We’ve Been Warned

Usually we (the American public) are surprised when we are attacked. We were surprised by Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. We were surprised by the sinking of the Maine in Cuba in 1898. We were surprised when China joined the Korean War after MacArthur had essentially defeated the North Koreans. The Chinese almost drove us into the sea before we recovered from our surprise.

            Those examples were military attacks by foreign governments who were following the teaching of Sun Tzu, circa 5000 B.C.  In “The Art of War” he wrote, among other good advice to warriors: “Surprise your enemy.”

            We were also surprised by an International terrorist group on 9/11 in 2001. And by domestic terrorist Timothy McVey in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. And by the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, et al, in the Capital attack on January 6, 2021.

            But now, this time, we can’t be surprised because we’ve been warned. By no less than a government agency doing its job. The Department of Homeland Security has issued the warning, and it contains a sobering message indeed. Following are a few excerpts from their May 23, 2023, statement, The italics are mine.

•  Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideologies and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland.

• In the coming months, factors that could mobilize individuals to commit violence include their perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues.

•  Likely targets of potential violence include US critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement.

Wow!!

With Trump indicted in the documents case, one of the likely triggers for violence has already been pulled. As I write this, nothing has been reported but Trump’s appearance in Court is still to come and will be broadcast.

            Republican leaders have almost unanimously rushed to Trump’s aid and to condemn the Courts and Biden. Kevin McCarthy, for example. They thus are supporting or at least signaling tolerance for violent reaction from various groups. That is, Trumpers.

            Even Congress is warning us. A Bill has been proposed called the “Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2019”. The Bill, not yet passed of course, “requires the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism.”

            So we’ve been warned but what do we do about it? I can’t take my father’s old twenty-gauge shotgun out and stand guard at the local reservoir. And it’s too late to harden security at the local school. The Homeland Security website has suggestions for ‘planning and preparations’, but their many words are, in my opinion, too many and too general to be useful to average Americans. Beyond “If you see something, say something,” (e.g., call 911) they have little to say that is specific and doable. Books about Prepping are far more practical and useful. See, for example, The Disaster Preparedness Handbook by A. T. Bradley, and there are several others of that ilk.

The May 23 Warning from Homeland Security is scary enough, but when one considers the context, it gets much scarier. The context, of course, is Trump leading for the Republican Presidential nomination. The Republican National Committee (RNC) won’t stop him even though they would find a way to stop someone else who is unqualified like, say, Charles Manson. All they have to do is call a meeting, change their rules, and eject Trump. Take an hour or two. Then they would have lots of good candidates who could fight it out for the nomination. And most of those candidates could beat Biden, whereas Trump probably can’t.

            Here’s a context to fear: Trump versus an eighty-two-year-old Biden, with Kamala Harris standing by. No wonder the Nation is nervous!

The rest of the context is that we are a Nation that has lost its way. Oh, all is not lost, hope is not all lost, but we have serious problems that aren’t being addressed and can’t be addressed with the people and politicians so divided. How is possible that there so many millions of people and Republican Congressmen who will go the mat for Trump, given the person he is known to be? What will these cult members do if he loses again, but takes control anyway? Such a thing is possible, and it makes us nervous.

            The context also includes a lack of leadership – but that’s a subject for another article.

We’ve been warned, and Homeland says “The United States remains in a heightened threat environment.” Good, but there’s nothing we the little people can do about it, except worry. At least, however, we won’t be surprised.

Just Sayin’