San Bernardino, California: The mass murder by Islamic terrorists (Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik) is on everyone’s minds. It’s the hot topic of discussion around the proverbial watercooler. In fact I had a lengthy discussion with friends this morning at coffee. The San Bernardino situation, chaotic at first, is beginning to come into focus. I’d just like to make a couple of comments.
Working in corporate security, after leaving the FBI, ‘workplace
violence’ prevention was always a priority of my job. The Fortune 100 Company that I worked for at
the time sent me to the best schools and seminars on the subject. Seminars that were presented by prominent
psychiatrists and experienced law enforcement personnel. I learned a lot.
When the first reports of the shooting in San Bernardino were
released, it was immediately clear the incident was a terrorist act and not ‘workplace
violence.’ If it had been workplace
violence, it would have been an action entirely without precedent. Law enforcement knew this. The FBI knew this. It kind of surprised me – no not really I
guess – that initially the Obama administration and indirectly the Justice
Department and the FBI (to a certain extent) parsed words – hoping, I imagine,
that it was workplace violence; and not a terrorist attack.
Why?
Simply put: ‘Workplace Violence’
is a finite event. A ‘terrorist attack’
is an infinite event, far more serious, and lacking in any clear resolution. A ‘terrorist attack’ is a symptom, an
indicator of more to come.
The only other thing I would like to mention, at this time,
is extending my sincere compliments to law enforcement for their competent and
courageous handling of this tragic situation.
Very well done. Something to tell your grandkids about. You not only
stopped these terrorists, but undoubtedly prevented some other equally
devastating events planned by Farook and Malik.
True Nelson
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