On the surface this would seem like a foolish question. After all, our military bases are staffed by trained personnel who are prepared to lay down their lives at a moment’s notice to defend our nation. Surely trained and armed soldiers would be the last people a terrorist would attack. Sadly, that is not the case.
My research found that our military bases here at home are as vulnerable to hostile forces as those abroad. While many of us remember the Fort Hood shooting near Kileen, Texas that left 13 soldiers and military personnel dead as well as 30 injured, there are many other instances where military personnel were targeted. Often it seems that obvious warning signs of anti-American sentiment were ignored while our troops were left unprepared to defend themselves. The perpetrator of the Fort Hood shooting was a Muslim officer who had frequently expressed his disdain for America. Yet, instead of being put out of the American military he was moved to another base. The massacre at Fort Hood was completely preventable had the warning signs been heeded. Three shootings and a bombing at four different recruiting centers in four different states prove our military officers are being targeted here at home. How? Why?
The how is easy. Here at home we feel safe, insulated, even protected from the zealots that make daily life hazardous in other countries. So we don’t bother to consider securing the facilities our soldiers frequent for work and play. Surely the terrorists aren’t here in America. Sadly, we must admit to ourselves that they are here and we must prepare our military personnel and facilities to meet their threat.
The why is also easy. These zealots, terrorists, rebels, anarchists or whatever you choose to call them hate the United States of America and our way of life. Witness the attempted bombing in New York’s Times Square during the New Year’s celebration a few years ago. Only someone full of hatred for us and our traditions would attempt to kill and maim so many innocent U.S. citizens.
So what’s the answer? It’s simple. We must consider any U.S. military base, recruitment center, depot, etc. as a potential target for a terrorist attack. Just as we’ve done with airports, federal buildings, offices, stadiums and other public places, we must develop and implement security measures for all military facilities on US soil. To do anything less is needlessly risking the lives of those we depend on to protect our nation.
• Clyde Farris is a radio and television host is currently promoting his new book “Etiquette for the Black Man” and seeking advertisers for the TV
version of “The Clyde Show.”
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