Hats off to intelligence department

The General Intelligence Department has just revealed that it had foiled major coordinated terrorist attacks against no less than 10 sensitive targets in the country. 

The terrorists behind the foiled diabolic scheme, numbered at 17, are either Daesh affiliates or supporters of the radical faction. The targets that the group has planned to attack included foreign missions, banks, local security centres, market places, media outlets and even places of worship and moderate religious figures. 

This disclosure suggests two things: Dangers and threats to national security and stability still lurk in the dark and behind closed doors no matter how effective are the country's security agencies. Second, the national intelligence community remains on the top of things in the country and always many steps ahead of all conspirators against national security and safety.

The timing of the planned terrorist attacks suggest that the plans were to disrupt last year's holiday season including the Christmas and New Year holidays in order to maximise the number of casualties and disrupt the image of the Kingdom as a safe country for citizens and tourists alike.

Fortunately, the plans of the conspirators were frustrated on time. Jordan is among the safest countries in the world and by far the safest country in the region. It is not always absolutely certain that conspiracies against its security would be aborted on time. Jordan's security community is doing all that is humanly possible to foil designs on its safety and stability. 

Words of thanks and deep appreciation for the efforts of the intelligence community for keeping the country and its people safe are overdue. 

Yet, no matter how extensive and effective are the efforts of the security centres in the country to keep the country secure, the collaboration and cooperation of citizens remain indispensable for maintaining the maximum security in the country. 

The safety of the country is everybody's duty and the people in the country are called upon to maintain maximum vigil and report any event that threatens the country's wellbeing and safety especially when regional tensions and turmoils are at their peak.