| Bird flu won't stop terrorists, and a serious | | | | As ordinary citizens, we cannot guard nuclear |
| pandemic may encourage them to strike. | | | | power plants or similar targets, but we can |
| | | | help maintain order in our own neighborhoods, |
| Therefore, one more problem which policy | | | | and look for danger in the form of both |
| makers in the world must watch out for is | | | | criminals and terrorists. |
| maintaining security. This will be hard | | | | |
| enough when police, security guards and | | | | Terrorists who really analyze the world |
| soldiers are sick and dying in large numbers. | | | | situation may well conclude that it's |
| | | | important to strike at the United States |
| Of course, terrorists are not immune to bird | | | | while we are distracted and weakened by the |
| flu, and some will no doubt become sick and | | | | bird flu pandemic. |
| die just as everyone else. But since we | | | | |
| cannot count on bird flu incapacitating all | | | | Our main world rival, China, will be weakened |
| of them, we must prepare to guard against | | | | even more so. It's quite possible that in |
| attacks. | | | | China there'll be widespread violence in the |
| | | | countryside against the government, and |
| Many terrorists do prefer to meticulously | | | | conflicts between regions. It is possible it |
| plan and prepare for their attacks. During a | | | | could break up into different countries. |
| pandemic society will not be on a regular | | | | |
| basis, and therefore it'll be harder to make | | | | It's possible that a great ally of terrorism, |
| detailed plans that assume society will | | | | North Korea, could see a political change. |
| maintain its established order. However, the | | | | North Koreans have withstood massive |
| relative chaos and anarchy will make it | | | | starvation in the past twenty years. Will |
| easier to carry out small scale but | | | | they also passively accept widespread death |
| strategically targeted bombings. | | | | by bird flu? |
| | | | |
| In some countries, there may be so much | | | | Iran's mullahtocracy could be overturned by |
| anti-government sentiment and activity that | | | | its dissatisfied citizens. Though the House |
| terrorism will be unnecessary. Terrorists | | | | of Saud may be overturned by Islamic |
| looking to attack the established order may | | | | fanatics. |
| find that bombs just aren't necessary -- | | | | |
| there're too many demonstrators and rioters | | | | A bird flu pandemic could be a bad time to be |
| in the streets already. One bomb more or less | | | | the government -- in many countries around |
| won't make any difference. | | | | the world. Yet the United States, although |
| | | | facing violence and chaos, has the best |
| It's possible that in prodominately Islamic | | | | chance of emerging from the pandemic |
| countries those that preach a return to an | | | | politically intact. And although we'd be |
| extreme interpretation of the Koran and | | | | economically weakened, we'd be in relatively |
| sharia as a way to avoid Allah's wrath in the | | | | better shape than the rest of the world, |
| form of bird flu will find a ready audience | | | | similar to our situation at the end of World |
| of the fearful and grief-stricken. | | | | War 2 -- which terrorists would hate. |
| | | | |
| It's also possible that in many countries | | | | Governments around the world recognize the |
| those that are able to use the bird flu | | | | potential for a serious bird flu pandemic to |
| pandemic to seize power from the government | | | | drive them from power, which is why they are |
| will be opportunists and strong-arm criminal | | | | working so hard despite political differences |
| dictators who have no sincere interest in | | | | to contain the virus. |
| rule by Islamic law. They will impose rule by | | | | |
| force upon a population decimated by bird flu | | | | However, terrorists have no such interest in |
| and looking for a way to return to normal. | | | | maintaining the present order. Therefore, we |
| | | | must assume they may take advantage of the |
| Terrorists may take advantage of U.S. | | | | situation. They may get little or no |
| disorganization and law enforcement personnel | | | | publicity while the world is preoccupied with |
| shortages to enter the country from either | | | | millions of bird flu deaths, but they may be |
| the northern or southern borders. | | | | able to damage needed infrastructure. |
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