The US might be the most powerful nation in the world but it doesn’t make it any less vulnerable to terrorist attacks. That was demonstrated in 2001 when the entire world was left gaping at the catastrophe that a few suicide members ushered in upon America.
Since that fatal day in 2001, the Bush administration has adopted a plethora of measures to combat the escalating threat from jihadists and religious extremists in the world. In most of these cases, American forces have ventured outside their own national territories rather than try and fight terrorism inside.
But now the strategy is being changed. Once the US boasted itself of being the safest nation in the world with a watertight security. But now the nation and its politicians are waking up to the stark realization that it’s not that safe any more. And it is in such a state of apprehension that terror drills have been resumed.
Three fictional dirty bombs would be detonated in the week starting on October 15 in two major US cities and will test how the US military and rescue force copes with the incident. This is sort of a mock test and prepares the rescuers should any such emergency situation crop up in the near future.
Mere tests they may be at the moment, but the program cost no less than $25 million a year with the involvement of several top officials from the Defense and Homeland Security department. Many have voiced concern about the money spent in such test when the actual attacks, if and when they happen, would be multiple times more magnanimous that these tests.
The to-be tests have also helped up flare a good degree of controversy. A similar terror drill was carried out in 2005 but the full results and reports of that test are yet to be declared. But the fact that America is preparing itself for another major attack doesn’t slip by anyone at all.
Image Source: SMH
Source: USA Today
