MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US considered bombing South America following 11/09.

A few days after the September 11/2001 terrorist attacks in New York and against the Pentagon a high US official recommended bombing South America or Asia “to surprise the terrorists”, reveals the US magazine Newsweek in its latest August 9 edition.

"The recommendation appears in a secret memorandum apparently drafted by Deputy Defence Secretary Douglas Feith" according to Newsweek.

Allegedly Mr. Feith requested Defence analyst Michael Maloof and Middle East expert David Wurmser "to study possible strategies in response to the September 11 attacks".

Newsweek points out that many Pentagon officials regretted the lack of "good objectives in Afghanistan" where the Al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden had its training camps.

The memorandum recommending bombing South America or Asia, "is recorded in the report of the US commission that this month delivered the results of its investigations on the 11/09 attacks", killing at least 3,000 people.

The purpose of objectives far from the Middle East in the initial offensive was allegedly to surprise terrorists "that would be waiting for strong attacks against Afghanistan".

According to Newsweek the South American area chosen was what is known as the "triple border" where Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil meet, and which US intelligence sources insist the Hizbullah group supported by Iran has a strong presence.

In the area is located the city of Ciudad del Este with a significant Palestinian population where smuggling, and arms and drugs trafficking are one of the main local industries.

Western intelligence is convinced that besides supporting Palestinian groups with funds a few "dormant" Middle East terrorist cells are in the waiting in Ciudad del Este. However Brazilians and Argentines insist they have the situation under control.