Not sure whether to say wow! or Finally abcnews.go/Blotter/exclusive-westgate-interpol-chief-ponders-armed-citizenry/story?id=20637341 Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said today the U.S. and the rest of the democratic world is at a security crossroads in the wake of last months deadly al-Shabab attack at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya – and suggested an answer could be in arming civilians. In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Noble said there are really only two choices for protecting open societies from attacks like the one on Westgate mall where so-called soft targets are hit: either create secure perimeters around the locations or allow civilians to carry their own guns to protect themselves. Societies have to think about how theyre going to approach the problem, Noble said. One is to say we want an armed citizenry; you can see the reason for that. Another is to say the enclaves are so secure that in order to get into the soft target youre going to have to pass through extraordinary security. Nobles comments came only moments after the official opening of the 82nd annual gathering of the Interpols governing body, the General Assembly. The session is being held in Cartagena, Colombia, and is being used to highlight strides over the last decade in Colombias battle against the notorious drug cartels that used to be the real power in the country. The secretary general, an American who previously headed up all law enforcement for the U.S. Treasury Department, told reporters during a brief news conference that the Westgate mall attack marks what has long been seen as an evolution in terrorism. Instead of targets like the Pentagon and World Trade Center that now have far more security since 9/11, attackers are focusing on sites with little security that attract large numbers of people. At least 67 were killed over a period of days at the Westgate mall, more than 60 of the dead were civilians. The Somalia-based al Qaeda-allied terror group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack as it was ongoing but investigators are still trying to determine exactly who planned the strike, where they are and what is next for them. U.S. authorities in Uganda, fearing another similar incident in Africa, issued a warning late last week. Citing a recent call for al Qaeda brothers to strike soft targets, to do it in small groups, Noble said law enforcement is now facing a daunting task. How do you protect soft targets? Thats really the challenge. You cant have armed police forces everywhere, he told reporters. Its Interpols view that one way you protect soft targets is you make it more difficult for terrorist to move internationally. So what were trying to do is to establish a way for countries … to screen passports, which are a terrorists best friend, try to limit terrorists moving from country to country. And also, that were able to share more info about suspected terrorists. In the interview with ABC News, Noble was more blunt and directed his comments to his home country. Ask yourself: If that was Denver, Col., if that was Texas, would those guys have been able to spend hours, days, shooting people randomly? Noble said, referring to states with pro-gun traditions. What Im saying is it makes police around the world question their views on gun control. It makes citizens question their views on gun control. You have to ask yourself, Is an armed citizenry more necessary now than it was in the past with an evolving threat of terrorism? This is something that has to be discussed. For me its a profound question, he continued. People are quick to say gun control, people shouldnt be armed, etc., etc. I think they have to ask themselves: Where would you have wanted to be? In a city where there was gun control and no citizens armed if youre in a Westgate mall, or in a place like Denver or Texas? Prior to the Westgate attack, the gun control debate has been ignited time and time again in the U.S. in the aftermath of a series of mass shootings, including one in a movie theater in Aurora, Col., a suburb of Denver.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 21:44:05 +0000
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