With news this morning of a fifth victim of the Chattanooga terror attack, we mourn four fallen Marines and one fallen Sailor: Lance Cpl. Squire “Skip” K. Wells, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt, Sgt. Carson A. Homquist, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith.
While we mourn, the media is puzzling over what the motive might possibly be for Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, a Muslim from Kuwait who became a naturalized American citizen and has recently made trips to the Middle East from which he came back “changed,” to attack a military recruitment center.
If this type of thing hadn’t happened before, we might be more willing to think this a mystery. But as Streiff points out, this type of thing has happened before:
ISIS and other terrorist groups like al Qaeda have long threatened our military members and their families on American soil, and Islamic terrorists have carried out attacks here before. Following the attack on a recruiting office in Little Rock and the Fort Hood terror attack (sorry, Obama, no one believed then or believes now that was “workplace violence”), we all wondered why, in light of the serious threat to their safety, an Army base filled with trained soldiers was a gun free zone.
The Fort Hood and Little Rock terror attacks were in 2009, and the Virginia terror attacks on the Pentagon and recruiting centers in 2010-11, and here we are in 2015, and our military installations and recruiting centers are still gun free zones. Men and women trained to use firearms and trusted to protect our nation are not trusted to protect themselves.
Yesterday, Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno said that a review will be made of security measures at recruiting stations. Considering that the previous reviews in light of the Fort Hood terror attack and the other threats noted above (and those the public isn’t aware of) led to the Pentagon urging “watchfulness” and “awareness” of surroundings, this promise of yet another review doesn’t seem to hold much promise.
Indeed, the first measure taken in light of the Chattanooga terror attack was, apparently, to order military personnel not to wear their uniforms to recruiting centers. That should confound terrorists, right? I mean, they wouldn’t expect military personnel to be working at military recruiting centers, so their not seeing a uniform will keep our troops safe.
It’s difficult not to be snarky. Very difficult.
Let’s imagine that Obama’s Pentagon had taken the Fort Hood and other terror attacks, as well as the many failed attempts at similar attacks, seriously. Let’s imagine that there was armed security at military recruiting centers starting back in 2009. First, the deterrent would be great. The reason these terrorists are confident enough to go guns blazing at Marines (and other military personnel) on American soil is the well-known fact that they are not armed and cannot protect themselves. Terrorists might think twice about opening fire on a group of armed Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, et al. Second, if a terrorist did decide that sounded like a good plan, he (or she, I guess) wouldn’t get very far because they would quickly find themselves under return fire.
The Fort Hood shooter only stopped shooting when he was shot. Likewise, the Chattanooga terrorist only stopped shooting when he was shot. This isn’t rocket science.
Yet Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, seems to find the thought of such an attack “unfathomable.” Really? How can it possibly be unfathomable to imagine that Islamic terrorists will do exactly what they have done, have tried and failed to do, and have promised to do with increasing frequency?
Arkansas governor Asa Hutchison has the right idea. Watch:
According to his statement:
In the wake of the shootings Thursday at the Navy and Marine reserve center in Chattanooga, Tenn., Governor Asa Hutchinson has authorized Arkansas National Guard Adjutant General Mark Berry to arm full-time military personnel.In addition, the Governor has issued a proclamation ordering the state flag of Arkansas to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, July 20, 2015 as a mark of respect and as an expression of public sorrow for the four Marines killed, including Arkansas native Staff Sgt. David Wyatt of Russellville.Governor Hutchinson released the followings statement:“Our hearts break at the news of another senseless act of violence and terror, this time out of Chattanooga,” Governor Hutchinson said. “Our prayers go out to all the families of the victims, especially the family of Staff Sgt. David Wyatt of Russellville, one of Arkansas’s own.“I want to join in those who are calling for greater security at our recruiting stations and military installations. We’ve had numerous instances of attacks. Clearly they are a target, and for us to have unarmed military personnel makes no sense, which is why I am directing Major General Mark Berry to arm full-time personnel as he deems necessary at military installations.”
Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin has issued a similar order, as has Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. I imagine that in the coming days, other governors will follow suit. Arming the National Guard is a good move, and one that the Pentagon should adopt for its full-time military personnel on military installations and at recruiting offices. Until then, maybe the National Guard will have to protect our troops here at home.
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