Obama To Face A Third War -- Against Stateless Extremist Networks -- L.A. Times'Al Qaeda could try to test Obama,' an Italian intelligence official says. But other groups and scattered cells also pose a threat. Any attacks probably would be against U.S. targets abroad.
Reporting from Madrid -- Amid the focus on the wars that President-elect Barack Obama will inherit in Iraq and Afghanistan, a third conflict gets less attention: the shadow war against stateless networks of Islamic extremists.
Terrorism greeted the previous two presidents early in their terms. President Clinton faced the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 and President Bush the world-changing attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"I fear Al Qaeda could try to test Obama," said a top Italian anti-terrorism official, who asked not to be identified because of the issue's sensitivity.
A weaker Al Qaeda, tighter U.S. borders and the apparent lack of U.S. support networks make a new strike on American soil unlikely, though not impossible, according to Western anti-terrorism officials. Instead, the foremost possible scenario is an attack on U.S. targets in Europe similar to the alleged plots against American troops in Germany last year and transatlantic flights from London in 2006.
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My Comment: President-elect Obama has made no significant announcement on how to combat international terrorist networks. This will be probably be his first real test as President.