Saturday July 8, 2006

I've Been Thinking:

Uncovering the plot to attack the tunnels of New York and the arrest of operatives involved in the planning the attack is significant.
However, there are many issues to be discussed about the way in which the operation was handled, about the strength and the weakness of counter terrorism and law enforcement.

On the one hand:
Very little of the plot was jelled, but there was enough proof to consider it a significant threat. The circle is larger than the three principals who were arrested (one in Beirut and two in Holland) and the five others are still at large.

On the other hand:
Counter terror raids during the initial stages of the plot make prosecution problematic. When you get the terrorists early in their planning before anything can really develop, you shut them down and eliminate the cell. But our courts and our laws are still not quite equipped to understand the terror. Prosecuting terrorists for the threat when no explosives were purchased and when the plan is very impractical is a nightmare. This is the same situation that arises with the capture of the terror cell in Florida.

As the plots jell there is more evidence and more material which can be used to convict the perpetrators.
More importantly, the longer the plan is being plotted, the more contact there is with other operatives, sponsors and supporters and the more potential there is for more arrests.
That's what's missing in this scenario.