Former CIA Director Leon Panetta Calls Israel’s Pager Explosion Operation ‘Terrorism’

COWAN (voice-over): “Still, exploding pagers and walkie-talkies on the scale we saw this past week, killing dozens and injuring thousands, including children, some viewed as a deception one step too far. The United Nations labeled the operation a violation of international law, and it’s raised some eyebrows here at home, too.”

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 is any question that it’s a form of terrorism.”

COWAN (voice-over): “Former Defense Secretary and former Director of the CIA, Leon Panetta, wasted no words in describing what he fears may be the result of letting this particular genie out of the bottle.”

PANETTA: “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 are genuinely worried.”
PANETTA: “I am. I am. This is a tactic that has repercussions. And we really don’t know what the repercussions are going to be.”

COWAN (voice-over): “At the very least, he is worried Israel’s tactical decision has made the prospect of a wider war in the region closer than it’s ever been.

PANETTA: “The forces of war are largely in control right now of 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 in 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.”