In a previous post, we discussed my ideas of approaches to combating terrorism. Here is a text book case on how NOT to do it. Some “expert” came up with the idea that 5% to 10% of the Moslem population in the United States must be a terrorist. So the FBI has created task forces to go find these people. In places like Rockford Illinois. I was born in Chicago, so as I kid I have been through Rockford. I can not think of any place in US that is more boringly Middle America. They have a terrorism problem? Come on, let’s get real folks.

As I have said before, I do have intelligence work experience. But these guys are using criminals to go out and find something in return for pay or reduction of sentence. This is absurd. Criminals do things only for their own gain. Terrorism task forces in the heartland are not going to report “nothing to report”, they are going to find some wild scheme to put hand grenades in shopping mall waste baskets.

The fact that the only actual hand grenades that existed in the above plot were brought in by the FBI itself is very troubling. And new legislation is now going through congress to make discussing or thinking about a terrorist action a crime.

Well, the definition of “Terrorism” means different things to different people.

When I was working in intelligence, I remember breathlessly coming to my superiors with a “plot” I had overheard in a barroom conversation. Somebody was going to do something.

My superiors told me to settle down, that we did not have time to chase every barroom warrior. I was only 19 at the time. Successful law enforcement and intelligence work concentrates on what actually exists, it does not create it’s own threats out of overheated imagination.

I think the best thing to do here is to let local law enforcement keep an eye on their communities. After all, they are the people who live there and know the locals. Frankly, I really don’t think that 10% of Moslems in America are terrorists. I don’t think any are. And a big loud mouth is not a criminal. Most of these loud mouth types are life’s losers, they come to nothing. Wait for somebody to actually begin doing something.

But by helping them to get ideas and weapons, we become the criminals ourselves.