Editorial: Addressing terrorism threats

Thursday, Dec. 23, 1999 | 9:29 a.m.

The U.S. government is acting responsibly in not only alerting Americans here and abroad about the potential for terrorism in the coming weeks, but also in implementing heightened security measures at airports and places where large crowds will congregate on New Year's Eve.

Officials already were beefing up security for the millennium's end, but concerns were increased recently. First, last week 13 individuals in Jordan were arrested who had links to Osama bin Laden's terrorism network. It is believed they were intent on attacking hotels, tour buses and tourist sites in that Arab nation. Meanwhile last week an Algerian, Ahmed Ressam, was arrested while trying to bring bomb-making equipment into Washington state from Canada. Authorities are exploring whether Ressam is linked with the bin Laden group, and they are looking for up to three people who may have ties to Ressam.

Closer to home, 750 pounds of fuel-soaked ammonium nitrate and 250 pounds of dynamite were stolen from a sandstone quarry in northern Arizona last week. Considering its proximity to Las Vegas, the Sun's Kim Smith reported Tuesday that Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents here are keeping a watch for the explosives. It still isn't known why someone would steal them, but the fact remains these are potentially deadly explosives. The bombing of the Murrah Federal Building that killed 168 people was the result of 4,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate being detonated. No one is suggesting that the theft is linked to domestic terrorists, but federal authorities don't want to take any chances.

Obviously people are going to be edgy as we get closer to New Year's Eve. Here in Southern Nevada, Metro Police and other law enforcement agencies have been planning for two years to handle the huge crowds expected to descend on the Las Vegas Strip on New Year's Eve. Initial estimates that as many as 750,000 would be in Las Vegas have been reduced sharply, but Metro Police still is going to have a large presence. There will be more than 900 officers on the Strip by 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve. In addition, nearly 200 officers will be assigned to the downtown area while another 260 officers will be responsible for the rest of Las Vegas and the unincorporated areas of Clark County.

For those Las Vegans looking to travel elsewhere for the holidays, they can expect that increased security measures will result in some delays, especially at airports. This is a minor inconvenience, though, to be paid for assurances that all reasonable steps are being taken to prevent terrorist attacks. Terrorism -- both domestic and international -- is real. And while it is important to remain vigilant, at the same time Americans should not panic. Sensible precautions shouldn't preclude people from enjoying themselves as they ring in the new year.