If you think it’s been quiet on the U.S. homeland since 911 you’re not alone: terrorist chief Osama bin Laden also reportedly feels the same way — and has urged Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to focus on attacks within the U.S.
Is this surprising? Not really. The question is whether in the wake of 911 it’s going to be more difficult for bin Laden to achieve his attack goals – since 911 was a terroristic “sucker punch” which took everyone by surprise.
According to Fox News:
Recent communications between Usama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi indicate that bin Laden has “encouraged Zarqawi and his group to focus on attacks inside the United States,” multiple U.S. officials told FOX News on Monday.
The sources would not get into detail about how the communication was made or how it was intercepted by the United States. They also said that there is nothing specific in the message, such as maps or references to particular cities or buildings. Rather, the communication simply encourages a “focus” on attacks inside U.S. borders, sources said.
The Homeland Security Department issued a classified bulletin to officials over the weekend about the intelligence, which spokesman Brian Roehrkasse described as “credible but not specific.” The intelligence was obtained over the past several weeks, officials said.
There are several ways of looking at this news story. One is to pooh-pooh it, noting that nothing has happened since 911. However, the wise course it to take it seriously because it stands to reason that it should be taken seriously.
Why? Bin Laden can’t be pleased by U.S. successful military action against Afghanistan, Iraq’s recent free elections and events in Lebanon and Beirut that underscore that there is a heightened awareness not only about terrorism but about countries that cooperate with it.
Can there be another attack on U.S. soil? Certainly. Will it be as easy for them this time? Most definitely not.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.