Israel to hunt down LA airport attackers

Reuters | July 4, 2002

[HAL9000]

JERUSALEM, July 4 (Reuters) - Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said on Thursday Israel with U.S. help would track down those responsible for a shooting attack on an El Al ticketing desk at Los Angeles International Airport that killed two people.

"Peres pointed out the quick response and courage of the Israeli security agents at the site, and he added he is certain that Israeli and American security forces will succeed in searching for and capturing the organisers (of the attack)," said a Foreign Ministry statement issued in Peres' name.

Earlier, Israeli Transport Minister said the shooting spree, during which a gunman also wounded at least four people at the Israeli airline desk before he was shot dead, was believed to be a "terrorist attack".

Sneh said there was no clear information on the identity of the gunman but added, "Organisations, primarily extremist Islamic organisations, are planning to hit Israel targets outside (the Jewish state). And an airport is a preferred target."

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

What this country needs is a good dose of paranoia..

TOO LATE

[Alberta's Child]

If that's the case, then he should come out with it instead of making a comment that is idiotic on its face.

The same hold true, by the way, every time a suicide bomber blows himself up on a crowded street in Jerusalem. The perpetrator is in several thousand pieces all over the street, and the Israeli government solemnly promises to "hunt down those who are responsible for this attack."

[Blennos]

The homicide bomber does not act in isolation, but is part of a support network: those that provide funding, make the bombs, train the murderers, provide transport, provide the Israeli clothing, etc.

The Israeli government should and does hunt down all of those responible for the attack, just as we are hunting down and eliminating all of those responsible 9/11 atrocity.

[Timesink]

Wait a minute ... the word "terrorist" appeared in a Reuters story about a probably-Arab suspect?

Somebody's gonna get fired.

[Quix]

HAVE KNOWN that sick-to-stomach feeling at their lies at least since BILLDO AND SHRILLERY took their oaths of corruption for the ORAL office.

[Nam Vet]

He didn't last long. Heh Heh

Nam Vet

[PoisedWoman]

Swell. Now we'll have Israeli tanks roaring through the streets of LA? Do we really need them?

[truth_seeker]

Swell. Now we'll have Israeli tanks roaring through the streets of LA? Do we really need them?

To the extent facts mean anything here, the gunman was stopped by an El Al Airlines security person. Be thankful.

The gunman was NOT stopped by the FBI, the CIA, the INS, the California National Guard, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff, or the Los Angeles International Airport security forces.

[doug from upland]

Yes, El Al has armed security agents. It was a good thing.

[tomkat]

Sometimes my countrymen make me sick to my stomach with their (PC spinelessness and) lies

AMEN !

[Kahz]

It doesn't take a genius to realize that Israel is not talking about hunting down the suicide bombers who carry out the attacks. They are reffering to the one's who -organize- them. Did you not realize this or was it just another attempt to poke fun at Israel's stupidity when you were the stupid one?

[Alberta's Child]

I know exactly what they mean when they say they are going to "find those who are responsible." The problem I have is this: A suicide bomber is either acting alone or he is supported by a larger terrorist network. A government can never admit that he is acting alone for the same reason that police officers can never be trained properly to deal with someone intent on murder/suicide -- there is simply no rational way to deal with him (what are you going to do -- threaten to shoot him?). No government will ever admit that it is powerless to stop anything, since people will naturally question the legitimacy of the government itself.

On the other hand, a government that promises to aggressively pursue a suicide bomber who is part of a larger network is actually raising a completely separate issue: If this guy is part of a larger network, then this netowrk was in place long before he blew himself up on that crowded street. What gives me any level of assurance that you (the government) will be more successful in shutting down this network now than you were in stopping the attack in the first place?

[newcats]

What this country needs is a good dose of paranoia..

Wasn't 9/11 sufficent? Sure worked for me.

[Blennos]

On the other hand, a government that promises to aggressively pursue a suicide bomber who is part of a larger network is actually raising a completely separate issue: If this guy is part of a larger network, then this netowrk was in place long before he blew himself up on that crowded street. What gives me any level of assurance that you (the government) will be more successful in shutting down this network now than you were in stopping the attack in the first place?

1. The bombers are part of a large network. This has been amply demonstrated to my satisfaction. 2. The attacked party, in this case, Israel, must try to disable this network. 3. Whether you have any assurance that they will succeed is not an issue. They must try.