May 19, 2002
WAYS AND MEANS
In recent weeks it has become almost a national phobia with
some people to try to determine what action of terrorism the Al Quida
will undertake next here in the United States.
Many have come up with fantastic plans for such an attack.
Some with all the severity and costliness of the September 11th
bombings, as well as few grand ones which are, I think, beyond the
capabilities of the Al Quida groups at this time. Some, however, are so
simple they could happen at any moment.
This morning's edition of the TIMES in London has an interesting
scenario which I have not read in the stateside press or seen on TV or
heard on radio. It is a scheme of such simplicity that it could be
happening right now in your community.
The All Quida would arrange for the rental of an apartment - a
"flat", of course, in the London TIMES account, and in due time a
moving van of their choice would back up to the service entrance
and unload an amalgam of the usual household items... chairs, beds
and mattresses, tables, multi-drawered cabinets, desks, and chairs and
sofas - all suitably overstuffed with explosives. When they chose to do
so, either by remote control or, if some one was eager to commit
suicide for Allah, he or she could set it all off, and the apartment would
be a "flat" within minutes.
Since September 11th of last year, we do not need to be
reminded of how tall buildings can be made to collapse within
themselves and burn if explosives are properly placed. It may
necessary to rent several such apartments in the same complex to
assure suffienct destruction, but this scheme could be worked in any
major American city with comparative ease.
Trying to second-guess the Al Quida is a difficult - even futile -
task to undertake, at any level, and the chances seem to be, at the
moment, that they will be soon be bragging about success concerning
forthcoming acts of terror in America.
We are being told constantly that this is a different kind of war
we are fighting this time, and I feel the federal and state governments
have done well in making such plans as can be made to combat the
potential troubles, but the general populace has yet to be convinced
that this is a serious matter which should be, above all, kept apart from
all petty political party aggrandizement.
The coming attacks may be small compared to what has gone
before, but they can, and I think, will, happen soon. Are we truly
prepared to meet such circumstances?
A.L.M. May 19, 2002 [c452wds]
