Cohen: ‘It’s not over’

September 12, 2001

Former Defense Secretary William Cohen has said he believes terrorist attacks against the United States are far from over, and has predicted that more attacks are forthcoming, perhaps with chemical, biological or even nuclear weapons.

“It’s not over. There’s more to come,” Cohen told NBC’s “Today” show today.

His comments come a day after the worst attack against the U.S. in history. Yesterday, terrorists hijacked four airliners, crashing most of them into two targets – the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C.

Cohen said U.S. officials had been increasingly concerned about a major terrorist attack for some time, adding that as defense secretary, he personally had always worried about the kind of airborne attack staged against the Pentagon yesterday. But, he added, defending the structure against such an attack is nearly impossible.

“It’s virtually impossible under any circumstances to forewarn people inside the Pentagon that a low-flying plane was approaching … because they fly directly over the Pentagon” via nearby Reagan National Airport, Cohen told NBC.

He also deflected criticism of U.S. intelligence.

“Our intelligence services are very good [but] we’ve also been very lucky,” he said. “You can’t guarantee that you’ll always be able to” learn about terrorist operations before they occur, no matter how good intelligence services are, he added.

Regarding what now lies ahead for the United States, Cohen said Americans should prepare themselves for a long-term conflict with terrorism.

“I think the American people now know there is a war going on. But it will be a long-term commitment. It won’t be over with one quick military response,” he said.

“Terrorism knows no geographical boundaries,” Cohen continued. “Now’s the time to wage this war against terrorism. [Terrorists] are looking to acquire chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. So this is not over.”

He said he believed U.S. military planners were already examining response options, but cautioned that any such response must be “rational … cold, and calculated.”

“I think it’s fair to assume” that military planners are already planning a response, Cohen said. “They’re looking at what action may be taken and must be taken. There are plans … and I’m sure they’re being looked at.”

“We will respond in a forceful manner,” Cohen warned.