Should we Refuse To Live In Fear After The Attacks In Paris?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 08:21:54 -0500

Should we Refuse To Live In Fear After The Attacks In Paris?

Nice article that I thought I would copy, paste, and share with the RP Community this morning. Do you agree? I agree! We as a free people must refuse to let terrorism or terrorists scare us or dictate our mindsets.

Military families know better than anyone the threat posed by ISIS, but we must refuse to let them instill fear.

http://taskandpurpose.com/why-i-refuse-to-live-in-fear-after-the-attacks-in-paris/

By Jane Horton

Jane is a veterans and Gold Star family advocate, military and casualty policy advisor, as well as a writer and commentator based in Washington D.C. She is the proud wife of Spc. Christopher Horton, an Army sniper killed in action on September 9, 2011, in Paktia, Afghanistan. Follow Jane Horton on Twitter @JaneMHorton

Why I Refuse To Live In Fear After The Attacks In Paris

Military families know better than anyone the threat posed by ISIS, but we must refuse to let them instill fear.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Nov 18 at 2015 8:23 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 08:23:37 -0500

Vigilance, not fear.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 8:27 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 08:27:19 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs No fear, but a cautious approach and watchful eye. My gut tells me this is gonna get ugly.

Response by MSgt John Grollimund made Nov 18 at 2015 8:51 AM

MSgt John Grollimund — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 08:51:14 -0500

Absolutely not. The purpose of terrorism is to make you change your life.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 8:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 08:54:10 -0500

I've looked these MF'ers in the eye, and found them lacking.
They don't scare me.
I hope to meet a few of them, real soon.
I have a Christmas present for each of them. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it weighs 63 grains...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 9:08 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 09:08:32 -0500

We should not be afraid but stay prepared...

Response by LTC Jeffrey Strickland made Nov 18 at 2015 9:26 AM

LTC Jeffrey Strickland — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 09:26:49 -0500

No. That is what they want.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 9:51 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 09:51:31 -0500

Never live in fear. Live in readiness and vigilance.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 18 at 2015 9:53 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 09:53:59 -0500

We should never live in fear. We should always be vigilant however.

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Nov 18 at 2015 10:12 AM

SSG Keith Cashion — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 10:12:20 -0500

I will not let this change how I live my life. As some of my friends know, if you enter my home uninvited you get to choose open or closed casket. I think in the wake of the recent attacks in Paris, and all of the out cry of the refugees coming to America (It will happen, there is nothing we can do), it is time that people really understand what situational awareness is. I mean, don't go on DEFCON 4 or whatever, but start to see and hear what is going on around you. Be aware of your surroundings. Some people I feel take their own safety for granted.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 10:14 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 10:14:20 -0500

Yes, absolutely. And we should be smart about opening the flood gates to Syrians and other terrorists to enter and threaten our country. Slow, deliberate, and smart.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 10:14 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 10:14:22 -0500

Let me have First hànd Knowledge of Isis in my area. they will see death W.O thier So Called Honor. Go right back to HELL were they belong

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 18 at 2015 10:41 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 10:41:27 -0500

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
--Dune by Frank Herbert

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 18 at 2015 11:14 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 11:14:14 -0500

Fear? Hell, I'm thinking about going to the recruiter and seeing if the Navy will take me back!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 18 at 2015 11:16 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 11:16:34 -0500

The Islamaphobia term is just something to use like homophobia to forward an agenda. I suppose if I were in a crowded venue with no one armed, and a bunch of cowards were mowing us down, I WOULD be afraid. When we disarm our citizens, or limit the carrying of firearms, we probably should fear anyone that has no compunctions about killing unarmed people with relish. In the meantime, I sure hope that I can get them in the crosshair of my .300 WINMAG when the shooting starts.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Nov 18 at 2015 11:23 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 11:23:09 -0500

I am constantly looking at people's hands and for bulges under their clothes. That is the combat zone inside me and the law enforcement aspect.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 12:01 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:01:57 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs The following was put out from our NWC Director of Security that I think really hits to the heart of the matter for all military and DoD civilians:

I am sure that you are all tracking the terrorist attacks that have unfolded in Paris. I encourage you to follow the news coverage as more is learned about these coordinated attacks.

