analysis makes sense.

[cascademountaineer]

Good points, I agree actually. Sorry, not even really sure why I disagreed. I think I needed my morning coffee. My apologies : )

[luvbach1]

Your disagreement was welcome. You were in no way snide--the only attitude that ever bugs me in posts.

[aculeus]

A CNN reporter, a female whom I didn't recognize, said last night that her usual contacts among US anti-terror specialists have been unavaible and very busy in the past few days. She had the impression that they were deeply worried about something happening very soon.

Scary.

[jammer]

Oh, wow. What prescience! Hell, even the FBI could credibly make that prediction.

[Mixer]

But we botrh know that we MUST profile we MUST close the borders and we MUST deport illegals from the Middle-East. Don't tell those masters of reverse think though. It will be our secret ; )