Monitor | America had. It’s also hard to say the failure was in not recognizing Eric Rudolph as a potential terrorist because he was not on a watch list nor was he affiliated with any groups. Like some other terrorists he had a relatively clean background and had not popped up on the FBI’s radar. What is important is to learn as much as we can from Atlanta bombing in the hopes of preventing other attacks. Lessons for Future Olympic Games One lesson that can be taken away from the Atlanta bombings is that security measures must be in place for all events, no matter what the size or location. If they are connected to the Olympics they could be seen as targets. These include games, events for the athletes, and public events. Second, that awareness of surroundings and suspicious individuals and objects should be at the top of the security measures for security guards, CCTVs, and the public. Third, we can learn that security plans must be made, practiced, and swiftly carried out in the case of an emergency. The Atlanta Olympics also provide an additional lesson on what kind of terrorist may succeed in a similar attack. Eric Rudolph was considered a ‘lone wolf’ terrorist. The fact that there was no terrorist cell meant there was little to no traffic or chatter that would have alerted the authorities. From Atlanta 1996 to London 2012 The security at the London Olympics is already high. The bill for security at the Olympics is estimated to be £1 billion and there are 23,700 guards. It has been theorized that terror cells may use ‘cleanskins’ - people with no criminal or extremist links. This similarity presents the same problem that occurred at the Atlanta Olympics, if a person with no known terrorist connections, who is not
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seen as a threat by authorities, decides to build a bomb and plant it at the Olympics then it would be hard to detect and stop them. The construction worker who brought a fake bomb to the Olympic site in May 2012 and took pictures with it proves that there is a real problem and possible way terrorists may attack the 2012 Olympics. The measures taken before the 2012 Olympics to stop threats and foil plots are necessary and important for the safety of the Olympics. However, the U.S. Government prepared for and sought out threats to the 1996 Olympics and the attack still occurred. While new technologies, better investigations, and more security measures are in place, the threats are still not completely eliminated. Atlanta taught us that actions taken in the heat of the moment can directly affect the outcome of an attack. Thus, the lessons learned from the Atlanta bombing are as follows: practicing simulated terrorist attacks, having everyone on the lookout for suspicious activities, and ensuring that emergency preparedness plans in place are essential. In the end, the 1996 Olympic bombing showed that in the situations where preventive measures fail, our level of preparedness can mitigate terrorist attempts. Law enforcement and the public are able to recognize threats and they can take actions to improve safety and lessen the effect of any incident. If the worst were to occur, Atlanta at least shows us that vigilance and plans make a difference in reducing loss of life. It may not be a solution or a way of circumventing attacks but it shows our readiness and capabilities in facing whatever may come.
By: Vanessa Gregory