Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games is drawing close. For the prestige and a world-class event that it is, guaranteed to be watched on TV by the millions worldwide, while thousands of spectators will flock and fill up the stadium. This is becoming the favorite game show for terrorists.

On September 11, 2005, Al-Qaeda released a video, starring American Adam Gadahn. He stated:

“Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing. And this time, don’t count on us demonstrating restraint or compassion”

Now, how much damage would this statement do to both of the mentioned cities/countries? As for Melbourne, my verdict is, it is massive.

The upcoming Commonwealth Games will be greatly hit by the statement. Ticket sales will drop, thus, resulting in the drop of ticket price and its revenue. People would prefer to stay home and sit in front of the comfy, munching popcorns, while enjoying the game. The risks are too high to be sitting in the event stadium, or communiting out there in open air, open space.

Government implementing new laws that, generally discriminate human-rights, totally ignoring the privacy that might be infringed while carrying out the enforcements. Some people might felt they’re hard done by with the new law.

What if the terrorists are just trying to raise a hoax? All the extra investments into security and those implementations of “unrightful” laws would mean nothing. What if they mean it? They’ve done it before, images of the September 11 event still pretty much haunt the world, they might strike again, or they might not. But they’ve proven the world how deadly they can be. John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, isn’t taking any chances. He’s doing whatever he can do ensure that Melbourne and the rest of Australia, is a safe place to live in, at the cost of tax-payers and human-rights.

It might be a hoax. It might be real. Which one is your bet?

Decision-making at his Best.