As war looms, increasing pressure is being placed on domestic Law Enforcement. Many departments are already understaffed due to the call up of reservists. Many are also under very tight budget constraints due to lack of funds at the state and local level.
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Part 1: The Heightened Terrorist Threat
As White House Officials raised the Homeland Security Threat Level from Yellow (elevated) to Orange (high) Monday, Law Enforcement across the country is faced with an increasing likelihood of terrorist threats. As war with Iraq nears, Muslim extremists, including possible al Qaeda terror cells, members of Hamas and Hezbollah, individual non-affiliated sympathizers and Iraqi supporters are likely to attack US interests here and abroad.
US intelligence agencies are warning that attacks from Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group, are a major threat. Although Hamas is most likely to attack US bases or American gathering places in the Middle East, officials fear attacks in the US. FBI agents suspect that there are Hamas sympathizers among the 1,000 Islamic extremists they are monitoring and Hamas leadership has called for sympathizers to “strike Western interests ... everywhere”, which is a sharp departure from its traditional stance.
There are also concerns that members of Hezbollah may take similar actions and that a US led invasion will radicalize other young Muslims living in the US. Federal and local Law Enforcement officers are closely tracking thefts of explosives, such as those used in Hamas backpack bombs, and unusual sales of fertilizer, chemicals and fuel that could be used to make a truck bomb.
Although seriously weakened by recent arrests, al Qaeda is under pressure to take significant action and prove their ongoing strength. al Qaeda leaders have called for global strikes by Muslims against American interests in the event of a US-led war on Iraq. Intelligence officials are worried that there are remaining al Qaeda sleeper cells in the US, which could be activated.
Lastly, it is possible that Iraq has deployed “state-sponsored” terrorists that are set to strike if Iraq is invaded. During the Gulf war, Saddam sent hundreds of operatives around the world on terror missions. None succeeded, but there is a possibility that he may attempt this strategy again.
The FBI plans to step up round-the-clock surveillance, monitoring and interviewing of people who might try to retaliate in the event of war. Law Enforcement should be on the lookout for attacks from individuals or small groups particularly against soft targets such as hospitals, hotels and apartments complexes. Larger, well-coordinated strikes such as 9/11 are possible, but much less likely.
Source: Police1