Some New Yorkers might recall a terrorist by the name of El Sayyid Nosair. In 1990, Nosair shot three men in New York City: a highly controversial rabbi named Meir Kahane, a 73 year old elderly man, and a Postal Police officer. He was eventually sentenced to prison, and for many, his story was forgotten.
What people may not know is that in 1993, when the World Trade Centers were attacked for the first time, it came to light that Nosair's accomplices, spiritual leaders and friends who had visited him in prison were also directly involved in the 1993 attacks. In fact, Nosair and his cronies were some of the earliest elements of what would become Al Qaeda cells right here in New York City. The Nosair connection was missed because of the lack of coordination at that time between relevant local, state, and federal agencies involved, including the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
Following the horrendous attacks of September 11, 2001, the 9/11 Commission reported a similar deficiency in the various federal government agencies sharing information with one another. As a result, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the federal Department of Homeland Security were created. Since the 1993 and 2001 attacks on American soil, cooperation has reached levels that were once thought to have been impossible. New Yorkers and Americans everywhere are safer as a result.
Yet more can be done.
The sad reality is that Manhattan remains a prime target of terrorist groups the world over. New Yorkers have been living with this truth for quite some time. Under the combined efforts of law enforcement and other critical agencies, New York City remains a city of freedom instead of one of fear. Yet we New Yorkers need to make sure that all our elected officials and relevant offices are part of a coordinated counter-terrorism plan.
Increasingly, the Manhattan DA's Office has found itself in the thick of counter-terror efforts. Drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, racketeering and other crimes are committed with the express goal of acquiring money illegally. And if there is one thing that is certain, it's that terrorists cannot function without money. In counter-terror, a great deal can be gained by "following the money."
As the premier address for criminal prosecutions in New York City, the Office of the Manhattan DA has an important role to play in the counter-terror effort. Because Manhattan is a center of world finance, the DA's caseloads and investigations have a global reach. As a result, the DA often has the opportunity to assist local, state and federal offices.
The next Manhattan DA should select a counter-terrorism coordinator to help oversee a special cadre of assistant district attorneys and investigators trained to fill in the blanks between what might appear to be just another crime -- white-collar or otherwise -- but in fact may have a terrorist connection. And the coordinator should report directly to the District Attorney. A coordinator known to have direct access to the DA will have enough clout to cut through the red tape that sometimes hampers inter-agency communication.
The recent New York County prosecution of international banks that were found to be executing massive illegal money transfers for Iranian banks -- including at least one bank that has been sanctioned for ties to terror organizations -- underscores the kind of the assistance the Manhattan DA can provide to counter-terror efforts. Yet the importance of ensuring that New Yorkers' civil liberties are not violated cannot be ignored. The ability to effectively combat terrorism while ensuring freedom for all Americans is what makes this country great, and it is imperative that our rights remain protected.
In less than one week, citizens of Manhattan will go to the polls to elect the Democratic candidate for Manhattan District Attorney. Now more than ever, we need a district attorney that will unite the party and all New Yorkers behind an office of that will ensure that law and order are kept and justice is meted out fairly and effectively. Come September 15th, I hope you stand with me to ensure that hope becomes a reality. Together, we can work to fill in the blanks of the counter-terrorism puzzle and make this city safer than ever.
Cyrus Vance Jr. is a Democratic candidate running for Manhattan District Attorney.