Our Schools at Risk

Back in January I commented on a PoliceOne.com article concerning the potential of a terrorist attack on our schools (Mass Slaughter in our Schools: the Terrorists' Chilling Plan).

I opened that commentary with:

We daily send our children off to school, a perfect terrorist target. In 49 of the 50 states, the terrorists are guaranteed that teachers and school officials will not be armed and the children will not be defended. Modern schools are built like forts, and once the terrorist get in, they will be able to easily defend their position. In my mind, a public school would be very high on the terrorist target list of places that would get the most world wide coverage and cause the greatest amount of fear in America. Yet, we still debate, not on how to protect our children in school, but if we should even allow them protection.

The debate continues, legislation is proposed, police departments train on active shooter scenarios, and some school districts develop their very own SWAT teams. The idea of allowing teachers, administrators, staff and adult students the option of carrying a concealed firearm is slowly gaining ground, but still meeting with heavy resistance. As it is, our schools remain an undefended prime target for terrorists.

So why do our enemies want to attack our children? These folks are not stupid. They are living amongst us, working and attending school. They remain undetected by our intelligence agencies and they wait, and they prepare. If they are not stupid, then what is their goal?

WC from The Gathering Storm has posted his thoughts on what is now being called "The Perfect Day Scenario" in Winds of War: The Perfect Day Scenario.

The Jihadists, like al-Qaeda, are trying to start a holy war between Islam and the West. They preach that the free democracies are at war with Islam itself and seek to destroy it. But to create that dream of a global holy war, the Jihadists need the active support of the 1.2 billion Muslims through the world. But it will take more than the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan, more than successful terrorist attacks, more than fringe hate elements on the right to awaken the ummah to the manufactured threat of a holy war by the Jihadists.

The 1.2 billion worldwide Muslims need to see their religion, in no uncertain terms, under attack by the free democracies. For that, the Jihadists need to create events so monstrous that the population of a non-Muslim country (read the USA) will respond by attacking and/or persecuting any and all Muslims and their organizations and mosques in their midst or, if through a massive WMD attack, respond with a nuclear attack on a Muslim country.

This type of uncontrollable anger from non-Muslims is what the militant Jihadists are striving for - especially in the USA. They know we can not be defeated militarily unless the entire Muslim world will unite as one force using modern day weapons to die for the glory of Allah.

It’s a sick dream but one that the Jihadists have confirmed time and time again.

The entire article is long, but well worth the read.

Firehand from Irons in the Fire has been commenting on a recent series by Glen Beck on the Perfect Day scenario, and it sounds as if Glen is following the same line of thought.

In his post, What happens if the terrorists do attack our schools?, Firehand comments on what he thinks will happen in the aftermath of a terrorist school attack. In Some thoughts on Glenn Beck's 'Perfect Day' , Firehand mentions that no matter how we react to such a scenario, we are in a no win situation. We will be either the Evil West persecuting Muslims, or we will be the Weak West ready for the taking.

The ever increasing probability that our schools will be attacked is explained by John Giduck on Front Sight, Press. The commentary, Lessons from Beslan, reaffirms that our schools are prime targets.

To understand how credible the threat is, we need only to look at the achievements of so many terror groups. In the first six months of 2006, 204 schools were attacked in Afghanistan. Three of them were attacked in two days in the first week of July 2007. Between 1984 and 1994 more than 300 schools were attacked in Turkey.

The number of school attacks are rising in places like Pakistan, Iraq, Indonesia and Thailand as well. A new girls’ school in Iraq was found to have dozens of bombs hidden in the floor and walls and, just two weeks ago, a school was targeted in Great Britain. I also bet you never heard that the backup plan for the Madrid train bombers was a school attack.

Mr. Giduck continues by listing events that are directly connected with terrorists and American schools.

As we start to see real success in Iraq (success that even the media can not ignore), and more terrorists cells are broken up throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world, those who are already here in the United States will take action.

I pray that they make a mistake, that they are found out before they can attack, but I am afraid that will not be the case. Our Constitution affirms our right to defend ourselves, our families and our way of life. Without an individual right to bear arms, and the folks who are willing to accept the responsibility that right entails, we can not adequately defend against random acts of terrorism in our communities, malls and schools.

Remember that during this upcoming election cycle, and while you are dropping your children off at school.