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The War on Terrorism: We All Have a Part To Play
To say that the world has dramatically changed since 9/11 is an understatement. More than 3,000 people died that morning, as did America's sense of security… a feeling that "those things never happen here."
Just look at some of the events that have taken place since 9/11:
- Homeland security is a top (and controversial) issue as our government debates how best to reorganize to deal with the threat of terrorism.
- We suffered our first biological attack (anthrax), which shut down various government buildings and killed several people.
- National landmarks, bridges, banks, nuclear power plants, skyscrapers, power grids, and other important places are on a heightened state of alert.
- People who live within a certain radius of nuclear power plants are receiving potassium iodide to protect them from radiation should an attack take place.
- The government is considering vaccinating the entire population against smallpox.
Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda group and the terrorist network this group is trying to build, advocates the destruction of the United States, which he sees as the largest obstacle to obtaining al Qaeda's goals. In February 1998, bin Laden announced the creation of a new alliance of terrorist organizations called the "World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders," and declared its intention to attack Americans and our allies, including civilians, anywhere in the world. This means that America and its allies are his enemies, they have declared war on us and his followers have been called upon to eliminate us. Understand this fact clearly, certain Islamic fundamentalists have declared war on us and whether you like it or not, you are a target.
Will there be another attack? Most experts believe it's not a question of if, but when. For that reason, we cannot be lulled into complacency because there hasn't been another attack since 9/11. Our enemy is extremely patient.
Since the battleground has moved to our shores, we need to know what we can do to protect our family, our community, and our country. Part of our own pre-9/11 vulnerability was the fact that we believed it would never happen here because we didn't fully understand the terrorists or their motivations. While few of us today feel we have the power to change events, individual involvement can affect the outcome of this conflict. We all have a part to play, no matter how small it may ultimately be. You may not be able to enlist in the armed forces or hunt for bin Laden, but you can join the political process, assist in your community disaster-recovery efforts, and protect your family.
The federal government has repeatedly asked us to go about our normal lives but be "vigilant." The level of this vigilance will be guided by a color-coded warning system. But what does that mean? Are we supposed to look for Middle Eastern men wearing trench coats during summer? Are we to refuse to fly on an airplane where women wearing burkas are on board? Are we to spy on our neighbors who read books about Islam?
What does "vigilance" mean? In general, you should be "watchful" and "on-guard" for anything suspicious. Don't be fooled into complacency. Don't be paranoid. Exercise "healthy awareness." Using your natural born common sense and powers of observation, you should:
- Take notice of odd occurrences or the strange movement of people.
- Take notice of unguarded packages.
- Take notice of abandoned cars or trucks.
- Watch people around crowded and high-risk areas. Are they:
- Making strange movements.
- "Casing," "sketching," or "video taping" the area.
- Communicating on cell phones in a location that would be considered unusual or using walkie-talkies.
- Notice people who look agitated, nervous, or won't look at you.
- Take notice of events and people around you if you work or are near:
- Truck and van rentals/leasing
- Border areas
- High-profile public events
- Chemical factories
- Nuclear power plants or storage areas
- Airports, bus and train stations
- Water treatment plants and reservoirs
- Refineries
- Crop dusters or plane rental companies
- Government facilities or functions
- Lifelines: Gas, water, electric, sewer lines
- Transportation systems, tunnels, bridges, dams
- Major events with large numbers of people
- Internet or data transmission sites
- Agricultural storage areas
Exercising healthy awareness applies to other situations as well. Al-Qaeda training camps have been discovered in rural Alabama and Oregon. There are "safe-houses" where the terrorists live in various cities and towns. These can only exist if we do not pay attention to what's happening around us or turn our backs on suspicious activities.
Ask your local police department if they have community antiterrorism training like CAT Eyes. (See: http://www.cateyesprogram.com/). If you observe people or notice something that's not right or see something that's out of place or doesn't belong there, do not attempt to be a hero. Be overly cautious and report it immediately to the police or FBI. If you are traveling and have a cell phone, dial 9-1-1. The operator can connect you to the local police department or other authorities. For the FBI field offices near you, visit fbi.gov/contact/fo/info.htm.
Don't close your eyes and ears to things going on around you. On December 22, 2001, thousands of feet above the Atlantic Ocean, passengers on American Airlines Flight 63 saw a commotion and heard cries for help from the flight attendants. They rushed to stop Islamic terrorist Richard Reid from blowing up the airplane. As a result, all 197 people on board made it home safely.
Despite the protestations of civil libertarians, we all need to become helpful and additional eyes and ears of the authorities -- on the lookout for possible terrorist activity. To ignore this obligation or to rely solely on the government is completely and utterly impractical. So, exercise healthy awareness, think quickly and be alert, just as the passengers of Flight 63 did.
Like most people, I'm sure that you believe that your own vigilance will be meaningless in the broad scope of the war on terrorism. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Imagine the results if we all exercised healthy awareness.
We all have a part to play in this conflict. It's up to all of us!
Copyright © C. Brian Silver. Mr. Silver has a Degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate degree. He is the author of the revolutionary new eBook: "The War on Terrorism - A Citizen's Guide to Prevention and Preparation," available exclusively at citizenguidebooks.com. Reprinted with permission.
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