Posted on 01/31/2004 9:21:24 AM PST by knighthawk
Kenya now has an anti-terrorism intelligence unit, albeit half a decade late. This outfit is effectively our last line of defence against agents of terror. Utilising the latest in communication gadgetry and intrusion technology, the agency is expected to inform the Government which plane, truck or car is packed with explosives, what the target is and when to bust the bad guys before they can kill and main. Just the way it is done on TV.
Most governments presently appear united on the need to stamp out the killers and are likely to cooperate. Kenyan experts will now access crucial information on known terrorist groups and operatives, their backgrounds, criminal and professional records, known associates and their current status.
This may not have been entirely possible a while back. Previously, some regimes explicitly supported terror groups and applauded the killers’ murderous acts.
Libya, the Sudan, Iran, Iraq and Syria have, until very recently, been quite vocal and proud in their support of organised terror. Prior to his defeat, Saddam Hussein paid out Sh2 million to each family of Palestinian suicide bombers. Closer home, Uganda’s Idi Amin hosted the Palestinian terrorists that skyjacked an Air France jetliner and took 106 Israelis hostage.
Egypt, too, has changed. At the height of terrorist bombings and sky-jackings in 1970’s, the Egyptian government openly celebrated terrorist acts against Western interests, especially against Israel.
On 31st May 1972, three members of the Japanese Red Army terror group eluded the tight security measures at Lod airport in Israel, sneaked in three automatic weapons and grenades, then opened fire in the crowded arrivals lounge.
Over thirty people died. One of the terrorists was accidentally killed by a colleague while another one died when a grenade exploded before he could throw it. A third one was arrested as he attempted to shoot at the planes on the runway. It later turned out the Red Army, led by a woman named Fusako Shigenobu, specialised in the provision of terrorists-for-hire services.
As the world condemned the attack, Egypt’s prime minister, Dr Aziz Sidki, publicly commended the attackers and cynically wondered, "where was the (vaunted) Israeli might?" Egypt and Syria, actively supported by all Arab countries, attacked Israel the following year and had their armies crushed.
Four months after Lod Airport massacre, the same Egyptian prime minister ignored numerous pleas from the West Germany Chancellor, Willy Brandt, to allow passage to Black September terrorists who had taken hostage 9 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. Following Egypt’s snub, the terrorists slaughtered eleven Israeli Olympiads.
Such overt backing of terrorists has somewhat lessened but there are many powerful individuals and groups that still provide logistical and financial support to terrorists. The new unit will hunt down such supporters as well.
Kenya is unfortunate to have as its neighbour the unpredictable Somalia. The absence of a central government and the sheer expanse of uncontrolled territory provide a suitable environment to grow and train terrorists.
One can obtain firepower and explosives effortlessly in that region. The long un-patrolled border is easy to infiltrate and the shared ethnicity both sides of the border makes it easy for terrorists to cross into Kenya.
The challenge for the new unit will be to keep track of the events and movements of suspects in such hostile territories and provide the government with workable alternatives for arresting the situation in time.
Fighting terror is not strictly a police action. Terrorists believe they are at war with their enemies. In the words of one terrorist on trial, "– war involves slaughtering and destruction. One cannot limit warfare to destruction of buildings. We believe slaughtering of human lives is inevitable".
Twisted logic, yes but the threat and intention is real. Hundreds of Kenyans have died and property in billions of shillings destroyed in pursuit of such insanity. We must take them seriously.
It against this background that the new NSIS initiative will advise the government on the preventative measures necessary to neutralise terror threats against the country. These measures may include pre-emptive military strikes on targets in lawless Somalia if the need arises.
The government will, however, need to train and kit its anti-terror response teams to be equal to the task. Crucial information may be wasted for want of expertise and resources to follow up. Operations may be botched due to inexperience and prosecutions before courts compromised by inept handling of evidence.
We are not in the clear yet but this is one commendable initiative from the government.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.