Rudolph W. Giuliani: What's next in war on terror?

Rudolph W. Giuliani, USA Today:

On July 7th, I was traveling in London. I was having breakfast at a hotel very near Liverpool Street Station when the first explosion was detonated. Hearing the sirens and seeing London's emergency personnel respond to the bombings brought back vivid memories of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. READ MORE

People have not forgotten Sept. 11, 2001. Americans can still recall exactly where they were and what they were doing on that fateful day. But it's understandable that some remember it as historical fact, lacking the painful impact and immediacy they originally felt. If we allow a dimming of purpose — to eliminate terrorism — these terrorist attacks in London serve as another chilling reminder that we're still at war.

Something constructive emerges from these tragic, horrible and unexplainable attacks. It is the message that we must remain vigilant in opposing an enemy who intentionally targets innocent civilians.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the civilized nations of the world have remained mostly united in opposing these despicable, wanton acts of terror. We have had some great successes in that effort. We have arrested perpetrators and plotters, and we have foiled planned attacks. We have reduced the power and scope of those who despise freedom and democracy.

Resist complacency

The effort must continue. As we learned Thursday — and in Madrid and Bali — the enemies of freedom have not lost their resolve. We must not lose ours.

Ultimately, the only real defense from terrorist attacks is being able to find out about them in advance. Intelligence gathering has improved but needs to be even stronger, including consistently improving human intelligence and patrol. Police and ordinary citizens must be alert and encouraged to convey information.

Once a terrorist incident does occur, there's no such thing as a perfect response. By definition, a terrorist attack means people are being hurt or killed. But by studying the response to past attacks, we can better prepare to handle those in the future.

London is one of the most secure cities in the world, steeped in years of dealing with terrorism. The city's preparation and resolve was evident on Thursday. I am very impressed by London's reaction to the bombings. Both the emergency personnel and the citizens seemed prepared. The first responders were rapid, well-directed, organized and professional, in accordance with obviously well-tested plans.

As for the citizens, at least a dozen people told me in one way or another, "We knew this was going to happen; it was just a question of when."

That is not only a realistic assessment, it also is a mindset that just might save lives. Political, business and community leaders are sometimes reluctant to talk about terrorism or stage drills to prepare their response because they don't want to frighten or upset people. But that's a mistake. People react to emergencies more effectively when they're not shocked by them.

London was ready

Prime Minister Tony Blair and London Mayor Ken Livingstone have made preparedness a priority, and their efforts clearly paid off during Thursday's response to the attacks.

There's another benefit to preparing for terrorism in advance. Part of the damage the terrorists hope to inflict is the emotional reaction in the wake of the destruction. The reason it's called "terrorism" is that they want fear and its debilitating effects to linger long after the smoke has cleared.

By preparing citizens for the possibility of a terrorist attack, leaders can help minimize the emotional response in the wake of the destruction.

Finally, Thursday's attacks demonstrate that we must remain committed to confronting and eliminating terrorism. There are those who assert that the efforts to eliminate terror are somehow provoking the terrorists. That is wrong. The terrorists have been attacking innocent people long before Sept. 11, 2001, or the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Seeing Prime Minister Blair speak so forcefully, with President Bush, President Jacques Chirac and other world leaders right behind him, was encouraging. Let's remember the unity the world shared after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Free nations can and will disagree. But let us always remember that free people must be steadfast and resilient in defending our way of life.