Terrorist Activity Increases Before Presidential Elections
In this interview with Bill Cooper, author of the new book, Suicide Terror.
Confronting the Threat, it's obvious that there is a potential threat of terrorist attacks prior to the next Presidential election.
Bill Cooper's background includes being a retired police chief, member of atask force on anti-terrorism, security managerfor Fortune 500 companies, and instructor and lecturer on the subject of international terrorism.
Q: Bill, is it true that there is a rising threat of these attacks prior to the next election? A: As shown by the attacks in Spain,there are plans made to intentionally disrupt or change the outcome of an election.
Those attacks, as one example, did actually result in elections that changed government policy towards the war in Iraq.
Terrorist groups learn many things from their operations.
Over the course of the past couple of decades, terrorist groups, particularly al Qaeda, have learned that the American government, when confronted with attacks on the military in foreign countries, will typically withdraw our forces from those regions.
This leads them to believe that America does not have the will or strength to sustain a longer-term fight.
They learned that the more American soldiers they kill, the faster the withdrawal may occur, and there are cases in which this has happened.
Witness the several month lead-up to the 2006 US elections.
The single most reported and controversial issue was the war in Iraq.
In the period leading up to our elections the two major parties were fairly clear on their positions whether to finish the job or whether to pull out.
Terrorists escalated the violence, killing more of our soldiers, and the elections resulted in a large-scale shift in government policy.
They take credit for this, which enhances their recruiting and fundraising efforts.
Look for the violence to continue as our elections get closer, but look for it to be more overseas against our interests or those of our allies rather than in the US.
It is believed another major attack likely will not occur under the current administration, although there is argument against that position as well.
This also does not prohibit the "lone wolf" or terrorist cell from trying to execute attacks.
Q: Many times people are afraid to watch the news because the news is so negative and they are tired of hearing about the murders, rapes, kidnappings, and terrorist acts.
You have a different viewpoint about the news, though.
Can you explain it? A: The news is and can be negative.
Recall the premise that "if it bleeds, it leads".
These stories sell, and the news is in the business of making a profit.
There are inherent biases in the media and they will be used to remain competitive.
The news does provide the American people with an opportunity.
The media does focus largely on the more immediate issues, providing readers and/or listeners with what they may be voting on or needing to address.
It is essential that voters take as neutral a position as possible and examine the issue from both sides, then remember to vote according to what is in the best interests of the country or community.
We are a society that moves quickly and are used to sound bite information.
Such minimal content does not normally allow for legitimate thought and/or assessment of the details of issues.
Q: Bill, your services as a speaker on preventing terrorism are in much demand now.
It's not surprising that the public's attitude has changed and they want to do everything they can to assist in the capture of these criminals? What should people look for? A: Actually, one of the best and most comprehensive toolsets is the "Seven Signs of Terrorism", a chronological system terrorists use to plan and execute attacks.
In following these planning processes, attacks may be stopped at any one of them by an alert citizen or law enforcement officer.
There have been nearly a dozen such attacks stopped before happening in the United States in the last few years because a citizen believed something was unusual or a police officer did, then reported it.
Reports need to be made to either local law enforcement or the FBI as quickly as possible, capturing as much detail as possible.
Although attacks have been prevented, you may be sure others are being planned.
Q: You have spent hundreds of hours researching the means these terrorists use to take control of countries.
What is the most empowering thing you have discovered? A: In studying terrorism, its history, how and why we are where we are today, it philosophies, methodologies, and strategies, I've found several items of note.
First, these people are serious, very serious about what they say and what they do.
They are groups who are not afraid to carry out mass killings and believe their path to heaven is guaranteed by doing just that.
They are groups who clearly and articulately tell us what they are going to do, then do it - at their leisure.
The second fact is that the good people of the US, after the devastating attacks we have experienced, are more engaged towards protecting themselves and others than we were before the attacks.
Many things have improved but we are not much more prepared than before.
Confronting the Threat, it's obvious that there is a potential threat of terrorist attacks prior to the next Presidential election.
Bill Cooper's background includes being a retired police chief, member of atask force on anti-terrorism, security managerfor Fortune 500 companies, and instructor and lecturer on the subject of international terrorism.
Q: Bill, is it true that there is a rising threat of these attacks prior to the next election? A: As shown by the attacks in Spain,there are plans made to intentionally disrupt or change the outcome of an election.
Those attacks, as one example, did actually result in elections that changed government policy towards the war in Iraq.
Terrorist groups learn many things from their operations.
Over the course of the past couple of decades, terrorist groups, particularly al Qaeda, have learned that the American government, when confronted with attacks on the military in foreign countries, will typically withdraw our forces from those regions.
This leads them to believe that America does not have the will or strength to sustain a longer-term fight.
They learned that the more American soldiers they kill, the faster the withdrawal may occur, and there are cases in which this has happened.
Witness the several month lead-up to the 2006 US elections.
The single most reported and controversial issue was the war in Iraq.
In the period leading up to our elections the two major parties were fairly clear on their positions whether to finish the job or whether to pull out.
Terrorists escalated the violence, killing more of our soldiers, and the elections resulted in a large-scale shift in government policy.
They take credit for this, which enhances their recruiting and fundraising efforts.
Look for the violence to continue as our elections get closer, but look for it to be more overseas against our interests or those of our allies rather than in the US.
It is believed another major attack likely will not occur under the current administration, although there is argument against that position as well.
This also does not prohibit the "lone wolf" or terrorist cell from trying to execute attacks.
Q: Many times people are afraid to watch the news because the news is so negative and they are tired of hearing about the murders, rapes, kidnappings, and terrorist acts.
You have a different viewpoint about the news, though.
Can you explain it? A: The news is and can be negative.
Recall the premise that "if it bleeds, it leads".
These stories sell, and the news is in the business of making a profit.
There are inherent biases in the media and they will be used to remain competitive.
The news does provide the American people with an opportunity.
The media does focus largely on the more immediate issues, providing readers and/or listeners with what they may be voting on or needing to address.
It is essential that voters take as neutral a position as possible and examine the issue from both sides, then remember to vote according to what is in the best interests of the country or community.
We are a society that moves quickly and are used to sound bite information.
Such minimal content does not normally allow for legitimate thought and/or assessment of the details of issues.
Q: Bill, your services as a speaker on preventing terrorism are in much demand now.
It's not surprising that the public's attitude has changed and they want to do everything they can to assist in the capture of these criminals? What should people look for? A: Actually, one of the best and most comprehensive toolsets is the "Seven Signs of Terrorism", a chronological system terrorists use to plan and execute attacks.
In following these planning processes, attacks may be stopped at any one of them by an alert citizen or law enforcement officer.
There have been nearly a dozen such attacks stopped before happening in the United States in the last few years because a citizen believed something was unusual or a police officer did, then reported it.
Reports need to be made to either local law enforcement or the FBI as quickly as possible, capturing as much detail as possible.
Although attacks have been prevented, you may be sure others are being planned.
Q: You have spent hundreds of hours researching the means these terrorists use to take control of countries.
What is the most empowering thing you have discovered? A: In studying terrorism, its history, how and why we are where we are today, it philosophies, methodologies, and strategies, I've found several items of note.
First, these people are serious, very serious about what they say and what they do.
They are groups who are not afraid to carry out mass killings and believe their path to heaven is guaranteed by doing just that.
They are groups who clearly and articulately tell us what they are going to do, then do it - at their leisure.
The second fact is that the good people of the US, after the devastating attacks we have experienced, are more engaged towards protecting themselves and others than we were before the attacks.
Many things have improved but we are not much more prepared than before.