Paris Attacks: Who Cares?

Well, for starters Parisians and no doubt a vast majority of concerned French citizens. Tallying a death toll of 129 plus 352 injuries of which 99 are critical, certainly the French government cares as French fighter jets bombed a series of ISIS sites in Raqqa, Syria, two days after the Paris attacks with targets including a command center, a recruitment center, an ammunition storage base and a training camp for the terror group (Source: Mickael Soria, press adviser for France's defense minister.)

Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands care as they have each announced that they will reinstate “temporary” border controls -- breaking from a core tenet of EU policy to keep borders open.

The country of Hungary cares at it has announced classification of unauthorized entry into Hungary as a criminal offence punishable by up to three years in a Hungarian prison.

The British Government cares as it is now implementing a series of measures to prevent a similar atrocity happening on UK soil. Mark Rowley, the national lead for counter-terrorism policing, said more than 700 extremists were known to have travelled to Syria, with about half of them having since returned to Britain. British officials have stressed the importance of businesses and communities in countering the terrorist threat.

But what about right here in the good ole US of A? What’s our story? And I don’t mean at the political level or even referencing state or local law enforcement. What about us down here at the bottom of the proverbial food chain as rank and file civilians? Those events happened “over there” and they didn’t impact the food on my table or the shoes on my kids’ feet so why should I care? Let’s take a look at a few good reasons why we should care.

 ISIS is fueling an unprecedented tempo for law enforcement authorities combating the homegrown Islamist extremist threat. FBI Director James Comey said on October 23 that law enforcement authorities have approximately 900 active homegrown extremist cases, the overwhelming majority of which are related to ISIS. Authorities have already arrested nearly 60 individuals this year in ISIS-related cases. 

ISIS’s global expansion has unleashed a wave of violence around the world – including against Western targets. From July through September this year, ISIS-affiliated groups launched around 12 attacks every day killing more than 30 people worldwide. ISIS’s calls for attacks are resonating with its supporters in the West. ISIS has directed or inspired 62 plots to attack Western targets, including 18 inside the United States.

Since September 11, 2001, there have been 127 U.S. terrorist cases involving homegrown violent jihadists. Over 80 percent of these cases—which include plotted attacks and attempts to join foreign terrorist organizations—have occurred or been disrupted since 2009 (these figures are based on open-source data compiled by the Congressional Research Service and the Majority Staff of the Homeland Security Committee).

Authorities have arrested or charged at least 55 individuals in the United States this year – 71 since 2014 – in ISIS-related cases. The cases involve individuals: plotting attacks; attempting to travel to join ISIS overseas; sending money, equipment and weapons to terrorists; falsifying statements to federal authorities; and failing to report a felony. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin said on September 28 that law enforcement authorities have open investigations of suspected ISIS supporters in all 50 states.

OK, I get it. What can I do to protect myself and my family from suffering a similar fate? The “A” answer is to adopt an effective operational mindset. You don’t need to go to the gym or join a club or be aligned with any political affiliation. It’s simply a matter of placing yourself in a state of mind. For example when you get into your car and start driving, whether consciously or unconsciously, you switch mental gears to a higher level of situational awareness given that you may be driving in a traffic jam or at high speeds or anticipating the next move of that guy who’s swerving in front of you.

During this “open season” you are considered prey and as with any prey if you don’t pay attention to the predator he will inevitably take you down. We as Americans either don’t know, don’t want to know or find the subject too frightening to contemplate so we adopt an amenable mindset such as “Oh, well that stuff happens over there” or “Someone else will handle it” as opposed to “my personal security and that of my family is my responsibility.” Now, which of these three perspectives will likely serve you best against a predator? Adopting an effective mindset is step one.

Next is to have a plan - that is making personal decisions about your actions prior to an event unfolding. One thing every experienced operator I know does each day as he or she prepares for work is to repeat the mantra that could help prepare him or her to save a life – perhaps their own: “It could happen to me and TODAY is the day.” Now, I’m not talking about paranoia here, but instead - mental preparation - that is being aware that it could realistically happen and further that it can happen to you, gives you that leg up that you need to be one step ahead of the guy next to you suffering from a chronic case of “Hey, someone else will handle it.”

In summary keep these two things fresh in your mind: 1. Yes, it’s truly open season out there and don’t kid yourself, as an American, no matter where you go, you are a target and the nearest cop might be 45 minutes away - don’t go paranoid - simply adopt the mindset that your personal security is your responsibility, 2. Today might be the day and it could happen to you. Armed with this proactive operational mindset, you can control the threat as opposed to the threat controlling you.

Dictionary definition of Proactive: “Serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence or situation, especially a negative or difficult one.”