An Attack on Civilization

Hostage taking, bombings and killings mark a week of phantasmagoric terror

"We are in the midst of an undeclared war."

-- CIA Director William Casey, briefing Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

A war in which almost anyone could be a target any time, anywhere, while carrying out the most innocent activities: waiting for a flight in an airport lounge, dining at a sidewalk cafe. A war waged by shadowy enemies who could be almost anyone: the passenger in the next airplane seat, the occupants of the next car driving by. Worst of all, a war in which civilized society so far is a bewildered, if not impotent, loser.

Or so it seemed...

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