News is emerging that the US warned India of a potential terrorist strike similar to that which occurred last week in Mumbai. There are differing opinions on how specific and detailed the warning was. Beginning with September 11th every terrorist attack was, allegedly, preceded by warnings from various intelligence agencies. The outcry of ‘why was nothing done’ echoes through public opinion and the commentating classes for weeks, even years on end. The problem is, though, that I think in order to actually stop these attacks civil liberties would inevitably have to be trampled upon.
Take a look at the US in the aftermath of 9/11. Blatant spying on American citizens with illegal wiretaps and terrorist ‘watch’ lists with 98-year old grandmothers and 2-year old babies are just a few of the ways the US tried to prevent another attack. Did they work? One could argue yes since there hasn’t been an attack. One could also argue that none have been planned. We just don’t know. The point is, though, that I don’t think any warning from any agency could necessarily have prevented the Mumbai attacks or any other since 9/11. Unless a CIA agent had walked up to George W. Bush on September 10th and slapped him in the face with a big sign that said ‘TERRORIST ATTACK TOMORROW CANCEL EVERYTHING’ 9/11 would still have happened. That’s just the way terrorists work: sneaky, underhanded and untraceable so even with warnings you can’t necessarily prevent anything.