Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
targeted, and, of course, a target that will ensure mass casualties. John Robb has
written extensively about terrorist planners targeting the key critical node in the
infrastructure rather than the entire network. Attacking these nodes will lead to a
cascading effect of the entire network. He writes, “A nonobvious approach to node
failure is to attack the connections radiating from high-load nodes. The result of
an attack on the connections between nodes will be the redistribution of the load
carried by the damaged connection to the remaining connections. This will result
in the failure of a high-load node when the remaining connections fail due to over-
loading.”
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This is what Al-Qaeda is aiming to do with its attacks: target economic
targets in the hopes of cascading the larger network.
Th e Pl o T Ag Ain ST Th e u SS
THE SULLIVANS
Terrorist planners have the advantage of time. The collection of information
on the target can span from a short time to years and years. Each plan can be
updated and put back on the shelf and used at a later date. The bombers who
conducted the attack on the USS
Cole
(see photo) originally attempted
to attack the USS
The Sullivans
in
Aden Harbor. On initial approach to
the USS
The Sullivans
, the explosive-
laden skiff was found to be too heavy
to move into the harbor and nearly
sank. This was noted and updated to
become the plan used to attack the
USS
Cole
.
Once a target is chosen, preoperational surveillance is conducted in order to
develop a target package. The aim of such a crucial activity within the terrorist trade-
craft cycle is to learn as much about a target as possible, particularly in terms of its
strengths, weaknesses, and surroundings.
Would-be Times Square bomber Faizal Shazad monitored pedestrian traffic
in Times Square remotely via live streaming video sites with cameras focused
on the area. By conducting his surveillance, he was able to determine the best
location to place his VBIED. Shazad illustrated the innovations in terrorist
preoperational activities.
