Recent terrorist attacks tell of something bigger

Americans should ignore the spin from some quarters regarding the recent terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. They aren't an indication of Al-Qaida's ineffectiveness, or a reflection of Osama bin Laden's weakness. Rather, the attacks, which claimed numerous lives, represent stepped up Islamic militancy and come with a message for those countries that have joined the United States in the war on terrorism: You do so at your peril.
The Bush administration, which has put this nation on high alert as a result of increased chatter from terror groups around the world, can no longer treat this war as an American imperative stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and western Pennsylvania. More than 3,000 innocents were killed.
Broader targets
As the Christian Science Monitor put it this week, "The recent surge in terrorist bombings around the world is a violent reminder that the targets of Islamic extremism are much broader than America alone."
Or in the words of the Jordan Times in Amman, "It was highly expected that war on Iraq and America's failure to timely and adequately address the deadlock in the Middle East peace process would have led to a recrudescence of terrorist activities in Arab countries.
"The brutality and deadly rage unleashed against tens of innocent people exceeded the worst expectations.
"These acts seem to indicate a solid organizational structure, an intact and functioning chain of command and a high degree of coordination and communication amongst operatives of the same terror group.
"The region's governments must show the same solid organization, effective cooperation, seamless communication and top-level coordination in their response to these terrorists."
Therein lies the challenge. What is needed is an international forum on world terrorism at which intelligence agencies and other governmental bodies would share information and develop a coordinated response to this scourge. Nations around the world that have joined the United States in going after Al-Qaida cells must be confident they will have America's protection as they put themselves in harm's way.
Otherwise, the next series of suicide bombings, especially in the Arab world, could bring a change in attitude toward Al-Qaida and bin Laden.
Premature declaration
Shortly after the terror attacks on three residential compounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, we commented that the Bush administration was premature in declaring Al-Qaida on the ropes because its leadership structure had been destroyed. We reiterated that the failure of the Bush administration to capture or kill bin Laden, the mastermind of global terror and leader of Al-Qaida, has emboldened terrorists around the world.
It's time to show his followers that he is not invincible.