Invasion boosts terror threat, US expert says
(duh...like it takes an expert to realize it)
April 8 2003
By Mark Forbes
Defence Correspondent
Another Bali bombing or September 11 attack is likely within months after the invasion of Iraq, which is now a new danger zone for terrorism, according to the former head of the National Security Agency, the peak US intelligence body.
Mike McConnell - who still advises NSA's director and the US Central Command - warned of "potential terrorist reactions over the next few months". The danger zone was both across the world and within an occupied Iraq.
There were potential threats to the US, UK and Australia, particularly in the next 12 months, he said.
"It's quite likely we will see something like 9/11 or like that horrible explosion in Bali.
"I think it will take some time to stabilise Iraq. The test will be how effective can we be in interrupting their leadership process and organisational structure of the terrorists.
"If we do that well, we will lessen the threat."
Al-Qaeda would "very definitely" want to strike back, he said. Although its leadership was scattered and ineffective, it had agents in 60 countries.
How the US "waged the peace" in Iraq was crucial to the long-term world reaction.
"If there is a strong reaction by the Muslim world I think the possibility of attacks increases," Mr McConnell said. "The occupation of Iraq is going to be dirty, with a difficult set of issues to work through." There would be continuing pockets of resistance.
Visiting Canberra as vice-president of consultancy firm Booz Allen Hamilton, Mr McConnell - who ran the NSA from 1992 to 1996 - also warned that cyber terrorism could present the greatest threat to the West. Thirty 30 hackers and a $10 million could easily "bring the US to its knees".
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