....My, my. Anything more recent than 7 years ago....
....those earlier terrorist incidents you cited energized the government of Morocco to take more PROACTIVE steps against terrorists....
....And compared to Europe in general, we're doing pretty well in that area. But not--interestingly enough--compared to Morocco....
If Catholic immigration during the 1800's and life in Morocco during the 70's are on the table, seven years ago might not be reaching back too far. Heck, doesn't the intel say a western family could have lived quite safely around that same time in an Iran under the Shaw? And, look what happens when there's no proactivity and all enabling.
Regardless of your enthusiasm Morocco, would you take minor children and a wife there today, to live for two to three years? Yup, I know you're gonna say yes, but how many taxpayer dollars of your time would be dedicated to their security. Still, none of this has to do with the political mentality that would enable a European no go zone or a Chicago south side.
Are 'we' really doing pretty well or are we just lucky to some extent. Where enabled, don't we have somali thugs intimidating folks in middle class Mn neighborhoods, and documented sharia courts of law dotted through out the US? Didn't, just two days ago, the top kali law enforcement officer, announce that he's using the power of his position to punish, by criminal prosecution, law abiding US citizens if he feels like they assist federal law enforcement opposing their 'sanctuary' policy. The first no go US state?
No, I don't think the proactivity of Morocco has much to do with the French nanny state. Besides, enabling cultures can't stomach heavy handed security forces. You're claiming a bunch has changed over the last seven years in Morocco, are you forecasting that the US will be one sprawling ghetto in seven years?
Craig: As is often the case, some of your post confuses me. But I'll do my best. Irish Catholics . . . well, we did end up with Irish-American gangsters, didn't we? Just like we ended up with the Mafia as a result of Sicilian immigrants. Hard to find an immigrant group that was 100% squeaky clean.
A lot of Americans did live nice, quiet lives under the shah. But President Carter and the Shah were such close friends that when the Shah requested that the CIA only work with his security service (Savak) and not gather any intelligence unilaterally, Carter agreed. And passed on the instructions to the ambassador, who passed them on down to CIA's chief of station. Result: For a couple years before the Shah was driven from power, we had essentially no reporting on the religious opposition . . . because Savak was telling the Shah what he wanted to hear. Which was: there is no threat. So we got blindsided due to a policy blunder, not an intelligence blunder.
I don't think the Twin Cities cops have given up any authority to the Somalis. And the FBI is watching as well. I've read about several Somalis being arrested because they were leaving to join Al Shabab, or being arrested when they came back. Similar to Morocco: Proactive counterterrorism. And that's what CT is all about. If you're not going to be proactive, you might as well shut down all counterterrorism operations . . . and save the taxpayers a bunch of money. Of course more Americans will probably die . . . But if you only want to react, we can always catch the bad guys afterwards. If they don't commit suicide and save us the trouble.
You don't like it that Morocco is doing better in the CT business? Wow. You're a hard guy to please, Craig. We're also doing pretty well . . . frequently arresting people who were (until ISIS collapsed in Syria and Iraq) heading off to join ISIS or were planning some terrorist act in this country. That's good news to me. And I don't see quite how Morocco could be a "sprawling ghetto" unless you consider that's what it is just because it's a Muslim country. Nor do I fear that this nation is ever going to become one. And yes, if I were working for Uncle Sam, I would willingly return with a wife and minor children to Morocco. We didn't live in fear then, even though we had incidents with Black September putting shoebox bombs under a couple cars outside the embassy. We didn't live in fear then. We just took precautions. But one HUGE difference between, say, Morocco and Libya at the time of the Benghazi attack: the Moroccan govt, then and now, found it in their interest to protect foreigners. And have done a pretty darned good job of it. For that matter, I spent a fair amount of time in the countryside, hunting with Moroccans; fishing with Moroccans, etc. Unarmed . . . well, except for my shotgun when we were hunting birds or wild boar. I didn't worry any more than I did when I was taking my military intelligence unit to England for active duty, back when IRA terrorists were still active. I always joked that if they killed any of us, it would be by accident--Americans being a source of funding for them, via collecting money for "the cause" in Irish bars in the States, etc.
Last edited by L. Brown; 01/20/18 07:01 PM.
