| Sound off about... the threat of terrorism |
Terrorism on trial
February 9, 2001
Last week began the trial of four alleged co-conspirators charged with the bombings of U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. The bombings were responsible for the deaths of 224 people, including 12 Americans.
The fact that such devastation could be directed at Americans is certainly a staggering thought. What scares government officials the most, however, is the person the men are supposedly linked to… the presence who is looming like a black cloud over the entire trial, despite the fact that he is not there, or technically even on trial: Osama bin Laden.
Bin Laden, a Saudi dissident who has been tied to a series of gruesome and deadly attacks against U.S. targets, has been labeled by CIA Chief George Tenet as the most immediate and serious threat to America’s National Security. In the CIA’s annual report on threats to U.S. Security, Tenet commented that, “since 1998, bin Laden has declared all U.S. citizens legitimate targets of attack.”
How do much do you think Americans have to fear Osama Bin Laden? How much do you think Americans have to fear international terrorism in general? How much do Americans have to fear terrorists in our own country?
- At the trial, a former associate of bin Laden testified that he had warned U.S. officials as far back as 1996 that bin Laden's group was targeting the United States, and were considering terrorist attacks on U.S. embassies. Do you believe him? If he's telling the truth, what should the U.S. have done?
- In his report, Tenet also warned that bin Laden and other terrorist organizations were turning to the Internet to spread and acquire information regarding terrorist attacks. What is the best way to stop this type of activity?
- What types of terrorism do you think the U.S. should be fearing the most: chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or something else?
- Terrorism is not just a global problem -- it can be a domestic problem as well. How serious a threat does America face from domestic terrorism? Are there any fringe American groups who pose just as big a threat as international groups?
- Finally, how big a problem is terrorism overall? Is it blown out of proportion by the media, or is it something we all should be taking very seriously?
|
|
|
| SOUND OFF |
 See what iWon users had to say about the threat of terrorism?
Read iWon users' comments*
* This bulletin board is now read-only
|
|
|
