When I think back to 9/11/01, my most vivid memory is of a palpable fear that the nation felt but left largely unspoken, that we were unspeakably vulnerable, that things were out of control, that events were spiralling, that anything could happen anywhere and that literally the fabric of the nation was in danger of tearing.
Once it became the clear that the extent of the attacks was "confined" to the WTC and the Pentagon (we don't know where United Flight 93 was headed - most likely the White House or the Capitol) it became easy to say, "What was I worried about? (Name your location) isn't exactly on the list of most likely terror targets."
Well, who would have thought a shopping mall in Columbus, Ohio would be on the list? We weren't paranoid at all to be concerned, and law enforcement deserves a lot more credit than it has received for their work since 9/11.
- A Somali native living in Ohio has been charged with plotting with other al-Qaida operatives to blow up a Columbus-area shopping mall, according to an indictment unsealed Monday.
The four-count indictment, returned by a grand jury in Columbus, Ohio, charges that Nuradin Abdi, 32, conspired with admitted al-Qaida member Iyman Faris and others to detonate a bomb at the unidentified shopping mall after he obtained military-style training in Ethiopia.
Abdi is also charged with fraud and misuse of documents by claiming that he had been granted valid asylum status in the United States. In fact, prosecutors say, he obtained that refugee document under false pretenses.
There also is one count each of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, in this case al-Qaida.
The charges against Abdi, who has been in custody since November on immigration-related violations, were handed up by the grand jury last Thursday.
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Article comments
1 - mike hollihan
While by NO MEANS wanting to minimise what was planned, I wonder just how far long and how concrete these plans were. Were they gathering materials, making plans, strategising, etc., or was this more like bragging and wishful thinking stuff, just written down?
Palestinian terror is aimed at Israelis to cause maximum fear: restaurants, discos, markets, busses, holidays, etc. But Al Qaida terrorism is largely aimed at the audience back home: USS Cole, both WTC attacks, embassy bombings.
I wondered why, after 9/11, the terrorists didn't strike at the various bowl games or other large sporting events, or at the Christmas shopping crowds. Hitting either one would have hurt America badly, sent crowds fleeing from large sporting events and malls, and crippled America's economy. But it still hasn't happened.
I'm glad, in a way, that we have the kind of terrorist enemies we have. If they were aiming at us, instead of trying to impress Arab Muslim folks back home, they could do much worse damage. We are, to date, lucky.
Having said all that, I think the likelihood of some kind of terrorist event in October or November approaches certainty. How big it will be is what worries me.
2 - Jim Carruthers
This sounds as dangerous as Mike Diana. Actually, he was probably worse, since he actually drew pictures and had them printed.
So these guys are more of a danger than some guy who sniped at vehicles, killing and wounding for months outside of Columbus? Well, because they were goddam furriners, I tell you what!
Spend more time saying "this is all bullshit" and more time learning about risk assessment. You are much more likely to die from E. Coli in a fast food hamburger or your tap water than you are from some unseen "terrorist", and the E. Coli is brought to you by the de-regulation of food inspection by your government.
3 - Eric Olsen
Um, I don't see it as either/or. None of it is good or acceptable.