SENTINEL WATCH August 9, 2004 Issue

Paralyzed with fear?

By Dave Hohle

Increased alertness to terrorist threats has led to unprecedented security measures in the weeks before the Presidential election in the United States, and at the Summer Olympics in Athens.

It's becoming clear that terrorism uses the threat of violence to destabilize society and create immobilizing fear, and federal, state, and local agencies take the best precautions they can. Their steps are often inconvenient for the public, but, at this point, probably necessary.

Of course, providing for every possible contingency is not always practicable. Three years ago, few people would have thought it necessary to defend against groups of hijackers simultaneously flying commercial airliners into skyscrapers. It was conceivable, but wildly improbable.