Although the news reports that administration officials are not reporting any known threats to the U.S., I think that we must all understand that our world changed 14 years ago and it has become progressively more dangerous and unpredictable. Unfortunately, this is the world that we find ourselves in and the one that our children and grandchildren will inherit.

I encourage you all to remain ever vigilant, not only at work but as you conduct your daily lives in your communities with your family and friends. Be mindful of your surroundings especially at large gatherings and events. In these turbulent times we owe it to ourselves to keep our heads in the game and remain safe.

Be safe.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 12:15 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:15:57 -0500

I have posted this a couple of times in other threads as well...http://mwkworks.com/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html. Those who have the mindset and the ability will be forced to take up the watch. If you have the ability, be not fearful, but ever alert and prepared for violence on behalf of your fellow American...because they are not prepared to do so. The lives of those around us will fall back into the norm while we, the vigilant, will be forever watchful, alert, and prepared to sacrifice ourselves for the preservation of others.

On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman

Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always,even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a...

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 18 at 2015 12:46 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:46:56 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I have learned to trust my Lord and Savior in all things. None of us know when and how we will die; but, God certainly does.
I am sorry that the people of France have been attacked several times this year. They have been reaping some of the results of taking in refugees from Algeria, Iran and lately Syria in larger numbers. While some of the recent refugees are thankful they are in safer places, many are dissatisfied because they have been dislocated and a few are intent on reaping destruction on behalf of al Qaeda, ISIS and other wahhabi doctrine muslim terrorist groups.
I hope are nation learns from France's and western Europe's mistake of taking in large numbers of "refugees" who have not been screen very well.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 12:51 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:51:30 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, I'm not going to live in fear from anyone. I will keep alert and vigilant and if I see something or someone suspicious, I will report them, but no way I'm going to live in fear from these morons, in my country or abroad.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 12:58 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:58:52 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, I refuse to live in fear from anyone. When I went to Vietnam, I was too young to understand fear from the enemy. Now, I'm too old to live in fear from anyone.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Nov 18 at 2015 1:20 PM

COL Ted Mc — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 13:20:30 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Colonel; Get mad, not scared.

If you run in fear, then the terrorists have already won.
If you abandon your principles, then the terrorists have already won.
If you abandon your aspirations, then the terrorists have already won.
If you abandon your rights, then the terrorists have already won.
If you abandon your standards, then the terrorists have already won.
If you abandon your ideals, then the terrorists have already won.
If you abandon your freedom, then the terrorists have already won.
If you abandon your dreams, then the terrorists have already won.
If you start to act like the terrorists, then the terrorists have already won.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Nov 18 at 2015 1:53 PM

COL Ted Mc — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 13:53:03 -0500

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Mikel;

The 2014 EU Terrorism Situation Report from Europol makes interesting reading.

It SHOULD open a few eyes, but I suspect that it won't really.

https://www.europol.europa.eu/content/european-union-terrorism-situation-and-trend-report-2015

https://www.europol.europa.eu/sites/default/files/publications/p_europol_tsat15_09jun15_low-rev.pdf

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Nov 18 at 2015 2:06 PM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 14:06:36 -0500

Guns and ammo... That's the only answer.... Oh wait... And faith too.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Nov 18 at 2015 5:05 PM

SGT Patrick Reno — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 17:05:32 -0500

If we live in fear, then they have all ready won.

Response by SPC William Del Valle made Nov 18 at 2015 5:12 PM

SPC William Del Valle — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 17:12:14 -0500

GIVE TO THEM NOTHING BUT TAKE FROM THEM EVERYTHING!!

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 8:57 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 20:57:04 -0500

If anyone believes BO is listening to his top advisers, they would be wrong. Here is what the National Intelligence and FBI Directors are saying with regard to vetting. It's not about fear of the refugees, it's about the administration being tone-deaf. I'm not afraid of confronting a terrorist in our country, I just believe it's the governments responsibility to ensure it doesn't come to that.

“I don’t, obviously, put it past the likes of ISIL to infiltrate operatives among these refugees, so that’s a huge concern of ours,” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said at a security industry conference in September, using another name for the Islamic State. He added that the government has “a pretty aggressive program” for screening refugees but that he is less confident about European nations.

