Rachel's Blog Post

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/world/asia/10terror.html?ref=asia


Citation:
China Says Plane and Olympic Plots Halted
The New York Times
By: Jim Yardley and Jake Hooker
March 10, 2008

Summary:
A man that was part of the Muslim region of Xinjiang boarded a jet, which had to have an emergency landing because it was said that two people were intended to take over the plane. They also found out on Sunday, that the police raid they had made against the group in Xinjiang last January now shows proof that they were planning an attack on the Olympic Games this summer being held in Beijing.
The airplane problem happened the same week that a man armed with bombs hijacked a bus full of Australian tourist. Later that day a police sniper killed a man, but no details were provided. These series of events are now starting to worry security officials that there is going to be a terrorist attack while the games are being prepared.

Reaction:
a) This article relates the AP World Theme namely cultural, religious, and intellectual developments. This summer is supposed to be a time of gathering of all the top athletes in the World to compete, and a time of peace among the different countries. The 2008 Summer Olympics will not be the same if there are attacks ruining the spirit that should be present.


b) In January the raid against the Xinjiang’s was an important find, because if this was not detected than there could have been a terrorist attack during the Olympics. In 1972 there was a devastating event where there was a killing of an entire team in Germany, and people wouldn’t want to have another horrible situation like that occur this upcoming Olympics.


c) This article is being written by two males that are outsiders to this situation. They seem to know a lot of information, but based on the way they are writing the article they seem to be looking in on this conflict and are not directly involved.


d) In this article, there are quotes and statements by a man named Mr. Wang, who seems to be accusing this group of terrorist attacks, but that has not been fully proven. He stated, “Obviously, the gang had planned an attack targeting the Olympics.” He also said that he thought the gang had ties to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement. Mr. Wang is deliberately drawing up conclusions that these groups of people are responsible when there is no true evidence.


e) One missing voice that should be present in this article is someone working on preparing the Olympic Games. They should state, what they feel about the conclusions being drawn and if they believe that there is going or would have been an attack.


f) I think that this evidence found in January saying that they were planning an attack, could very well be true but I don’t think it is right for people to draw an opinion or conclude anything ‘til we have strong evidence that this is was going to be a true event.