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Defensive Battle Plans for the Next War

Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
edited September 2001 in General Discussion
Rules of Engagement: Don't disarm Soldiers on the Battlefield (Defensive Battle Plans for the Next War)by J.J. Johnson 09.14.01
As we're still digging bodies from the rubble, we are asked to come together as a people. We are asked to stand behind our leadership and show a united front. The Federal Aviation Administration has laid out new guidelines for airport and aircraft security. As a frequent flyer, it is obvious the FAAtook no input from those with the most experience - air travelers. The knee-jerk reaction of the FAA shows a pattern of arrogance and ignorance that will make it difficult to truly bring this nation together,or make it more secure against further attacks of this nature. It is, in fact, a pattern of government policy that has placed this nation in peril today. Here are some recommendations from frequent traveler.These recommendations may not sit well with some people, but I believe it is a compromise that the government and the citizens can live with - without jeopardizing the civil liberties of the entire population. Knowing that it's doubtful we would be hit twice with the same maneuver immediately, I will also discuss other vulnerabilities here in the U.S., and how to deal with them. My qualifications to speak on these matters are listed at the end of this article.AIR TRAVEL1) All law enforcement personnel or concealed carry permit holders having passed a certified marksman course with a specified airline (with training sponsored by the airline or law enforcement controlling authority) shall identify themselves at the ticket counter with certified identification. At that point, a security officer shall relieve them of their service or personal arms and issue a self-defense pistol and frangible ammo. These arms must be returned before leaving the destination airport.2) Suspend carry-on luggage. This may seem like an inconvenience to many, but it has its benefits. As a frequent flyer, I've lost count of the number of times I have been hit against the head, witnessed strained shoulders, and backs, with the young and elderly having problems with placing baggage overhead. Suspending carry-on luggage would alsoimprove boarding and de-boarding time. It might also prevent someone from coming on board saying they 'have a bomb'3) Cell phone use. Today, Americans are lauding the fact that some of the doomed airline passengers were on cell phones reporting what was going on during their ill-fated flight. One cell-phone conversation clearly averted a worse disaster. But here's what many non-flyers do not know: Cell phone use isbanned on commercial aircraft. Saving the White House required brave souls violating federal law. Solution: We are told on flights that use of electronic communication can interfere with the pilot's communications. Yet, many aircraft have phones on the back of airline seats. Get better communication for pilots, and let travelers keep cell phones on. It can save lives, and provide necessary intelligence for counter-operations during an emergency.4) Arm all pilots.5) Re-enforce cockpit doors6) Insist that qualified pilots notify the airlines of their flightexperience.The first three simple guidelines would have prevented what happened. The others are added protection. Frankly, all law abiding gun owners should boycott any domestic airline that prohibits light side arms on aircrafts. They can give us a hundred reasons why carrying guns on planes is a badidea. I can give them 20,000 dead reasons why it's a good idea - period.WAR AND THE STRATEGY OF THE ENEMYBefore we discuss the following subject, there are some things that must be brought into focus in order to defeat our enemy. As we mourn our losses, we must as Americans fight off the emotion and rhetoric to understand what happened, and the true nature of our enemy. We're going to war, America - Itis time to think and act like True American Warriors.The attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon were not 'cowardly acts of terrorism'. They were acts of war. Those who carried out their missions were not cowards. More over, calling it evil and barbaric is easy, since it happened on our own soil. But we must not overlook this cold fact:This was one of the most successful strategic assaults in combat history. This was clearly a tactical move to attack our financial infrastructure, and command and control facilities. To our enemy, the thousands who perished were mere 'collateral damage'. The mission as I can see was to attack boththe financial and military means to for counter action.Did that last paragraph make your stomach turn? This is war. Start thinking like a warrior.Our enemy took advantage of the policy of 'centralization' and authoritarian cultural control in this country. They rightly assumed that if only the U.S. government mandated what security measures were in place, the citizens and the infrastructure would be caught off guard and unprepared when 'central targets were attacked.And they were right.Now, look at the new FAA regulations. Mandated from On High. Little decentralization. No consultation with the next potential victims. Even after knowing what happened on United Airlines Flight 93, no thought of empowering those closest to the battle with the means to defend themselves or take counter action. Instead: Ban knives. Among the initial acts this government took immediately after the attack, the move was to secure the President and Congress. I applaud the move to suspend air traffic, but that seems like the only measure done so far to protect the citizens. Plans have been in place for years for a 'continuity of government' scenario. But what about it's citizens?We reacted. We weren't prepared.As many feel the enemy we face may be still on U.S. soil, and more Americans are vulnerable to retaliation or more