Remain Vigilant Against Threats

Not much at all. I think no more than being aware of getting robbed, which is also pretty slim (but possible).

We already have specialized training for police in this domain. Homeland Security has created a whole network using local police officers as eyes on the front. Additionally, companies like cable installer, public works, power companies, et al, are also recruited into various programs to watch and look for suspicious activity.

In addition to that, companies that sell products that might be used for IEDs tend to keep track of those purchases and work with federal and local law enforcement agencies.

Only the ATF seems willing to give out weapons to nefarious characters. :-/

The proof is in the results. The US has one of the most open societies in the world, but one of the lowest incident rates in domestic terror.

There are a number reasons for our low incident rates despite open borders and a low profile. One of which is the network of private and public agencies that are chartered to keep a watchful eye open.

The other is the systematic dismantling of terror organizations to the point where it is nearly impossible for a coordinated attack such as the 9-11 style attacks.

This brings me to my point. Many articles and news stories over play the real risks to society for the purpose of sensationalizing. It understandable that media reports do this because it sells news! It is also understandable that blogs do this because many individuals live for drama (including the authors) and it plays well to that audience.

The lone-wolf attack is just such an over-hyped scenario. To start with, let me explain a few things about the lone-wolf.

First, these kind of attacks are a signal that the organization that attempts to sponsor them is crumbling. When a terror organization is no longer able to recruit personnel, train them, and supply them with the tools of their trade, an appeal is sent out for lone-wolves to carry out single attacks on society.

There are a lot of logistics required for an organization to effectively train militants. It is even more difficult when you need militants that are educated enough, multi-lingual, and willing to inject themselves into a hostile territory for the purpose of organizing a crises. These individuals also need a clean record to provide a suitable cover. There simply is not a rich source for these types of individuals and most of the countries where recruiting goes on are third-world in nature and therefore lack the education and other attributes necessary to do the job.

In addition to that you need a lot of specialized training, which costs money, time, and requires a safe haven to work from. All of these things are disappearing from terror organizations as they are being disrupted and leaderless resistance is a sign of weakness and crumbling.

This brings us back to the lone-wolf. A lone-wolf needs none of those things and provide no risk to the sponsor if you simply make an appeal like those in Inspire Magazine for individuals to take up the cause of jihad.

The lone-wolf is nothing new. It dates back to the dawn of time, but really came into its age in the 1800s with fanaticism to effect political change. The issue today is all the press coverage we get on the subject, which brings it to the forefront of our minds and creates public jitters and more fear.

To be a lone-wolf requires intelligence, will, and a lot of technical skill to carry out an attack. Most would-be lone-wolves over estimate their abilities and fail. There are a long list of these individuals from the recent attempted bombing in New York to the underwear and shoe bombers.

The truth is it is very hard to carry out such attacks. More things tend to go wrong than right. The attacks in Fort Hood and more recently Breivik's attack in Norway are exceptions to this, but they are rare events. More individuals fail long before the attack is executed for a long variety of reasons.

While this threat should not be outright dismissed, neither should it be overblown. Lone-wolvs all follow a set process and that process is what is the Achilles Heel. Law enforcement has become adept at recognizing that process and that is, in part, what the idea of keeping a high situational awareness is all about.

However, while it does require us to be a little more vigilant, there is no cause for fear and panic and this is why I felt compelled to write this long and boring response.

Speaking of lone-wolves, the just announced capture of Manssor Arbabsiar and charges for Gholam Shakuri (an Iranian member of Iran's special forces Quds Force) may be a lone-wolf operation.

Manssor Arbabsiar was apprehended on September 28th after making contact with an undercover DEA agent in Mexico who was allegedly posing as a member of a Mexican drug cartel. A total of $100,000 was paid in two installments to that agent via a US bank account with the blessing of Gholam Shakuri. It looks like the undercover agent was supposed to help arrange an assassination of a Saudi ambassador.

The Justice Department is implying that Iran is the root of this plot.

All of this seems very strange to me. First, if Iran really intended to assassinate a diplomat the last thing they would do is try to enlist a Mexican drug cartel to do this when Iran already has highly trained specialists to do this work and to do it with better precision.

The idea that Iran would risk a diplomatic scandal by trusting a foreign outlaw organization just doesn't add up.

Obviously, this is a developing story and it will be interesting to watch how it unfolds, but I suspect that both Manssor Arbabsiar and Gholam Shakuri probably did not have Iran's blessing on this.

However, the burning question is where was the $1.5 million coming from?

Now, how can you substantiate that argument?

And just how can anyone substantiate the other version. Most on this forum have a brain and some knowledge of physics and the ability to perform some research. From information I have received last count 1200 actual experts in building structure claim that how the building came down is not possible without planted charges. Building 7 is the proof. Silverstein and Chenney both mentioned that decision was made to bring it down. Who can plant charges in 1/2 an hour. It takes weeks to over a month for this kind of demolition. Never in world history has a properly constructed hi rise building fallen in this manner from fire. Check out the eye witness accounts. http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?day_of_9/11=complete_911_timeline_world_trade_center&timeline=complete_911_timelinemAmA

I agree - there is no reason to down that trail. Anyone that wants to believe in the foolish conspiracy arguments that exist will never be convinced of anything else.

Well put!

Thanks for not picking apart my explanation Moosie. I wasn't trying to be scientific, just making a point.

Part of the thing that got this line of thinking started, were the junk TV pundits, acting as if the supports failed because of the heat, and that the only damage caused to them from the impact was that the insulation got scraped off. What a load!

Of all places to get accurate information on anything, television has become the absolute worst.

This is the same as thinking that the government knew ahead of time that Pearl Harbor was going to happen, and let it.

This does not mean that I trust the government.

The only thing darker and deeper than a black hole is ignorance.

True, but the government isn't completely blameless in these theories popping up.

Sometimes, having people jump, "fast and furious", to conclusions is earned.

Hey kram, I wasn't picking on you...only picking on the idiot suggesting that the WTC was brought down by bomb(s)!

Soooo sorry for the confusion I caused.............

===CM