At the risk of sounding like Chicken Little, I have to admit that the threat of more terrorist attacks on American soil remains in the back of my mind. Here in Arizona it’s a well known fact that those crossing our southern border illegally include nationals from countries hostile to our own. Are they all terrorists? No one knows, but then, no one can say they are not.
A Terrorism Liaison Officer here in Arizona directed to me a well-made series of videos designed to alert Americans to the 8 Signs of Terrorism.
- Surveillance
- Gathering information
- Testing security
- Finances
- Acquiring supplies
- People who don’t belong
- Dry run rehearsal
- Getting into position
I’m reminded of an incident years ago when I was spending a summer in Israel. I was walking with a friend and two Israeli men down a street in Tel Aviv one evening when the two men suddenly guided us across the street and away from an alley. I asked what was going on and was told, “It’s just not good for us to be there.” I never did find out what he saw or heard, but these two were obviously in tune with even the most subtle signs of danger.
Great information! Thanks for sharing this link. I work in an elementary school and we have really tightened security. But most parents are not happy with doors locked and having to sign in at the office to enter school. We use a photo ID system on everyone that enters the building. Thank God for Arizona and it's Governor! All states need to take lessons.
As a follow-up to the question of what is appropriate security from terrorists at a public elementary school, I would like to relate the following story:
I work in construction and was in a construction trailer in an elementary school parking lot in Washington State last year when we saw 4 police cars zoom into the parking lot in front of the school.
Several members of a swat team got out and ran into the school with Glocks drawn, crouching behind cover as they went, military style. One swat guy carried a shotgun.
We called the school and were told only that they had a “Threat” and the school was in “Lockdown Mode”. We did not see what happened inside the school, but I assume these wannabe commandos were running through the school frightening and threatening everyone they encountered.
Later we leaned that the “Threat” was a 7 yr old boy who brought a cap gun to school. Turns out the boy, realizing he was in trouble, had gone home before the police arrived to return his cap gun.
I often wonder how many children and school staff were traumatized by this incident.
Seems to me that the real terrorists were the police.
Gotta love “zero tolerance”!
I have to agree with this. I lived (until quite recently) in Blacksburg, VA. In the year or two after the VT shootings, our school system went in "lockdown" at least 5 times for many various "threats" – none of which were actually dangerous situations in reality. Of course, all of the school employees were justly feeling particularly sensitive to the need to protect our children. However, the increased security and subsequent lockdowns perpetuated the anxiety that the children had already been experiencing. In my humble opinion, there is a fine line between promoting safety and creating unnecessary stress.
That said, this is great info. Thanks for sharing. Awareness is always a good thing.
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty
to purchase a little Temporary Safety,
deserve neither Liberty nor Safety".
Ben Franklin or Thomas Jefferson…
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety – Ben Franklin
Problem is the powers that be don't want to hear about the 8 signs since all too often it indicates un-PC sources.
There's an actor, I forget his name, who shortly after 9/11 was on several news shows saying that a couple of months before he was on a NY to LA flight and saw a group of arab-looking men acting very suspiciously. At the time he just thought it was odd. But in hindsight he concluded it was a dry run test for 9/11. Maybe part of a plan that did go as expected or was cancelled last moment.
He said he tried to report what he saw at the time to the FAA and FBI but no one would listen.
Even today we see the official policy of "If you see something, say something" just not include arab or middle eastern looking people. That's discriminatory.
The problem with counter terrorism and other anti-terrorism measures is that they are too expensive, too scary, and too restrictive… until something happens. YOU are your best defense. The key is not letting paranoia or extreme caution ruin your life.
Keep working ,fantastic job! afkcddacefbf
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The video link is broken. Is there another place to view it?
Thanks for letting me know. Here’s a link to the video on YouTube, https://youtu.be/jHjI6mj1jOA
I’ve updated the link in the article.