tactical assaults, the citizens of this country become by default - soldiers themselves. In this war, we are in the war zone, not just watching it on television. If we are to win this war - if we are to survive, the government of the United States of America will have to recognize this fact with respect to its citizens. And the citizens must accept this reality themselves, and to each other.We are soldiers. Our military shall go on the offense. WE must be a decentralized, defense oriented society in order to protect our own people. The President has asked local and state law enforcement to protect the citizenry. While commendable, that is not nearly enough. We have to do it.And in order to do it, we have to anticipate what may be targeted next, and takes steps to prevent it. In battle, there are Rules of Engagement between the opposing forces on foreign battlefields. In order to win this war in decisive fashion, local, state and federal governments must first establishRules of Engagement on this battlefield - called America.THE INFRASTRUCTUREDid you know the interstate highway system was built with the purpose of moving military traffic? Of course, it has become part of the American way of life. Since my wife was forced to drive from the east coast (due to the air shutdown), we deliberately detoured her journey to a less traveled bridgeacross the Mississippi River. Why? Because we were thinking like a warrior. Major bridges and tunnels are prime infrastructure targets. Their destruction could cripplecommerce, civilian and military traffic. These bridge supports should be watched.The Bush Administration recently said we were not ready to fight a war on two fronts. If we must put all our resources into this one, ending the war on drugs would free a lot of those resources domestically - think about it.This will required local and state law enforcement to change their priorities. To improve their effectiveness, I would strongly suggest the policies of pursuing suspects for violations of 'political correctness', and enforcing the right of rights of animals and trees be suspended in light of a more important duty at hand.American needs local and state law enforcement spending more time watching the Eads Bridge and the Baltimore Tunnel than a marijuana dealer or a gun collector.Any state that has any law banning firearms in vehicles should suspend this law NOW. This goes double for truckers. Truckers are the eyes, ears, and soul of the American highway system. Their talents have become even more important with the suspension of air traffic. You'll see more of them on thehighway. For the first one who says they want no person (especially truckers) to be armed in their vehicles, I can respond with, "where would you like that hijacked petroleum, hazardous chemical or liquid rocket fuel truck to show up? At it's intended destination, or detonated somewhere in the vicinity of thousands of people?Truckers, arm yourselves NOW. Be on the lookout for anything strange at truck stops. Do a good walk around after every fuel stop. Fuel haulers: park away from the other trucks. All truckers should keep an eye out for fuel haulers and HazMat rigs. Something suspicious? Call the authorities, contacthim on CB for identification. Use your best judgment if you don't get a response. Make sure all CB and cell phones are in working order before getting on the road.And to Local and State Law enforcement: No firearms checks in trucks or vehicles. We are not the enemy. We are defending America.ENERGY FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTUREThis is an attack just waiting to happen. I am confident the government has taken steps to look out for major energy installations (dams, nuclear power plants, etc.). But with American dependence on electricity at this time, extra care should be given to all substations, and transmission tower. Youdon't need a plane, a car bomb, or a cruise missile. We're talking bolt cutters and medium range rifles. The lineman will know what to look for, and where the key point are. For security reasons, I will not go into details here.I will say this: targeting key installations mentioned above are a lot easier than defending them. This is due again, to 'centralization'. We are dependent on power companies to provide electricity. Without it, state leaders declare emergencies.Solution: The time has come to switch to self-contained power systems. Power companies can take the lead. At any time, power can go down - energy sources may become crucial anywhere, at any time. Without going into details,new businesses can be started in this country by installing 12 volt - DC bypasses on many low wattage appliances. This would allow many domestic, business and industrial systems to run on battery back ups if the need arises. This is a long-term plan, but it must be started NOW.No more politics, people. This is war. We are Americans. We are defending America.Did you enjoy the gas lines and price jumps on September 11, 2001? Think there may be a chance of fuel interruptions during this period? Let's start doing something about it. It's called 'decentralization'.Taking the side of the environmentalists, we must move to alternative fuel sources as soon as possible. Are you hearing me, Detroit? Get your engineers to work. Taking the side against the environmentalists, I would urge that all regulation banning the exploration and refining of domestic resources besuspended during this emergency. This is part of the reason we're in this mess now - and everyone knows it. We will need as much fuel as possible until the domestic changeover is made. Sharp eyes must be kept on refineries, shipping and pipelines. Again, this will require local and state law enforcement to change its priorities. Your job is to 'serve and protect'. It's time to start doing it.WATER AND SANITATIONAgain, this is too easy, and if preparations are not made, whole cites could be left defenseless. Home water purification systems are a must. For those