Not a Bang, But a Whimper

Look around round
Look around round round
Look around
--Dear Prudence, Lennon/McCartney

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper
--The Hollow Men, T.S. Eliot
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The front page of our daily paper blazoned the news this week -- the bomb was a bust (Capitol Bomb Scare a False Alarm.)

It is reasonable to assume a realistic posture when confronted with a threat. But fear-stoked overreaction has replaced prudence. Fearful overreaction is the new normal.

When your product is fear, paranoia becomes common sense, and the Bush administration is peddling fear. Paranoia and overreaction have become the new standard operating procedure. A SOP for sops.

Realistic threat assessment is based upon realistic evaluation of the threat and its capabilities. Surely in the case of the capitol bomb scare one must err on the side of prudence, but just as surely the Bomb Response Unit has a sniffer dog that could verify the nature of the threat (a box of plastic bags, in this case.)

The unit has a remote-controlled robot but not a bomb dog?

Threats should be addressed at the lowest possible level. This high-tech response was not realistic before other levels of response were evaluated.

If this had been a real explosive device of any sophistication, then wouldn't it have an anti-disturbance device or dual detonation capabilities? A skilled bomber would ensure the device would explode. Additionally, he would have placed a secondary explosive device to kill the sheriffs and FDLE personnel gathered in the street.

As a response to a bomb, all non-essential personnel should be evacuated from the area. This is not reality t.v., it's a bomb threat. Treat it rationally and appropriately. The article and pictures show the opposite reaction.

Even though they cut the live oaks down and surrounded the place with concrete bollards, I guess it hadn't occurred to them that instead of making a mad charge, the would-be bombers could just deliver the package via the parking garage, as was how this troublesome box of bags breached the gates.

Paranoia and overreaction are not the basis for rational containment and neutralization of a potential explosive device.

Deflowered

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves
--William Pitt

If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy
-- James Madison
__________

This ran in our local paper today, but extrapolate the subtext to your neck o' the woods.

Front page, local section: "The Latest War on Terror Victim: Beauty." Nope, not a soliloquy on the beautiful young people dying in the Phony War on Terror (PWOT©), but rather, an homage to the soon gone big old oaks in front of the Old Capitol Building, which is actually now a museum standing in front of the New Capitol, where business is conducted. The trees will be felled in favor of "concrete security bollards to be erected across the front of the building" by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

Now, it is prudent and correct to take proactive and/or reactive terrorism counteraction. That is, if there is a credible threat based upon reliable intelligence. Absent reliable evidence that the state capital is actually targeted by a group with a potential to execute a credible attack, these plans are foolhardy.

It is absurd to cut down trees to counter a threat that does not exist. Since the PWOT is an absurdity, I guess it is logical to cut down 200 year old oak trees; somehow, it smacks of tilting at windmills. If there is a threat, a spike barrier would be sufficient, and would not be obtrusive.

Realistically, what group could possibly have access to vehicular bombs in Florida?

Taking this to its logical endpoint, why not bring the 124th Infantry of the Florida National Guard into active duty and emplace them in bunkers around the capital complex amongst the azaleas? God knows they have enough experience doing this in Baghdad. Good for Iraq; better for Tallahassee.

In a nod to the green members of society, we could use the logs dismembered from the felled trees to provide overhead cover. The best of greencycling.

Alternately, we could arm the antiwar protesters who march in front of the capitol, as most of them have military experience, with RPGs to neutralize any approaching car bombs. A Private 1st Class could supervise them. Hell, I'll join the group if they give me an RPG, with at least three rounds.

Terrorism counteraction policy must be based in fact, rather than knee-jerk reactions. Realistic threat analysis is the key to all effective action.

What's really going on? The Old Capitol fronts the major thoroughfare through town. So every day, commuters will no longer see the homey domed capitol behind Spanish moss-covered oaks, but rather, "tacky as can be" security bollards," that according to local arborist Sam Hand, PhD.

As with the constant barrage from the media and entertainment outlets, the purpose seems to be to keep the citizens in a continual state of free-floating anxiety. As fear has become the watchword, it somehow makes what the U.S. is doing in the Middle East relevant. We are keeping them occupied with fresh meat over there, so they cannot hop the bollards over here.

The bollards are window dressing and backdrop for the six-o'clock news show.