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Politics : War -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: goldsnow who wrote (15359)	6/17/2002 4:04:00 AM
From: GUSTAVE JAEGER	Respond to of 23908

From the May 23, 2002 edition - csmonitor.com Debunk the myth of Al Qaeda Its size and reach have been blown out of proportion By Kimberly A. McCloud and Adam Dolnik MONTEREY, CALIF. - News reports indicate that Al Qaeda, ousted from its camps in Afghanistan, is now on the loose, spreading terror around the world. Several recent attacks have been claimed by or attributed to the terrorist network, including an assault on a Jewish synagogue in Tunisia, multiple explosions in Yemen last month (including one at the US Embassy compound), attacks in the Philippines, and a fire in the Milan metro. But is Al Qaeda really behind all these attacks? Analysts cite differences in modus operandi compared with alleged past attacks, as well as more probable perpetrators in those recent incidents. Still, Al Qaeda is likely to be the top suspect in future incidents. Victims, including states, may even blame Al Qaeda for political reasons, namely to gain US sympathy and support. Would-be terrorists the world over may be inspired to perpetrate attacks, seeking to feel they are part of what they perceive as a large, powerful terrorist movement. The public perception that Al Qaeda is running wild is likely to increase fear, especially among Americans. Such concern, when translated into a heightened vigilance about one's surroundings - particularly in light of this week's warnings about future attacks in the US - may not be a completely bad thing. But unchecked public fear, taken to an extreme, could immobilize citizens, jeopardize civil liberties, and lead America into too many fights abroad. The United States and its allies in the war on terrorism must defuse the widespread image of Al Qaeda as a ubiquitous, super-organized terror network and call it as it is: a loose collection of groups and individuals that doesn't even refer to itself as "Al Qaeda." Most of the affiliated groups have distinct goals within their own countries or regions, and pose little direct threat to the United States. Washington must also be careful not to imply that any attack anywhere is by definition, or likely, the work of Al Qaeda. This phenomenon of "exaggerated enemy" is not new. [snip] csmonitor.com