SU brings FBI terrorist expert to Wait Chapel for discussion
By Erin Moran
Contributing Reporter

Danny Coulson, the founder and former director of the FBI’s Anti-Terrorist Task Force, spoke in Wait Chapel Oct. 8 about anti-terrorist movements and domestic and international terrorism. The lecture discussed past terrorist attacks on the United States and detailed possible results of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.

Junior Ashley Larson, Student Union president, said that the Student Union “wanted to bring Coulson in order to give students the opportunity to understand the role that terrorism and tragedy has played in our past – and to learn how to mold ourselves to proactively shape our future.”

“As a student, nestled safely within the walls of Wake Forest, it can be difficult to come to terms with the reality of tragedy,” Larson said. “However, from the events of Sept. 11, Student Union feels that there is a great deal to be learned.”

Coulson said federal authorities had a “good inkling” that the Sept. 11 attacks would take place. FBI officials had “considered the scenario for decades,” he said. However, Coulson emphasized that limits on using human intelligence as well as restrictions on responding to available information stood in the way of detecting and preventing the attacks.

According to Coulson, the combination of poor database systems and an influx of illegal immigrants impairs the FBI’s ability to stop and prevent terrorist crimes.
“That’s where we lost it,” Coulson said.

He explained that unless the FBI has reasonable proof that a crime is about to be committed, they cannot undergo any type of investigation. “The FBI is great at catching them,” Coulson said. “Where we fall down is in the ability to prevent.”

He emphasized that the war on terrorism does not represent a war against Islam.

According to Coulson, Osama bin Laden’s driving force for organizing these crimes is the pursuit of power rather than the obligation to religion.

“I don’t think religion means anything to him.” Coulson said. “The purpose of attack was to gain more power.”

The purpose of the World Trade Center mission, he said, was also to get the country, as well as the government, to overreact. Coulson believes that the intentions of bin Laden were to create such an outrageous and horrific explosion that there would be an over-response by Americans – which generates fear.

“Fear can deny you of your constitutional rights just like a government can oppress you,” Coulson said.

Sophomore Mike Gorman attended the lecture. “I found it interesting when he talked about what the terrorists hoped to accomplish, how they wanted us to attack them, to respond with violence because that would validate their cause,” Gorman said.

Coulson stressed that the victims of the WTC attack had their rights taken by criminals and not by a government. He said it is crucial to understand that our nation’s military forces are not targeting Islam, but rather they are targeting a group of terrorists.

Coulson detailed what he thinks is a possible solution to problems in Afghanistan.

Coulson said, “we need a Marshall Plan for Afghanistan. Americans must prove that we are not the enemy to target. We are, in fact, humanitarians.”

Coulson said that there are significant threats of future attacks on American soil. He said terrorist groups will look to attack symbols of a strongly united American nation, such as the WTC and the Pentagon.

Coulson predicts that these groups will not attack with bioterrorism. It is too difficult to disperse and it has not been successful in the past.

“There’s no need to go out and buy a gas mask, unless you look better in one,” he said.
Coulson urged American support in the attacks against the nation.

“You have to live,” he said, adding that the enemy has “won if we shut down.”

Coulson spent 31 years with the FBI. The native Texan worked on the Oklahoma City bombing investigation, the Atlanta prison riots, and the confrontation with Branch Dividians in Waco, Texas.