Terrorist thought exercise

**Adrian II** · 11-05-2005, 01:58

I have been thinking. Don't ask me why, this just happens to me from time to time and I can't stop it. Those who don't recognise the phenomenon, please bear with me anyway.

I have been thinking about the best possible target for terrorists in a given country. You will excuse the macabre connotations-- this exercise is not meant to support terrorism in any way, it is meant to think one step ahead of what may one day materialise.

The '9/11' perpetrators clearly went for their three targets because they were both symbols as well as operative centres of American power: the White House (politics), the Twin Towers (business) and the Pentagon (U.S. military might). Three 'jugulars' as it were, only one of which they eventually hit. If you are American, what do you feel would have been the worst of those three possible hits? The White House, the Pentagon, or the Twin Towers after all?

If I were a terrorist and wanted to hit my own country as hard as possible, in its very soul, what would be my target? It would have to be either a landmark building in the center (for instance Central Station) of the capital, Amsterdam; the Queen's residence in The Hague because the House of Orange, despite the countless constitutional restrictions imposed on it, symbolises our political independence since the early seventeenth century; or the oil terminals in the port of Rotterdam, which is the economic lifeline of the nation so the economic damage would be greatest. Regardless of the political fall-out, the reconstruction of our infrastructure and economic potential would constitute an uphill struggle of many years. If pushed, however, I would go for the Queen's residence.

In Great Britain? It wouldn't be the Underground, nor Parliament or Whitehall, nor Islington (headquarters of the chattering classes) nor the City (business center). It would have to be the BBC's Broadcasting House.

In France? Not the Eifeltower, obviously. Algerian islamists tried that in 1998 and were thwarted in a textbook operation by French security services, and it wouldn't hurt the soul of the nation anyway. Many Parisiens, in their heart of hearts, would probably think 'good riddance'. The Élysée would be at least a very probable target.

How about other countries? Show me your nation's weak spots and I will tell you who you are. I mean, it would be interesting to know what spot or building is both highly symbolic for your nation as well as an operative center of its existence.

**Redleg** · 11-05-2005, 02:15

Well in the United States the way to really effect the nation is to actually time the event to hit Congress when it is in full session - however that is not going to happen with the air restrictions placed around Washington D.C.

There are others - but that is the only governmental one that I am going to mention. The others well I don't want to mention them incase someday it happens. Given the nature of the conflict and the very real desire of certain elements in the world to have another successful strike on the United States the hypothetical (SP) exercises is not one I wish to play on the internet.

By the way two of the three targets were hit in the 9/11 attacks - The twin towers and the Pentagon were both hit. The one that hit the Pentagon penerated deep into the rings of the Pentagon - it just wasn't a complete destruction like the Twin Towers.

**Adrian II** · 11-05-2005, 02:20

Originally Posted by Redleg

Well in the United States the way to really effect the nation is to actually time the event to hit Congress when it is in full session - however that is not going to happen with the air restrictions placed around Washington D.C.

There are other ways than suicide flights to produce mayhem. I suppose the targets you refuse to mention are military ones. Without going into their precise nature, could you tell me why they would touch the soul of the nation more than anything else?

The one that hit the Pentagon penerated deep into the rings of the Pentagon - it just wasn't a complete destruction like the Twin Towers.

Correct of course, but I do not count that one as a true hit in the nation's 'heart'. That attack merely demonstrated the superior construction of the building.

**Beirut** · 11-05-2005, 02:56

Tim Horton's

**Adrian II** · 11-05-2005, 03:10

Originally Posted by Beirut

Tim Horton's

Eh?

EDIT
Ah!

**Kanamori** · 11-05-2005, 03:19

A palestinian w/ a bomb strapped to his chest could blow that up

**Redleg** · 11-05-2005, 03:32

Originally Posted by AdrianII

There are other ways than suicide flights to produce mayhem. I suppose the targets you refuse to mention are military ones. Without going into their precise nature, could you tell me why they would touch the soul of the nation more than anything else?Correct of course, but I do not count that one as a true hit in the nation's 'heart'. That attack merely demonstrated the superior construction of the building.

None are military ones. The targets would show how vulnerable any nation is to an attack of such nature.

The very vulnerablity of such a target would be what takes the soul out of America - or wake up an even greater fury then what 9-11 created for the short period of time.

Since like before this is a open internet discussion I am hestiant to give what I think would be such high payoff targets out in the open. Such a thought process that you have opened up for discussion is one I did back in 2002 - and I don't like my answer at all - and I really don't see the Government of the United States making the necessary changes to the border, transporation and immigration policies for me to want to give voice to my concern.

**Adrian II** · 11-05-2005, 04:11

Originally Posted by Redleg

None are military ones. The targets would show how vulnerable any nation is to an attack of such nature. The very vulnerablity of such a target would be what takes the soul out of America (..)

I see what you mean now. It would be the weakness revealed, rather than the loss of the target itself, that would be the biggest shocker.

By the way, I think there is no specific target in any nation whose destruction would truly destroy that nation's spirit. Alarm, despair and anger, yes. Paralysis, no - at least not after the initial phase of shock.

**bmolsson** · 11-05-2005, 04:32

As a Swede, I would have to say Vadstena Monestary...

Living in Indonesia, I would have to say Singapore (its there all the Indonesian money are placed)......

**Tribesman** · 11-05-2005, 04:37

the oil terminals in the port of Rotterdam, which is the economic lifeline of the nation so the economic damage would be greatest.

Amature

, wait for the spring tide or a storm surge and wreck the flood control system , you not only get the terminal , you get the whole port and a damn big slice of the entire country .

By the way, I think there is no specific target in any nation whose destruction would truly destroy that nation's spirit. Alarm, despair and anger, yes. Paralysis, no - at least not after the initial phase of shock.
hmmmmm....what about St. James Gate Dublin ?

or not

as the case would be .

**Redleg** · 11-05-2005, 05:34

Originally Posted by AdrianII

I see what you mean now. It would be the weakness revealed, rather than the loss of the target itself, that would be the biggest shocker.

By the way, I think there is no specific target in any nation whose destruction would truly destroy that nation's spirit. Alarm, despair and anger, yes. Paralysis, no - at least not after the initial phase of shock.

True - the question has always been can a nation come out of the initial phase of shock in time to make a decision - or does the shock disable them long enough for the advantage of action to remain with the attacker?