Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Laden himself made this observation in a tape that surfaced shortly after
the attacks.
1
World conditions and political realities guarantee that the
United States and its interests, possessions, and citizens will continue to
be targeted at home and abroad. Corporate targets have become more
desirable as terrorists seek to use economic disruption to achieve politi-
cal goals.
An examination of the practical advantages of attacking corporate tar-
gets will further illustrate the point and illustrate why civilian economic
targets are so attractive. There is a distinction made between so-called
hard targets, that is, well-defended military bases and well-prepared
embassies, and “soft targets” with little or no security such as office build-
ing and industrial centers. Military targets:
Are generally harder to strike because of enhanced security
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Result in military casualties
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Generally cause loss of government property
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Cause damage that is generally confined to the target itself
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Attacks against civilian economic targets are more desirable to terror groups
because economic targets:
Are more vulnerable, easier to strike
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Result in loss of civilian life
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Cause loss of private and public property
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Create widespread damage to the fragile world economy
●
The September 11 attacks clearly illustrate the distinct differences
between hard and soft targets as well as the effects of a successful attack on
each. Two targets were selected and attacked: a hard target, the Pentagon, and
a soft target, the World Trade Center. The disparity in the actual effects
of those attacks is great. The destruction of the Twin Towers not only
killed many more people than the attack on the Pentagon but also caused
economic repercussions that were still being felt more than a year later.
Exhibit 1.2 shows some of the costs to private industry as well as the
loss of tax revenue associated with these attacks. While the actual tally is
still incomplete, even this partial accounting shows the enormity of the
economic loss. Other data estimate in excess of $60 billion (some esti-
mates put this closer to closer to $100 billion) in property damage and
casualty losses alone. In addition, the attendant economic loss to the City
of New York is estimated at more than $83 billion. These staggering amounts
actually surpass the annual budgets of many of the world's governments.
