Anti-Terrorism training comes to Holloman

  • Published
  • By Mr. Arlan Ponder
  • 49th Fighter Wing history office
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Every American, regardless of job or background, has been affected by the tactics and goals of terrorists. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks the world has changed tremendously as we learn to live with the threat of terrorism. 

The Anti-Terrorism Office at Holloman recently conducted a four-day Anti-Terrorism Level II certification class designed to further advance the awareness of the threat of terrorism. The class was attended by military and civilian personnel, several members of state and local police agencies and other distinguished guests. 

"Our focus was on awareness and the history of terrorism," said Mr. Lance Crosthwait, 49th Fighter Wing Anti-Terrorism officer. "The more aware we are of terror tactics and motives the better prepared we are. Awareness is key to stopping terror. In August 2001, less than a month before 9-11, actor James Wood was flying on an airliner and became suspicious of several men on-board who were later identified as the hijackers that destroyed the World Trade Center. When Mr. Wood reported his suspicions before 9-11 nothing was done. Our awareness was low until it was too late. Hopefully that is not the case now because everyone is so much more conscious of the terror potential." 

Renowned speakers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation with knowledge on the radicalization of Islam, along with special presentations by Holloman personnel directly in the line of fire in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, kicked off the event. 

The first speaker, Mr. Aydin Budak, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron deputy commander, was involved in what many people consider the first modern terrorist attack on Americans - the 1983 bombing of Marine barracks in Beirut. 

Mr. Budak was a lieutenant assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines with the task of patrolling areas and collecting intelligence at the time of the 1983 bombing. His unit was stateside when the bombing took place, however, within 36 hours they were back in Beirut tasked to provide security to the recovery effort. 

"The main event to study is not Khobar Towers, it is this event. We need to look at how alert we were then," the retired colonel said. "That was a different era and a different mindset in those days. The mindsets (of terrorists) go back thousands of years with a tremendous history of clashes of cultures and religions." 

Mr. Budak was followed by a survivor of the Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia, attack in 1996 - Mr. Dan Salinas, 49 FW Safety Office. 

Mr. Salinas said terrorists don't mind taking time to do research and preparation so their attack is effective. He also indicated they have effective communication so they injure only those who the attack is aimed. 

"Two years prior to the attack the terrorists began researching and planning," he said. "Two hours before the attack no one was in a park normally packed with Saudi families nor was there any traffic on a normally busy road." 

Fortunately, some of their planning didn't take into account normal shift changes. Had the attack taken place during a shift change, Mr. Salinas said the casualties would have been greater than the 19 American lives lost. 

During the blast, the Purple Heart recipient was knocked through a wall to the other side of the building and suffered a laceration to a major artery in his leg. He said all personnel, regardless of where they are stationed, should be aware of their surroundings and take every opportunity of training offered during exercises. 

"I am living proof that training is important. I credit self-aid and buddy care for saving my life," he said. "I also encourage you to count your steps when you enter a location and be able to retrace them. Some of the lessons I've learned over the years are because of Khobar Towers." 

Mr. Salinas said he encourages people to learn as much as they can about the locals in the area where they are stationed and pay attention to their routines. While he was stationed in Iraq, he found that the locals like to throw sheep or donkeys over the fence to check the security of the installation. He also found before a large scale attack there was usually a rocket or some other kind of attack. 

"Be aware of your surroundings and don't hesitate to take advantage of your training opportunities," he said. 

Training was also discussed by FBI Special Agent Russell Baker during his presentation titled: "History and the Radicalization of Islam." However, the training he discussed dealt with the kind Islamic extremists are teaching their recruits. 

"They begin the rigorous training when the men are very young, say five or six, in schools around the world and continue brainwashing them as they get older," the Middle Eastern history major said. "Basically these extremists want two things: the world to be ruled by one man, a Muslim, and to restore the caliphate." 

According to Mr. Baker, a caliphate is the Islamic form of government representing the political unity and leadership of the Muslim world. There have been Islamic leaders throughout history who have supported the restoration of the caliphate, but none as vocally as Hassan Al-Banna and Sayeed Qutb. 

"Qutb was hung in 1966 for his plot to overthrow the state, but his teachings are still just as popular today amongst extremists as they were in the 60s," he said. "He felt we are living in jahilliyah again and that change must be sudden and violent." 

Jahilliyah is considered to be a time Arabs found themselves in before the revelations of the Qur'an and the teachings of Muhammad. 

In 610 A.D., Muhammad received a vision from the angel Gabriel who ordered him to recite the words of God, which became the Qur'an. Muslims do not regard Muhammad as the founder of a new religion, rather that he is the final prophet of God and the restorer of the original faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets whose messages had become distorted. 

Mr. Baker said there are provisions written into the Qur'an which allow "people of the book" (Christians and Jews) to live with Muslims, but there are so many rules for Christians and Jews to follow that it is just easier for these people to convert to Islam. 

Also discussed were the five pillars of Islam, the historic sites of the Islamic faith, the dates important to the religion, the wahhabists beliefs, the creation of the Sunni and Shi'ite faiths and the leaders of Islam. 

The special agent, who has interviewed detainees in both Afghanistan and Cuba, said the war on terrorism is an uphill battle with a discouraging outcome. 

"The absolute future is very bleak when dealing with these people because they have the belief 'Blood repays blood.' They won't stop until they achieve their goals."