Terrorist groups are constantly probing, looking for soft spots. They don’t have the capability to fight western democracies head on, so they need to search for vulnerabilities. On September 11, 2001, they found in civilian airplanes when they used box-cutters to hijack planes and then fly them into buildings. We had all been told that if a plane was hijacked, cooperate. They just want money or attention to their cause. Our enemies used that vulnerability to great effect.
Now the cargo bomb plot reveals a new vulnerability: cargo. Modern, industrial, global economies are highly dependent on cargo shipments. They are the arteries of a modern economy. With their attack on cargo planes, the Islamists are striking at another soft spot.
Sure, we need to tighten security at cargo facilities. But this should be a reminder that we can’t simply look for defensive solutions. Terrorists are creative and they will always find new vulnerabilities. You can’t plug every hole. Even a police state like the Soviet Union struggled with terrorism. That is why we need to continue to attack them and to hopefully ensure that they will get little rest and will be under constant threat.
Offense is necessary. There is no such thing as a perfect defense.
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