on municipal water systems, I would urge plastic containers to keep spare water on hand, as much as possible. Paranoid? There is an unexplained mega -fish kill off the coast if Kuwait right now. Natural or man-made? Wanna be around to find out? When it comes to extrawater: better to have it and not need it than to needed and not have it.Those with wells should have backups. Government officials should back off prosecution of folks who use too much water. During the recent Klamath agreement, the issue of Farmers needing water to grow food in time of war came up. It was one of the few valid arguments that got through to federalofficials. Perhaps this is a good sign. In short. Have stand by water ready. Again, it's called decentralization.COMMUNICATIONSYeah, they can go after phone lines too, and since the Internet has not gone totally wireless, we'll need to look out for that as well. No phones, no Internet, no news, no information. If they are smart enough to take down theWorld Trade Center, a local phone system is small potatoes (See: The Infrastructure). All utility personnel should be on the look out for this. In a given area, utility workers from different utilities recognize each other. Keep that in mind. Also watch for unauthorized persons around cell phone towers (in the event of a covert, local operations)Most utility outfits have strict rules about their workers being armed in company vehicles. Again for national security reasons, I will not say what kind of havoc can be caused with one or two trained operatives getting hold of the right utility vehicle on that given utility system. Those who drivethe vehicles and 'work the line' know.Before you write off what just said, remember: They successfully hijacked 4 jumbo jets simultaneously, didn't they?Lineman, phone workers, cable workers - arm yourselves. The way this war may be fought, you may find yourselves as prime targets. And make sure you have backup communications.In worse case scenarios, electricity and communications may be knocked out for quite a while. Have a flashlight ready. And get a book or audio tape on Morse code. Of course you'll never have time to learn it - until there's nothing else to do. Knowing Morse code may help someone pull you out of the rubble one day.This is serious people. You want to beat these warriors? You have to think like warriors. This is war - a war that has been proven can and probably will be brought to a battlefield near you.FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTUREThe Key here is simply to keep the banks open. Banks meanwhile, should begin looking heavily into safe, online transactions, and making cash more accessible. Simultaneous car bomb attack on several banks in a given city can shut down commerce fast. Banks should take precautions. Inconvenient for your customers and too expensive, you say? Wasn't an issue with the federal government after Oklahoma City. In the case of a bank, it doesn't even have to be a car bomb. Remember the Rome and Vienna Airports back in the 80's, and Prozac enhanced psychopaths in restaurants, schools, and other places in recent history.Lesson learned: armed people can thwart suck attacks.These are just a few precautions that need to be taken. All of American is saying things will never be the same again. They are right. Things have to change. Our federal government vows to protect us. They mandate x-ray machines at all airports, and 4 planes are hijacked simultaneously. They putbarricades around their buildings, while the World Trade Center is there for the taking. The want armed guards on plane and airports, but the potential victims can't even carry knives.Go ahead. Call me crazy, Sen. Schumer and Clinton lovers. Then turn on the news and witness the results (in thier own state) of doing it your way. We are at War, America. Look at New York. Look at Washington right now. Take a good look, dammit. Don't hide our children from the truth anymore. Our enemy has proven that he can and will bring this battle to our own soil. Americans will support their troops in battle in a war zone. But there are simply not enough law enforcement personnel to watch this battlefield. If Congress simply passed more laws taking the right of self-defense away from the people who will be working to support their war machine and leave us vulnerable, then don't bother sending the military anywhere.Our enemy is not stupid. They took advantage of the lack of trust between this government and its people. If this government does not take a hard, honest look at this cold fact and respect the people's right of self defense, we will be sitting ducks for the next attack.There are over 55,000 take offs a day with commercial and cargo aircraft in the U.S. The federal government barely has that number of civilian law enforcement in arms. There is no feasible way to train that many that fast. The Airlineindustry on the other hand, could handle 1.3 million passengers daily. With law-abiding air travelers in arms - you do the math.The lesson of September 11, 2001: Don't disarm your soldiers on a battlefield. It can cause heavy loses. These are the new Rules of Engagement.
CREDENTIALS FOR THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE:1) 1982-1988 - telephone and cable television field service2) 1990-1995 - electrical utility line mechanic (overhead, underground, transmission) - still holds CDL Class A License3) 1993 -1997 Second Amendment activist while living in an urban neighborhood. During that time, thwarted criminals on three occasions with just a show of force.4) 1995-2001 - frequent flyer miles gained two years in a row (that I'll probably never get to use), traveling to 42 of 50 states, with over 50,000 miles over the road.5) 2000 - 32 hours of FAA basic flight training6) FBI files: They thought *I* was a national security threat7) Author of 'Cracking the Liberty Bell' http://www.sierratimes.com/archive/files/sep/14/jjjohnson.htm
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