... and 5th most likely in the world.
 

Amongst other factors, the FBI cited Thailand as being 'porous' to infiltration.

A measure of this dubious distinction is probably a consequence of the ongoing southern separatist movement (a 'civil' war, really, which Thai authorities are loath to acknowledge), where terrorists attack with impunity Thai civilians, military and police targets ... now near daily events ... maybe one of the most under reported armed conflicts in the world, averaging about 600+ killed per year, and about 5,000 killed since it all began.

If a terrorist has ill-designs on Thailand, they need only look at the civil war down south as an analogue for what is possible here.

"FBI: ‘Thailand is the most likely target in Asia for a terrorist attack’ "

http://www.coconutsbangkok.com/news/fbi-thailand-is-the-most-likely-target-in-asia-for-a-terrorist-attack/

To which Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha claimed the FBI's view is all a 'misunderstanding' for which he claims the US Embassy apologized ... I could find no such statement or retraction from the US Embassy, nor the FBI.

"FBI's ranking for Thailand 'a misunderstanding' "

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/FBIs-ranking-for-Thailand-a-misunderstanding-30203441.html

Edited April 12, 201313 yr by brutox

Just goes to show that you have to be very critical of the 'information' that you read on the internet. There is a lot of information there that is, at a minimum, misguided.

Silly ...but not suprising. 

I guess Thailand is open and accessible but who wants to attack the Thais seems like they would travel through the south to get to other locations and the Thais are so open with all people and faiths these fanatics and there ideas they reval in destruction and use god As a excuse to kill this is unforgivable and when they die a very different reality awaits them. You can do nothing for god but you are to protect and love one another.

Hate to be a doomsdayer, but always thought Nana Plaza would be the perfect place.

It targets the Westerners (mostly) engaging and cavorting with sexy woman.

A small explosion near the rear to get everybody running to the main bottle neck entry/exit and then the big kaboom.

If Israel and/or the USA attack Iran then Americans are likely to face retaliation in Thailand (and else where)

 

Iran has already had a trial run a year ago but it was a complete shambles.

 

Four of the 'terrorists' stayed at a hotel in the lane opposite Lucifers in Pattaya before going to Bangkok where they intended to carry out bomb attacks.

 

"Bungling Iranian bombers WERE planning to attack Israeli diplomats in Bangkok, Thai police chief reveals

• First time Thai officials confirm group was plotting attacks in country

• Same 'sticky' bombs used in blasts in New Delhi and botched Georgia

• Iran denies it is behind the attacks

By Lee Moran

UPDATED: 14:29 GMT, 16 February 2012

The three bungling Iranian bombers detained in Bangkok after they accidentally set off their explosives were planning to attack Israeli diplomats, Thailand's top policeman has revealed.

It is the first time Thai officials have confirmed the group, including one man who blew his leg off when a bomb bounced back at his feet after he threw it at police, was plotting attacks in the country.

The allegation came after days of accusations by Israel that Iran was behind the botched plot as well as two others in India and the former Soviet republic of Georgia this week. Iran has denied the charges"

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2102012/Bangkok-terrorism-threat-Iranian-bombers-WERE-planning-attack-Israeli-diplomats.html#ixzz2QJeMvlM6

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Hate to be a doomsdayer, but always thought Nana Plaza would be the perfect place.

It targets the Westerners (mostly) engaging and cavorting with sexy woman.

A small explosion near the rear to get everybody running to the main bottle neck entry/exit and then the big kaboom.

 .

... I have pondered that exact point, Big Lebowski ... you are spot on ... Nana was purpose-built for a terrorist car bomb attack:

• One way in ... one way out ... very narrow neck, maybe 6-8 meters wide through which to escape (were it even passable after a blast);
• Older concrete structures ... which fail catestrophically, rather than yielding before failing as do steel structures;
• No fire safety systems;
• Defenseless ... the narrow gateway is guarded only by aggressive katoeys (though I understand, with very sharp spike heeled 'come fuck me' pumps);
• Dense ... every bar, front to back, is well within the blast radius of ground zero, which is assumed to be parked in the middle of the beer plaza;
• Populated ... maybe 40-50 bars averaging maybe 50-75 employees and 50-150 patrons ... on a "good" night, reasonably 4,000 (minimum) to 11,250 (maximum) potential victims;
• Target rich ... 99% of potential victims are infidels, all fornicating and drinking ... 50% of those are westerners;
• Maximum media coverage ... global ... guaranteed to be the lead story for several news cycles;
• High collateral damage ... Thai tourist industry (about 8% of their entire GDP) plunges to zero overnight.

... uh ... wow!

 

... beyond what you cite, the combination of Thai corruption and incompetence makes Thailand generally a prime, prime field for terrorist combat ... that Thailand is merely vulnerable to attack is by itself unconcerning.

 

... but ... as Chocolate Thunder cites above, who would want to attack Thailand?

 

... several possibilities there, Chocolate Thunder:

• Thais, for one ... the separatists in the south are now committing terrorist attacks daily on civilians, police and military targets with impunity ... (the deputy governor of embattled Yala Province was killed two days ago in a coordinated roadside bomb attack) ... rebel bombs are increasingly sophisticated and deadly ... if they ever decide to raise the stakes, BKK is an open, bloody kill zone;
• As when BKK was burning a couple of years ago with the riots, if the deep underlying social chasm here cracks again, you've got the potential for French Revolution 1789 all over ... with IEDs, not those sissy-assed pitch forks; and,
• Then, there are the foreign militants who come here to attack other foreigners ... soft targets.

... foreign terrorists targeting their non-Thai targets on soft, neutral territory happened about two years ago here when international intelligence agencies intercepted radical Muslims (Iranians, I believe) who were very close to multiple bomb attacks on Israelis in Thailand .. synagogues and diplomats, I recall.  [ edit: see BillyBoy294 post #6 above for better detail ]

 

... I live (uncomfortably) close to a synagogue here ... they are well defended and under 24/7 security by non-Thais ... these guys probably take the FBI's report a bit less dismissively than Scumbag (above).

Edited April 13, 201313 yr by brutox

 .

... I have pondered that exact point, Big Lebowski ... you are spot on ... Nana was purpose-built for a terrorist car bomb attack

 

Yep, I remember not long after the Bali bombing I was sipping a drink in Lucky Lukes. A van backed in and stopped right outside. Two guys got out and walked off and left the motor running. 

I got really nervous.

Thankfully they returned and unloaded some cases of alcohol but it would have been that easy.