For Immediate Release-EmergencyNet NEWS Service-07/07/93-1200CDT THREAT OF TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED STATES FURTHER INCREASES By: Paul Anderson Chicago, IL - The stage is set for yet another round of major violence directed against the United States, according to Clark Staten of the Chicago- based Emergency Response and Research Institute (ERRI). Staten says that several recent events should prompt Americans to be aware of the very real threat of continued terrorist savagery directed at the United States and her allies. First in significance was the June 27, 1993 retaliatory raid on the intelligence headquarters of Saddam Hussein in downtown Bagdad. The Tomahawk missile strike was directed against the Iraqi Intelligence Service Headquarters after an April 12th plot was uncovered to assassinate former President George Bush during his recent visit to Kuwait to celebrate the allied victory over Iraq in 1991. By June 28, General Saber Abdul-Aziz Douri, head of the Iraqi intelligence service, was quoted by the Iraqi News Service as saying, "The aggressors returned to their evil and blind hatred... cursed be what they are doing". "We will pursue anyone who dares to attack our dear Iraq and severely punish these evil insects", the general concluded. The next day, the Iraqi backed Al-Thawra newspaper continued the tirade by charging that President Clinton had carried out the attack only to bolster his "eroded popularity and credibility...domestically". Both sources indicated that various officials within the Iraqi government had vowed vengeance against the United States. Counter-terrorist analysts say that they fear that the only viable avenue for Saddam Hussein's revenge on the United States is through the use of terrorism. Even though Iraq has reportedly repaired or replaced as much as 80% of its domestic military equipment, experts say that Iraqi military strength and morale is insufficient to allow Hussein to undertake another serious attack against any nearby country. More difficult for Iraq would be a direct combat confrontation with the United States or her allies in the Middle East. Most analysts say that even Saddam Hussein, who has never displayed a great deal of restraint nor military competence regarding any conflict with the United States, would have to recognize the foolhardiness of a direct attack on the United States. A preferable revenge for Iraq would involve having a "surrogate terrorist" carry out a domestic attack that Hussein could privately take credit for. Second in concern on anti-terrorist operatives is the recent arrest of Moslem Fundamentalist Sheik Omar Abel-Rahman. The sheik, who has been suspected of condoning "jihad" or "Holy War" against both the governments of Egypt and that of the United States, was taken into custody on July 3, 1993 for alleged violations of U. S. immigration laws and failing to report his past criminal record on entry visa documents. Abel-Rahman's arrest has prompted a rapid and threatening response from Islamic Fundamentalists throughout the Middle-east. On July 2nd, shortly after Rahman's surrender to U.S. Immigration authorities, the Egyptian Jamaa Islamiya issued a statement saying that if the Sheik was prosecuted or extradited to Egypt, that they would begin a world-wide terror campaign against the United States. Only Monday July 5th, the Islamic Jihad issued a warning in Jerusalem that it would kidnap American citizens in retribution for the prosecution or deportation of Abel-Rahman. Other indicators point to the likelihood of continued violence. In an unprecedented move, the United States State Department on Tuesday June 28, 1993 issued a world-wide warning to travelers within the continental United States. Although warnings of increased threat levels have been routinely issued for countries where terrorist attacks have taken place, or can be anticipated, this is the first such warning in recent memory that included the entire American continent. When questioned, State Department spokesperson Mike McCurry said that the warning "rises out of a general sense that it is a good thing for all U.S. citizens to be more careful...at a time like this". The State Department press office did, however, release a brief notice that it had "no specific and credible information on particular threats at this time, either domestic or foreign". Early on July 6, Col. Mohammar Kaddafi of Libya issued a warning that President Clinton and the United States had "blundered" in the recent missile attack on Bagdad, and that the United States should expect "a lot more terrorism" in the near future. Kaddafi spoke of increasingly violent and spectacular acts to be perpetrated expressly for broadcast on the national and international television. In a surprise interview with the Washington Times, Kaddafi warned President Clinton to "tend to domestic issues and stop meddling in international affairs.". In a more veiled statement, Col. Kaddafi said that Libya "condemns terrorism" and that his country is willing to work with Western countries to abolish it . He continued with a call for more trade between the United States and Libya and offered to turn over two suspects in the Lockerbie, Scotland Pan Am 103 bombing for trial in any country besides the United States or Great Britain. Most analysts view Kaddafi's statements to be an attempt to mollify his Arab and Moslem constituency while hoping to end the United Nations embargo and sanctions that have crippled the economy of his cash-strapped country. Kaddafi has been mostly silent in recent times, on terrorist issues, since an American bombing of his personal