FBI Director James Comey added in congressional testimony last month that “a number of people who were of serious concern” slipped through the screening of Iraq War refugees, including two arrested on terrorism-related charges. “There’s no doubt that was the product of a less than excellent vetting,” he said.

Although Comey said the process has since “improved dramatically,” Syrian refugees will be even harder to check because, unlike in Iraq, U.S. soldiers have not been on the ground collecting information on the local population. “If we don’t know much about somebody, there won’t be anything in our data,” he said. “I can’t sit here and offer anybody an absolute assurance that there’s no risk associated with this.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/11/17/senior-obama-officials-have-warned-of-challenges-in-screening-refugees-from-syria/

Senior Obama officials have warned of challenges in screening refugees from Syria

Vetting Syrian refugees poses a quandary: how do you screen people from a war-torn country that has few criminal and terrorist databases to check?

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Nov 18 at 2015 10:38 PM

Cpl Jeff N. — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 22:38:09 -0500

I don't fear any of them. I have come to accept the fact that this president has made us more vulnerable to attack and continues to do so attempting to admit "refugees" we cannot vet because no documentation exists to validate them.

I would suggest that those of you that are comfortable carrying a weapon do so. It might save your life or others if push comes to shove.

Response by SGT Larry Michael Bleckler II made Nov 18 at 2015 11:34 PM

SGT Larry Michael Bleckler II — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 23:34:07 -0500

We should not live in fear, but to remember what has happened in the past and stay hyper-vigilant

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 6:16 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 06:16:01 -0500

Fear no, but I am more aware of my surroundings and when I go to certain place. I guess that means they did affect my lifestyle to a certain extent. I will not let my teenage daughter go to the mall on black Friday, and when I take here to the new Hunger Games movie I’ll be more aware of who is coming and going into the theater. I see these as normal precautions. If it was just me then who cares? I need to watch out for my family.

I’ve always carried a gun wherever I go and try to be aware of my surroundings without crossing the line to total paranoia. I’ve always sat in resturaunts with my back to the wall. Now if we start seeing suicide bombers here in the US, well I guess there’s not much I can do about that other than staying away from all crowds. I’m not willing to change my life that much.

Response by SGT Justin Anderson made Nov 19 at 2015 2:40 PM

SGT Justin Anderson — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 14:40:47 -0500

As long as we take time to know what's going on in our communities and around the world and just being prepared, we have no reason to fear. You don't expect to have a flat tire but you always have a spare and the tools needed to change the flat. You might be a concealed carrier, not looking for a gun fight, but just being prepared for when something might happen if it ever does. Of course I also believe that our elected officials in office should be considering the safety, welfare, and best interest of our country and its citizens before they start aiding other countries that are questionable.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Nov 19 at 2015 6:08 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 18:08:21 -0500

I will not and refuse to. Extreme vigilance and preparation is the key. Keep your head on a swivel and maintain situational awareness, especially when out at large venues, shopping malls, athletic events, etc. Anything can happen at anytime.

It's not just overseas threats, it's domestic too. Unfortunately it seems we have almost as many American whack jobs running around. You have these people who's father didn't praise them enough or their mom didn't breast feed them enough and felt they never fit in anywhere for whatever reason, perceived or otherwise. Then after sitting in their mom's basement watching YouTube video's and chatting in chatroom's for months and years on end they buy up an arsenal and go on a murderous rampage.

To be honest i'm more concerned about that than the overseas whack jobs.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Nov 21 at 2015 8:51 AM

MAJ Alvin B. — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 08:51:29 -0500

Absolutely.

Some objectives of terrorist organizations remain unchanged. It does not matter the group, the time, the place or even the ideology. Terror and violence, and the threat they pose, real or imagined, is intended to provoke a reaction. A reaction, that works to that groups advantage.

If you bomb a plane and the government tighten security against its citizens in response as a way of preventing you from repeating the event - you win. Each time an individual changes their behavior in response to your actions - you win.

This does not mean the individual and/or the state should not take some prudent precaution (if there is a bear In your neighborhood, you do not leave you take precautions). However, the initial tendency is one of over reaction, and in many cases, because they can be done, implementation of measures which would not have helped if they pre-existed the attack.

Living your life inspite [to spite] of the terror! as hard as that can seem, is a loss for the terrorist.