In an interview with CBS News, former CIA Director Leon Panetta labeled Israel’s operations involving pagers as “terrorism.”
Last week in Lebanon, there were large-scale detonations of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to the Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah. This incident has been largely attributed to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, resulting in numerous fatalities and thousands of injuries.
During his conversation with CBS News Sunday Morning, Panetta expressed to anchor Lee Cowan that Israel’s actions represent “a form of terrorism.” He further remarked that such actions could pave the way for more lethal operations in the ongoing conflict.
PANETTA: The ability to be able to place an explosive in technology that is very prevalent these days. And turn it into a war of terror. Really, a war of terror. This is something new.
COWAN: Is it terrorism?
PANETTA: I don’t think there’s any question that it’s a form of terrorism…This is going right into the supply chain, right into the supply chain. And when you have terror going into the supply chain, it makes people ask the question, what the hell is next?
COWAN: It sounds like you’re genuinely worried.
PANETTA: I am. I am. This is a tactic. That has repercussions. And we really don’t know what those repercussions are going to be…The forces of war are largely in control right now. What’s going on?
COWAN: Do you think there should be condemnation for it? Should other nations step in, including us?
PANETTA: I think it’s going to be very important for the nations of the world to have a serious discussion. About whether or not this is an area that everybody has to focus on, because if they don’t try to deal with it now. Mark my word. It is the battlefield of the future.
{Matzav.com}