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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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March
2007
Volume
12 - Number 3 |
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Personal Perception of Terrorism Risk By Victor Pastor For centuries terrorism has been used to achieve political
ends and has developed as a tactic for liberation, oppression, and international
politics. But terrorism is continually changing and rapidly becoming
the predominant strategic tool of our adversaries. Therefore, the onus
is on us to make every effort to stay ahead of today’s terrorist enemy because
for them there is no peaceful coexistence with those who do not subscribe
to their distorted and violent view of the world. Ultimately, we face
a terrorist enemy that threatens global peace, international security, and
the prospect for democracy.
This is evident over the last few decades as many Americans have become victims to isolated terrorist incidents such as the Beirut barracks bombing Lebanon, the bombing of Khobar towers in Saudi Arabia, or the attack on the USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden. While the affects of these attacks created a significant impact to our government and military establishments, they never really penetrated the country as a whole. It was not until the devastating events of September 11 that brought terrorism to the forefront of American society. Although it has been a while since I have reflected upon my personal experiences during that dreadful day, I remember it well. I was a Captain then and an instructor at the Marine Officer Basic School. I was leading a discussion on combat orders to a small group of Second Lieutenants and we were discussing the importance of communicating a plan when the first plane hit the towers. We were in a classroom setting so we were initially unaware of the events as they were unfolding. Our discussions continued until I was directed to send my group to the larger classroom where we were told of the events and briefed on the contingency protocols. Immediately, the entire institution went into an alert status, all training ceased, and for the first time in history this school with all of it personnel secured all access points. Approximately four hours after the pentagon was attacked, our institution was tasked to provide additional security on certain access points extending beyond the school’s perimeter but within the Marine Corps Base Quantico. Without a moments notice over sixty Marines were receiving equipment, weapons, live rounds and a legal brief on rules for use of potential force. None of us could believe that this was happening but all of us were ready carry out are assigned tasks. I remember the weeks and months after the attacks and recall the affects to the communities, the businesses, and our culture overall. More importantly I began to ponder, not so much why someone would do this but how. How could we let ourselves be so exposed and vulnerable to this type of deliberate attack? The events of September 11 were a catalyst for significant change within our government and ultimately our society. In effect these events served as a “wake up call” that put many issues regarding our complacency and our false sense of security center stage. Although progress has been made, the reality is that these factors continue to be major risks for terrorism. It is vital that all Americans maintain an awareness of existing vulnerabilities that may be susceptible to terrorist attacks because we are all part of mitigating the risk to future attacks. As Lieutenant General Mattis (the former Commanding General of Marine Corps National Capitol Region Command) stated in a speech he gave in the summer 2005 …“It’s not a matter of if another terrorist attack occurs in the National Capitol Region; it’s a matter of when…” The underlying theme of this particular statement should resonate beyond the military community, as we have experienced the terrorism risk to be at the forefront of our society as a whole. |