Preparing for old threats
Op-ed: Focusing attention on past terror threats could leave London Olympics vulnerable
The reports of a London Olympics security drill simulating the 1972 Munich massacre – assuming they are indeed accurate - should be a major cause for concern. While the notion of preparing for such threats in advance should be welcomed, the fact that officials chose to focus on a scenario that occurred almost 40 years ago is troubling.
Focusing attention on yesterday’s threats is among the most basic maladies afflicting counter-terrorism efforts throughout the globe. Often, terrorists quickly move on to a new modus operandi, which remains unaddressed as officials continue to dedicate massive resources to preventing a repeat of previous attacks.
Following the September 11 terror offensive, Western governments focused on shoring up their airline security, and particularly on preventing another “box-cutter hijacking.” The huge attention given to nail clippers and other sharp objects at airports worldwide proved futile when terrorists placed their explosive devices on European trains and buses. Indeed, the residents of London and Madrid paid a heavy price for the failure to identify such plots in advance.
Israelis are particularly familiar with the need to keep ahead of the terrorists. After “standard” bombings proved increasingly ineffective, thanks to the Israeli public’s exceptional awareness of “suspicious objects” in its vicinity, terror groups utilized suicide bombers to outwit existing security measures. After Israel responded with a major effort to neutralize this threat, via innovative intelligence operations and the construction of a security fence, terrorists resorted to rockets to circumvent physical barriers.
Indeed, given the recent success of the Iron Dome anti-rocket system, Israeli officials are already thinking ahead to the next Palestinian move.
The El Al mindset
A security official I spoke with a few years ago made a simple yet incisive remark while referring to anti-terror efforts: “Always keep in mind that man has made it to the moon – and this happened more than 40 years ago.” The message here is clear – given the advent of technology and growing sophistication of terrorists, we cannot rest on the laurels of past success and prepare for threats that are quickly becoming less relevant. We must draw lessons from the past, but apply them while thinking of the future.Israel’s painful experience with terrorism has highlighted this issue, with defense officials here becoming increasingly adept at identifying and addressing new threats. El Al, for example, the world’s most security-conscious airline, trains its security staff to face highly sophisticated plots, including ones that have yet to materialize.
Following the September 11 attacks, the airline’s security officers worldwide convened for brainstorming sessions to identify and respond to any new threats, including ones previously thought of as “wild” or “unfeasible.”
The reported presence of Mossad officials in the London exercise may offer some comfort. Hopefully, Israeli security experts shared their vast experience in dealing with current, and future, developments. One can only hope that while engaging in drills simulating attacks of previous decades, British officials are also dedicating much thought to “wilder scenarios.” Otherwise, we may all be in for nasty surprises later on.
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