EXCLUSIVE TO EMS MAGAZINE-EMERGENCYNET NEWS SVC.03/28/93

    EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMUNITY CONTINUES STATE OF DENIAL
           An Editorial by Clark Staten, EMT-P, I/C

For a number of years, (since 1982, in fact), this author has
been advocating an increased sense of awareness and
preparedness regarding international terrorism.  Often these
pronouncements have fallen on deaf ears or even been the
subject of ridicule, as doctors, nurses, EMTs, and paramedics
scoffed at the possibility of someone attacking the United
States.  All too frequently, I was told that I must be some
kind of "right-wing-gun-nut-alarmist", who was "crying wolf"
for the sake of personal aggrandizement.  It appeared that
the common opinion was that "it can't happen here".  And, for
several years, my critics were right...it didn't happen here.

Then came a series of events.  Treacherous in nature,
invisible to many Americans, yet foreboding.  To the trained
observer, this chain of occurrences signalled a change in
both the nature and intensity of the terrorist threat against
the United States.  First, in the mid to late 1980's, came an
end to the Iraq/Iran war that had dragged on for several
years.  Concurrently, the organization of several Islamic
Fundamentalist groups in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank
of Israel, and elsewhere became evident.  Iran, free of it's
wartime obligations, began to finance and train "cells" of
independent Moslems who could carry the message of Allah to
the "uneducated" in other countries.

Two other major events spurred the rise of Islamic
Fundamentalism.  The failed invasion of Kuwait, and the
subsequent defeat of Saddam Hussein and the country of Iraq
allowed the Iranians to pursue their regional leadership
ambitions.  Secondarily, but no less important, was the
breakup of the Soviet Union.  Previously, the Soviets had
been the prime benefactor of many terrorist organizations.
With this financial and logistical support had come a measure
of control, and the ability to direct Palestinian and other
"liberationists".  As both Iraq and the U.S.S.R. crumbled,
the forces of Islamic Jihad or "Holy War" were unleashed in
the Middle-East and elsewhere.

The primary enemies of the Islamics were those that held
their sacred "homeland" in Israel. The West Bank and Gaza
Strip of the Hebrew country were a major point of contention
with Palestinian "nationalists", who wanted it returned to
them.  Secondly, and more important to Americans, was a
perception by Islamic clergy that all "Westerners" were a
people of decadence, drunkenness, and open sexuality.  Worst
of all (in the view of the Moslems)...the American government
supported the Israelis with diplomatic protection, military
weapons and money.

Since most of you at this point in the article are probably
saying "O.K. so much for the history lesson..we don't care
about the about a bunch of bearded guys in long robes,
hanging out in Tehran... cut to the chase", I'll attempt to
abbreviate the historical aspect and place all of these
events of the past few years in perspective.

America's strong support for the "Zionist Oppressors" of
Israel is not in the best interests of Iran or the
Palestinians.  America is a country of "Infidels" or "the
unfaithful", those that (allegedly) don't believe in Allah or
the principles of the Koran.  America is (again allegedly) a
country of "sex, drugs, and rock & roll", and not in
concurrence with Islamic law.  America had previously shown
"weakness" during the November, 1979 taking of the American
Embassy and hostages in Tehran, and has shown an inconsistent
(and largely ineffectual) international policy of dealing
with terrorism throughout the 1980s and 90's.  The
combination of these facts, as viewed by Ayatollah Khamene'i
and his cloistered advisors, has undoubtedly contributed to
the rising swell of fundamentalist violence throughout the
civilized world.

With this said, it leads us to 1991 and an escalating series
of devastating attacks on America and her allies.  It began
in earnest with a car bombing of the Israeli Embassy in
Buenos Aires, Venezuela that took more than twenty lives and
injured hundreds.  The alleged perpetrator was identified as
Abu Yaser, a "local Argentinean supporter", who had converted
to Islam.  According to the Islamic Jihad, who claimed
responsibility for the bombing, Yaser was a martyr in the
cause of Islam who "struck like lightening a `Zionist
Terrorist Base' in Argentina...and turned it upside down".
The bombing was reportedly carried out in retaliation for an
Israeli helicopter attack that had killed Islamic Sheik Abbas
Musawi in February.

Hundreds of attacks were carried out during the course of
Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Attacks on
Israeli, British, French, and American Embassies throughout
the Mideast became commonplace.  During 1992, particularly in
Turkey and Egypt, Islamic Fundamentalists have reportedly
carried out dozens of car bombings and machine gun attacks
against tourist buses and areas where "Western" visitors are
known to congregate.  U.S. intelligence reports were received
that said that explosives had been confiscated, and "men of
middle-eastern extraction" were arrested as they attempted to
smuggle "plastique" into the United States from Canada.
The number of incidents, or thwarted incidents, seemed to
increase with each passing month.

Early in 1993, a lone gunman, reportedly of Pakistani
nationality and Islamic religion, allegedly attacked several
employees of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as they
left work at the Langley, VA facility.  At first, police
thought that the shootings were merely the work of a
"deranged gunman", and without political implications.
Further investigation revealed, however, that Mir Aimal
Kansi, who is accused of the assault on the CIA, had ties to
a Pakistani Islamic organization and has fled to the mountain
"hideout" of a radical moslem cleric in Afghanistan.  Another
interesting note involves the fact that one of those slain in
the CIA raid was a senior analyst on the "Middle-East" desk,
which maintains intelligence data on Middle-East terrorist
groups.

The incident that finally brought the reality of terrorism to
America was, of course, the World Trade Center bombing in New
York City.  As the investigation of this devastating event
continues, a larger and wider trail of evidence leads
directly to Islamic Fundamentalists as the perpetrators. A
recent report even suggests that a letter, accepting
responsibility for the bombing, was written by a known Moslem
and follower of radical Islamic Sheik Abdul-Rahman.  The
trail also probably leads to Egypt and a predominantly Moslem
neighborhood where the violent overthrow of Egypt, Israel,
and the United States is taken as a "religious duty".  The
"Intifada" or "Holy War" has begun in earnest.

Since the terrorist strike in New York, Pakistani
Fundamentalist have reportedly undertaken three major attacks
in India, killing hundreds and injuring thousands.  Major
"fire fights" have taken place along the Lebanonese/Israeli
border and in Cario, Egypt.  Police stations have been bombed
and officers have been killed in Algeria in Turkey. Radical
Moslems have been reported as "running through the streets
and stabbing people" in multiple attacks in Tel Aviv and
other Israeli cities.  The frequency and intensity continues
of the threat continues to increase.

If you have read this far, and to continue to deny that the
very real possibility of terrorism, directed against the
United States, exists...please read no farther. You will also
probably deny that many of the skills necessary to
effectively manage our planning and response to a terrorist
incident are transferable to incidents of civil unrest and
drug related violence.  You are probably the same people who
don't think that they could experience a hazardous materials
release which could kill or maim hundreds or thousands. You
are undoubtedly the last person to attend a "disaster drill",
because "we don't need that make-believe mickey-mouse".
And, you are still "sure" that "it can't happen here".

In closing, I say to you....those unbelieving souls...that
you should send me your address and that of your supervisor,
so that I can plan to send flowers and attend the memorial
services when your "head-in the-sand" attitude results in an
unfortunate event that will cause your demise.  Your failure
to plan does not constitute an emergency on my part...but, it
may cause one for you!

Please...be careful out there.....

Electronic (C) EmergencyNet NEWS, 1993
Exclusive to Emergency Magazine
Emergency Response & Research Institute
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