To the Question

Submitted by LDC (United States), Jun 21, 2007 at 18:08

In the event of widespread acts of Islamist terrorism, an Intifada (literally a "trembling"), what would be the likely response among the citizenry? That's the question we're discussing, is it not?

Let's take the DC snipers as a case study in how the public might respond. The messages are, for sure, somewhat mixed, but hopeful, I think. While law enforcement did all they could, and the media propogated, with no ill intent, the myth of a white truck as the source, it was eventually a truck driver (nearly all of whom, by the way, are armed) who identified the snipers and used his truck to block their exit from a roadside rest area. You might say that he took the law into his own hands, or, that he rendered able assistance to law enforcement in their immediate absence. In any regard, he acted (and, interestingly enough, the ACLU did not protest). His name is Legion, for there are many like him, and I'm not just referring to truck drivers.

Now, back to the Pipes Scenario of a wide-spread Intifada (a hypothetical case made even more problematic if you factor in that the US law enforcement agencies--I'm talking primarily local, county and state police--are without equal in the world). The challenge, I think, would be to dampen down the violent citizen responses in the midst of a sustained Intifada among the general population (unlike the noteworthy absence of violence again Middle Eastern looking people in the wake of 9/11).

The US police forces operate at a level of efficiency and professionalism that is remarkable. They are not corrupt. And, they're not stupid. They are highly trained and competent. (I know you know all this. I simply emphasize it for discussion purposes.) In those international environments where we learned about Intifada, the terrorists operate(d) out of an environment where (1) the rule of law is non-existent, (2) a stable gov't is non-existent (which is why Israel has dealt effectively with its internal terrorism problem), and (3) the surroundig population is generally favorably disposed to those engaged in the Intifada.

Chicago, for example, isn't the West Bank, nor is it Spain. And the Chicago PD, with their checkered hats, are not affiliated with the PLO. Any Islamist terrorists who steps foot into S. Chicago or Cicero, would find himself in very hostile territory after two weeks of an American Intifada. And, yes, the citizens there are armed.

All this aside, there are multiple other manifestations of terrorism more worthy of our concern. Thank you, sir, for your comments.

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