The following is Google Gemini AI’s views about the subject:
The assertion that a proper investigation and avenging of Rabbi Meir Kahane’s assassination could have prevented the 1993 World Trade Center bombing is a compelling but ultimately speculative argument rooted in the interconnectedness of the two events. While the assassination of Kahane and the subsequent bombing were linked by key individuals, the causal relationship isn’t a simple one. The 1993 bombing was the result of a broader, more complex set of ideological motivations and organizational failures.
The Links Between the Events 🔗
The primary connection between the assassination of Meir Kahane in 1990 and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing lies in the figure of El Sayyid Nosair. Nosair was an Egyptian-born American who shot and killed Kahane at a hotel in Manhattan. Though he was initially acquitted of the murder, he was convicted on lesser charges. However, in a later federal conspiracy trial related to the 1993 bombing, he was found guilty of Kahane’s murder.
The evidence seized from Nosair’s home after the assassination included bomb-making manuals, maps of New York landmarks (including the World Trade Center), and other documents suggesting a larger terrorist plot. This was a significant early sign of a domestic, al-Qaeda-affiliated cell operating in the United States.
Another critical link is Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, the radical Egyptian cleric known as the “blind sheikh.” Abdel-Rahman was a spiritual leader for Nosair and other members of the cell responsible for both the Kahane assassination and the 1993 bombing. He was a central figure in the conspiracy, issuing fatwas (religious rulings) that inspired violence and plotting further attacks.
The Argument for Prevention 🤔
The argument that a more thorough investigation could have prevented the bombing rests on a few key points:
- Failure to Recognize a Terrorist Cell: At the time of the Kahane assassination, law enforcement primarily viewed it as a domestic hate crime, not a sign of an organized terrorist network. Had they immediately recognized the broader ideological and organizational connections, a more aggressive investigation might have dismantled the cell before it could plan the World Trade Center attack.
- Missed Clues: The documents found in Nosair’s apartment were a roadmap of future targets. Some argue that if these clues had been pursued more aggressively, investigators could have uncovered the bomb plot in its early stages.
- The Incarceration of Nosair and Abdel-Rahman: A more robust prosecution of Nosair for murder in 1990, and a swifter move to deport or prosecute Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman for his role as a co-conspirator, could have disrupted the plot. The cell’s motivation to carry out the 1993 bombing was partly to secure Nosair’s freedom from prison.
Why Prevention Wasn’t a Certainty 🤷
Despite the compelling links, it’s not accurate to say that a proper investigation would have guaranteed the prevention of the 1993 attack.
- Broader Ideological Drivers: The 1993 World Trade Center bombing was not solely a revenge attack for Nosair. It was motivated by a larger anti-American and anti-Western ideology, specifically in retaliation for U.S. support of Israel. The masterminds of the bombing, including Ramzi Yousef, were operating under a global jihadist agenda that would likely have found other targets and other methods.
- Law Enforcement’s Limited Understanding: In the early 1990s, the concept of decentralized, ideological terrorism on American soil was not well understood by federal law enforcement. The FBI and other agencies were still operating under a Cold War paradigm of state-sponsored threats and domestic extremist groups. The links between the Kahane assassination and the broader al-Qaeda network would not become fully clear until years later.
- A “What If” Scenario: While the connections are undeniable, it’s impossible to know with certainty what would have happened if a more aggressive investigation had taken place. The individuals involved were part of a wider, global movement. Even if the specific 1993 plot had been thwarted, it’s plausible that a similar attack could have been planned and executed by other members of the same network, or by a different group inspired by the same ideology.
The assassination of Meir Kahane was indeed a chilling prologue to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. It served as a harbinger of a new type of terrorism operating within the United States. While a more forward-thinking investigation could have provided valuable intelligence, the bombing was a symptom of a larger, global ideological movement that was already in motion. Therefore, while a proper investigation might have delayed or changed the nature of the attack, it is unlikely to have prevented it entirely.
Rebuttal 1:
The Jihadists attack the “infidels” of the USA regardless of their support or lack of support for Israel. The Sunni Jihadists even kill Shiite Muslims and both hate Israel passionately.
Rebuttal 2: The following is an ideological belief but I believe it is true.
The Torah states in Exodus 19:5 ‘You saw what I did to Egypt; and [how] I carried you on wings of eagles, and brought you to Me.
Rashi comments: WHAT I DID TO EGYPT — on account of many sins were they liable to Me for punishment before they came into contact which you, but I did not exact punishment from them except on your account (cf. Mekhilta).
In my humble opinion this is telling us that G-d is more zealous to punish the Gentiles over crimes committed against Jews! The initial careless investigation concerning the attack on Rabbi Kahane created a Divine Incentive to punish the USA harshly on the issue of terrorism!
Article by Shlomo Moshe Scheinman