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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (118796)	11/6/2003 7:31:35 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Respond to of 281500

Hawk, I think it's a bluff. The jihadists would be happy to disrupt Moslem life in the USA if it would act as a catalyst for even greater disruption of the rest of society. I doubt they have nukes and these days, neutron detectors and the like would catch them at the border. But shipments of opium could conceal a nuke and the bribed customs officers might look the other way and not wave their detectors near it either - a trojan horse approach. Easier to smuggle a nuke in opium than with a bunch of yams or something. Osama likes to use the weaknesses of the USA against itself. Drugs are a big weakness. Bribery is no doubt one too. The drug buyers would even pay for the shipment. The cash for the drugs would pay for the nuke. Maybe some Pakistani nuke controllers are inclined to Islamic Jihad. I say call the bluff. [I'm at a safe distance, admittedly - but they could more likely sneak one into Auckland than New York and we are a target, though we don't have a warning] Mqurice

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (118796)	11/6/2003 8:06:47 PM
From: Sig	Respond to of 281500

<<They need a big "coup" of an attack similar, or even greater than 9/11, in order to regalvanize support for their cause and belief in their eventual victory..>>> The more important aspect of our Iraq and Afghanistan adventures, are two lessons or messages for the ME leaders derived from what the US has done so far. -in event of a repeat 9/11- 1. There can be no hiding behind the UN shirts or bluffing as Saddam was doing. Its a straight shot back to the instigators of the attack, unilateral if need be. 2. The countries or leaders who support the next terrorist parties will get the same treatment as the Taliban, an invasion or military act of some sort to eliminate the terrorists.Immediately (to prevent a repeat of whatever event they had caused) We have our troops out of Saudi Arabia, in case they need a lesson. But the Saudis seem to be doing an excellent job of cleaning up their act and should know they will be sacrificing an excellent life style based on oil. With our troops next door to Syria, Assad must be aware we could act within hours if a terrorist group from his country makes a major strike on the US. That is the posture which IMO the Administration has purposely taken or stated. An angry tiger, fully armed, capable of immediate action when attacked, leaving no place safe to hide for the terrorists. The ME leaders should now live in fear that some terrorist group takes up residence within their borders and then acts against the US. And should act to prevent that. The think tanks and planners in DC are or should be working out what our response would be in regard to a repeat of 9/11. Which calls for much better Intelligence (to find whodonit) than we had in years past. The actual response to an act as you mentioned, is not clear. We dont want it to be clear. It does not have to be clear. It will be decided when and if the act occurs and the perpetrators are identified. Let them picture the worst ....... The usefulness of taking the debate over Iraq to the UN , and not being stopped by them, now means the enemy must fear the worst and should be veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery careful. Sig

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (118796)	11/8/2003 4:38:58 PM
From: Bilow	Respond to of 281500

Hi Hawkmoon; Re: "The US, unfortunately, is an incredibly vulnerable society." Right! Then why should we walk around with a chip on our shoulders? Do unto others as you would have others do unto you should be our motto. Or at least walk softly and carry a big stick. Instead, our motto is "do unto others before others do unto you", which results in others doing unto you soon enough. Or to "tread loudly and get your stick stuck in Iraq". -- Carl