compound and military facilities. More ominous than the threats are the actual acts of brutality that have occurred within the past two weeks. On Friday July 2, 1993, thirty-five (35) people were killed and another sixty (60) injured when the Madimak Hotel in Sivas, Turkey was set afire, allegedly by Islamic Fundamentalists. The attack, purported to have been carried out by Fundamentalists protesting the translation and publication of parts of Salman Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses" in the Turkish language, destroyed a hotel that was hosting a conference of writers and editors. Rioting reportedly took place in Sivas at the time of the fire, and at least thirty-five (35) people were arrested. Witnesses to the incident said that the disturbance started shortly after more than 500 people "finished their prayers" at a local mosque and spilled out onto the streets and began to smash store windows and rampage through the town. A curfew has been established by the Turkish government, and an investigation team sent from Ankara to study the violence. On the 1st of July, 1993, a suspected "ultra-leftist" terrorist organization fired a home-made rocket at the Yokota Air Force base, which is located thirty (30) miles from Tokyo. Police say that they believe that the rocket was fired to protest and disrupt the Group of Seven (G-7) economic summit that is being attended by U.S. President Bill Clinton this week. The projectile struck a four-story building and caused heavy damage to the walls and windows. The building was in an area frequented by U.S. servicemen and the families of those assigned to Yokota Air Force base. Police sources say that the attack is very similar to a previous strike by a the ultra-leftist Chukaka-Ha or "Middle Core Party" that occurred several days prior to the 1986 Economic summit that was held in Japan. The Chukaka-Ha reportedly has some Middle-east ties and may have received training and weapons from that region. In Seoul, Korea, a gas boiler in the hotel that was to house President Bill Clinton while he was on his current trip to the Far-East, unexplainably exploded on July, 5, 1993. The early morning explosion caused an evacuation of the Seoul Grand Hyatt hotel, including several Secret Service officers and other members of the President's advance party. Three people were reportedly injured by the blast and resulting smoke. While local officials deny the possibility of "any sort of explosive device", sources close to the investigation say that no firm conclusions have been drawn as to the actual cause of the explosion. Fortunately, President Clinton's weekend was otherwise uneventful. Observers say that they hope his visit to Korea is not marred by anti-government demonstrations or violence. "All of the normally reliable indicators show that we are at great risk of another terrorist attack in the very near future", said Clark Staten of the emergency service 'think-tank" - Emergency Response and Research Institute (ERRI). "An objective analysis of the available data says that another attack will occur sometime within the next few weeks...probably in a large city... in the continental United States", the veteran emergency manager continued. Staten, who has been studying terrorism and terrorists for more than ten years, said that the "threat level" is higher now than it has been since the Persian Gulf War. "The increasing frequency of terrorist acts throughout the world, combined with the recently monitored rhetoric of several fundamentalist extremist groups should cause an increased level of awareness and caution on the part of Americans", Staten added. "Unfortunately, the terrorists have already accomplished a small portion of their purpose by causing this alarm", Staten said. "One of their goals is to spread fear that will cause a change in U.S. government policy, disrupt the lives of normal citizens... with the hope of eventually causing enough chaos to undermine belief in the United States government", he continued. "The United States can not bow to these threats, nor allow violent acts to be perpetrated without retaliation." Staten said. "Governments that have attempted to peacefully placate fanatical religious and political organizations have repeatedly suffered the disastrous results of their folly... sadly, the only thing that the leaders of some of these organizations understand is revenge and greater violence", the author of the "Emergency Response Guide To Terrorism" added. "While I sincerely wish that there were some moderate response to these savage acts of barbarism, there does not appear to be many options that will effectively terminate the terrorist's actions without resorting to equal or greater violence", Staten said. "We would hope to circumvent an attack prior to it's occurrence through means of intelligence gathering and proactive law enforcement, but the openness of American society makes us particularly vulnerable to an isolated group of fanatics that is intent on causing mass casualties", he continued. "It is this very freedom and openness of our borders that have placed us at this risk...paradoxically, it is America's freedom that allows the insurgents the ability to infiltrate our country and commit these unspeakable acts...and yet it is these very freedoms that we are defending", Staten concluded. (c) EmergencyNet NEWS Service, 1993 May be reproduced with expressed permission of: Emergency Response & Research Institute 5656 N. Moody St., Chicago, IL 60646 (312) 631-1101 - Voice/Messages (312) 631-4703 - Fax (312) 631-3467 - Computer/Modem-EMERGENCY BBS-2400bps-24hrs. (312) 631-3950 - " " " " 9600bps "