A Sad Warning That U.S. Remains Vulnerable

Although Americans' attention has been focused primarily on domestic issues, including the sour economy in recent months, this week's deadly attacks in Mumbai are a horrific reminder that the threat of terrorism remains high around the world, including the United States.

The set of coordinated attacks on 10 strategic sites in India's financial capital left more than 150 people dead and hundreds wounded. The terrorists struck luxury hotels, hospitals, a rail station, a well-known restaurant and a Jewish center, where five hostages were found dead on Friday. Those targets were selected to maximize civilian casualties, and — much like the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon — to send a sharp message about the vulnerability of high-profile, symbolic locations.

While planning and training for such attacks require considerable resources, security analysts warn that many nations and cities are at risk of similar atrocities committed by Islamic extremists.

The reality of such threats must rise to the forefront as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to step in as commander in chief. In the home stretch of the presidential campaign, Obama and Republican opponent John McCain devoted most of their attention to domestic concerns such as the economy, energy and health care.

That focus may have made good political sense, but as George W.

Bush learned early in his presidency, a terrorist attack or an international crisis can quickly define a new leader's tenure in the White House. Obama must prepare quickly for that possibility, one that seems even more likely given the assault on Mumbai.

The Obama camp also should strongly reconsider any plans to weaken the Bush administration's strategies to fight terrorism, including surveillance of terrorist suspects. Obama supporter and fellow Democrat Sen. Evan Bayh, a member of the Intelligence Committee, noted in a meeting with The Star Editorial Board this month the critical importance of retaining aggressive, but carefully monitored, counterterrorism measures.

While Spain, Russia, Great Britain and now India have been hit, the U.S. has avoided an attack on the homeland for more than seven years, a mark not achieved by mere good luck but through tough-minded pursuit of terrorist organizations.

It's extraordinarily difficult for on-site security to stop the kind of low grade but deadly assaults that devastated Mumbai. It falls then on strong intelligence gathering to prevent such attacks before they reach the staging point.

The assault on Mumbai is the latest in a long series of outrages committed by barbaric and resourceful killers. It would be foolish to think it will be the last, or that this nation isn't vulnerable.

REPRINTED FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR.

RELEASE BY CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.