Skip to main content

BOSTON BOMBING: Terrorists are the unknown enemies within

ON Monday, the United States was under siege again. In Boston, two bombs detonated within a span of 17 seconds. Three people were killed, including an 8-year-old child. More than 140 people were injured, with some in critical condition. This is the worst terrorist attack in the US since Sept 11, 2001. Interestingly, the Boston mayor and other relevant authorities have confirmed that there was no prior threat or indication that an attack was imminent. The bombs were placed near the finish line. The authorities also found two more bombs at the site. This reminds me of how Sept 11 and the London bombings (July 7, 2005) were executed. The Boston attack was well planned by a terrorist group. According to the authorities, it could have been al-Qaeda or home-grown terrorists. The video footage of the incident is shocking. The attack was executed dramatically to impact American society. The terrorists succeeded in this mission. Again, the issue of lax security and intelligence will be discussed widely. The attack occurred despite the US government's heightening of homeland security and integrated cooperation between enforcement and intelligence agencies, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency. This shows that the terrorists can acquire the intelligence they need and infiltrate national security to launch their attack with the small funds they have. As for now, the attackers have not been identified. Before the Boston bombing, the relevant authorities believed that the measures and mechanisms they had created and implemented were working. Terrorists never die. Even when they are sent to maximum security prisons, their ideas and ambitions do not fade. They will be carried forward by their followers. Terrorists are the unknown enemy within. To identify and eliminate them is a mammoth task for security and intelligence agencies in any country.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

India-Malaysia ties and the future

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is on his first official visit to India. The main aim of this visit is to seek support for Malaysia’s application to join Brics and to fortify bilateral ties, as the country is keen to improve its connections with one of the rapidly expanding economies in Asia. In light of the increasing crumbling of the global order, particularly stemming from trade disputes between the United States and China, as well as the proxy conflict involving the United States and Russia, Malaysia is encouraged to reassess its foreign policy to uphold its neutral stance. Given India’s status as the largest democracy and the fifth-largest economy globally, along with its notable advancements in indigenous space and defence technologies, it is proposed that India emerge as Malaysia’s key partner in the years ahead. Why India is important for Malaysia The historical ties between India and Malaysia extend back several centuries, with significant Indian cultural, religious, and administ...

THE HISTORY OF TERRORISM: MORE THAN 200 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT

The history of terrorism dates back at least 1500 years when Jewish resistance groups (66 - 72 A.D.) known as Zealots killed Roman soldiers and destroyed Roman property. The term assassin comes from a Shi'ite Muslim sect (Nizari Isma'ilis - also known as hashashins "hashish-eaters") fighting Sunni Muslims (1090 - 1275) and during Medieval Christendom resisting occupation during the Crusades (1095-1291). The hashashins were known to spread terror in the form of murder, including women and children. The brotherhood of Assassins committed terror so as to gain paradise and seventy-two virgins if killed and to receive unlimited hashish while on earth. The modern development of terrorism began during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror (1793 - 1794). During this period the term terrorism was first coined. Through the past two hundred years, terrorism has been used to achieve political ends and has developed as a tool for liberation, oppression, and i...

The by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) and the Indian electorate

  I was born in Malaysia, belonging to the Indian ethnic group, which constitutes approximately 7% of the country's total population. My durable credence is that I am Malaysian first and foremost, and only then do I identify myself as Indian. Regrettably, it saddens me to witness and hear about the actions of certain politicians who question my loyalty to Malaysia. What is even more disheartening is that some Malaysians have been influenced by the manipulative rhetoric of these self-serving politicians. Recently, I have observed numerous discussions on both mainstream and online news platforms regarding the recognition and inclusion of Indians by ruling parties. Surprisingly, even the opposition has displayed a significant interest in the welfare of Indians. Upon contemplating the reasons behind this sudden surge in attention towards Indians, it becomes evident that it is primarily driven by the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election. It is noteworthy that such ...