EmergencyNet News Special Report12 Nov 98 - 14:00CST
Chicago Institute Warns of Possible Terrorist Attacks
Following Iraq Strike
By Paul Anderson, Correspondent
Chicago, IL (EmergencyNet News) -- According to Clark Staten, Executive Director of the Chicago-based Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI), the likelihood of international terrorist attacks on the United States will increase dramatically following anticipated military strikes against Saddam Hussein and his regime in Baghdad. "Our analysis would suggest that Mid-East extremists may use any U.S. military action taken against Iraq as an excuse to undertake terror attacks on the United States, her overseas facilities, or her allies," Staten said in an interview on Thursday morning.
Staten, who is retired from government service and has been studying and reporting on terrorism, military, and national security issues for more than 12 years, said that this predictive analysis is in keeping with events surrounding the 1991 Persian Gulf War, when more than one-hundred terrorist acts occurred, and in subsequent conflicts with Saddam Hussein about his covert retention of "weapons of mass destruction."
Staten said that in February of 1998, during our last confrontation with Iraq, the Hamas Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, Greek 17 November organization, The Egyptian al-Gama'a al-Islamiya (Islamic Group or IG) and Jihad (Holy War), Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), and members of the Osama bin laden's Al-Qaida organization all threatened to or actually carried out terrorist acts against the United States or her allies. Staten hypothesized that we can expect similar circumstances or
events during the current crisis involving Iraq.
"In light of our analysis, we must respectfully suggest that government, military, emergency service agencies, and the general public again assume a heightened state of awareness in regard to the possibility of terrorist attack on American facilities," Staten said. "As we have in the past, ERRI analysts are urging precaution, planning and preparedness for the possible eventuality of terrorist action...it is the only reasonable thing to do at this juncture in our confrontation with Mr. Hussein and his allies," Staten added.
"Given events in Kenya and Tanzania, our bombing of Afghanistan, and recent threats of retaliation by Osama bin Laden and other terrorist organizations, we see a convergence of multi-dimensional threats from multiple vectors, that may soon result in a large scale attack on America or her interests somewhere," the veteran emergency manager added. "Security measures for protecting U.S. government buildings, aviation facilities and airplanes, military bases, embassies, and overseas businesses closely associated with the United States, should all be considered," the director continued.
Staten concluded, "While we surely do not condone any sort of capitulation or changing of any U.S. policy, based on threats of
terrorism, it still would seem prudent to take the potential of these events into consideration now. Undoubtedly, appropriate contingency plans are already underway for military force protection, domestic defense, and other associated matters. But, based on current information and literally dozens of intelligence reports, we must urge precaution, great awareness and an advanced level of preparedness along these lines, at this time."
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