The brief // by Ben FrankelOn sleeper cells, smell test, and big numbers
Whether or not Gaddafi has the means, or the intention, to launch a terror campaign inside the United States in retaliation for U.S. attacks on his military remains to be seen; another country, however, has not shied away from such actions: Iran; just one example: in the early 1990s, in response to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon, Iranian agents blew up the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires; scores were killed and hundreds wounded; there are many other examples for the Iranian penchant for such actions; if the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, then an Iranian terror campaign against targets inside the United States would be one of the ways in which Iran would retaliate for such attacks
Here are quick comments on three things that caught our eye this week.
1. Sleeper cells
Over the years, Col. Gaddafi has supported a variety of terrorist groups on four continents, and his own intelligence operatives used terror tactics as well, as was the case with the 1988 downing of PanAm 103.
With the United States now engaged in a campaign against his regime, many have raised the question of whether or not Gaddafi would retaliate by sending Libyan terrorists here — or, perhaps, activate terrorist sleeper cells.
Thus, ABC News reported that,
Concern over a possible terrorist attack directed by Gadhafi was raised Friday when White House terrorism advisor John Brennan told reporters the Libyan leader “has the penchant to do things of a very concerning nature.”
“I think clearly from what we’ve seen he’s got intent, but the second piece is capability,” former senior U.S. intelligence official Phil Mudd told ABC News. “He’s been out of this business a long time so whether he’s retained the capability is an open question. Whether he can resuscitate it, I think, is an even bigger question.”
The other day, FBI Director Robert Mueller said that the Bureau had begun questioning Libyans living in the United States to “identify Libyan agents operating inside U.S. borders.” Mueller also said the move is intended to put the US “on guard” against any potential terror attacks from Libya.
“We want to make certain that we are on guard for the possibility of terrorist attacks emanating somewhere out of Libya,” said Mueller, appearing before the House Appropriations Committee, “whether it be Gadhafi’s forces or, in eastern Libya, the opposition forces who may have amongst them persons who in the past have had associations with terrorist groups.”
Whether or not Gaddafi has the means, or the intention, to launch a terror campaign inside the United States remains to be seen. Another country, however, has not shied away from such actions: Iran. Just one example: in the early 1990s, in response to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon, Iranian agents blew up the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. Scores were killed and hundreds wounded. There are many other examples for the Iranian penchant for such actions.
Gaddafi may not use terror in retaliation against the United States, but experts say there is little doubt that if the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, then Iranian terror campaign against targets inside the United
