I use the example of Anchorage, because:
1. that's where I live
2. our inadequate Homeland Security measures are concentrated on protecting first-tier targets (Washington, New York), then second-tier targets (Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, etc.). Third-tier targets such as Anchorage (population 300,000 = 100 times the # of 9/11 victims) will be much easier to attack.
3. Anchorage has a busy airport and seaport. Since we are equidistant from New York, Tokyo and London, lots of stuff gets trans-shipped here.
4. We have a large military airbase and army base at the north end of town, adjacent to the seaport. We are a deeply conservative town, in a State that voted overwhelmingly for Bush. So we are a tempting target.
5. Even a dirty bomb, even an unsuccessful dirty bomb, would create so much panic, it'd achieve our enemy's goals. Bin Laden said in his pre-election advertising ("I'm Osama, and I approved this message...") that his goal is to bankrupt America. If a terrorist dirty bomb is discovered in a shipping container, Americans will insist that 100% of all containers be thoroughly inspected. This would cause a prolonged near-shutdown of international trade.
JS@GodBlessAntiguaandNamibia |
