The latest media frenzy about terrorism in Las Vegas has been based on so-called "terrorist surveillance videotapes" of Las Vegas found in the possession of people convicted of terrorism charges in Madrid and Detroit. We don't know much about the Madrid tape, but we do know that the videotape uncovered in Detroit looks more like a home movie of a Las Vegas vacation filmed by teenagers than surveillance of sensitive or vulnerable or high-density locations in southern Nevada.
In a recent column on this subject, Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter John L. Smith comments, "You can find more 'sensitive' videotapes in hotel gift shops ... such as 'Welcome to Las Vegas,' a $6.99 VHS available in local souvenir stores."
Still, Las Vegas does remain a potential high-profile terrorist target. Common sense tells us that this city has elements that could be irresistible to violent international criminals whose actions are predicated on focusing the biggest headlines worldwide on their cause.
On the other hand, no large-scale politically motivated crime has ever taken place in Las Vegas. This is a city that's always been extremely security conscious and it's been on hyper alert since 9/11.
Bottom line: Anything can happen anywhere at any time. There's no such thing as ultimate security. But we continue to believe that the odds of a World Trade Center-type attack occurring in Las Vegas are extremely slim.
