Monday, April 04, 2005
risk in rome
The Pope has died. He was one of the good guys for the most part; may he rest in peace. I'm not a catholic and while his rule of the church did confront some awful events and controversial subjects...well, my personal opinion of his reign is of no importance now.
The point I find interesting today however, has little to do with John Paul II and everything to do with his upcoming funeral in Rome. Seems like everyone who is 'anyone' is going to be in attendance...I sure hope the security is up to snuff, because this event looks like the biggest opportunity for anti-western terrorists ever! From any point of view (left -right or whatever) - it is no secret that there are a whole passel of folks really pissed off with those they identify as 'western crusaders'. Just one bio-release, or a small nuke, or even a bunch of creative suicidal maniacs with box-cutters could functionally decapitate a large number of western states, not to mention the entire Church of Rome. The ensuing chaos is too horrible to contemplate. Al Qaeda wannabees should be frothing at the mouth to get in on this one! It is an event opportunity that reads like 'jihadist's' wet dream!
As for securtity in Rome? All I can figure on is a pot-pourri of the Swiss Guard, the Italian government, the CIA/FBI/Mossad/M5/Interpol and anyone else with a vested interest...I know that these people will try to do their best; really they will. Given the recent record of just the Americans however, I have deep concerns about these institutions being able to combine their efforts effectively. Hundreds of thousands of mourners have already descended on the Vatican, and there is absolutely no way that any security force could possibly cope with a number of well organized infiltrators bent on destruction. The death of the Pope comes as no surprise and sleeper-cell plans could have been made years in advance to do any number of nasty things. I have no hankering to go to Rome this week.
I googled a brief search of this topic/concept (papal funeral/terrorist risks/threats..etc) and came up with nada! Surely I can't be the only Cassandra on the planet? Could this coming gathering, to pay last respects to a great man, be the biggest security risk the west has faced in decades?
The point I find interesting today however, has little to do with John Paul II and everything to do with his upcoming funeral in Rome. Seems like everyone who is 'anyone' is going to be in attendance...I sure hope the security is up to snuff, because this event looks like the biggest opportunity for anti-western terrorists ever! From any point of view (left -right or whatever) - it is no secret that there are a whole passel of folks really pissed off with those they identify as 'western crusaders'. Just one bio-release, or a small nuke, or even a bunch of creative suicidal maniacs with box-cutters could functionally decapitate a large number of western states, not to mention the entire Church of Rome. The ensuing chaos is too horrible to contemplate. Al Qaeda wannabees should be frothing at the mouth to get in on this one! It is an event opportunity that reads like 'jihadist's' wet dream!
As for securtity in Rome? All I can figure on is a pot-pourri of the Swiss Guard, the Italian government, the CIA/FBI/Mossad/M5/Interpol and anyone else with a vested interest...I know that these people will try to do their best; really they will. Given the recent record of just the Americans however, I have deep concerns about these institutions being able to combine their efforts effectively. Hundreds of thousands of mourners have already descended on the Vatican, and there is absolutely no way that any security force could possibly cope with a number of well organized infiltrators bent on destruction. The death of the Pope comes as no surprise and sleeper-cell plans could have been made years in advance to do any number of nasty things. I have no hankering to go to Rome this week.
I googled a brief search of this topic/concept (papal funeral/terrorist risks/threats..etc) and came up with nada! Surely I can't be the only Cassandra on the planet? Could this coming gathering, to pay last respects to a great man, be the biggest security risk the west has faced in decades?
