Terrorism is guerrila warfare in the urban environment. I find it amazing how this type of conflict has arisen spontaneously-'nihilism with teeth'. It is not a new thing and relies on the individual. With little or no training, literacy or investment in human development, the agents of terrorism rely on the despair of those around them to recruit them into kamikaze missions. I know I am mixing metaphors, but only to illustrate another fundamental flaw in human software. Obviously, the human brain was not designed to permit collaboration of large numbers of its individuals-people have a hard time believing in abstract principles, the greater good, etc. When such organizations arise around them and they cannot participate or be included (sometimes for the most obvious and stupid reasons), they see a line drawn in the sand. And they want to act-because their testosterone drives them. (how many woman terrorists do you know?)
Now I am not suggesting that the water supply of Iraq be dosed with estradiol and prozac, but rather I am pointing out that areas of poverty are the breeding ground of terrorism. Yes, the concept of family is a powerful positive force (children know they came from somewhere) and the concept of microcredit empowering the family to engage in business is a great tool also (a business transaction requires trust and this is a good way to teach trust). However, the maladaptive hierarchies and inequalities within these dysfunctional families can sometimes drive the children away (I say children but also include teenagers) into whatever alternative organization is around.
Can we set up training camps for orphans? Who would run them-well, an international coalition of course-that way all nations will get 'heaven points'. What will they do? well whatever kids do at camps here in the us-play, eat sleep, do crafts, team sports.
Technology is also a wonderful thing that can allow monitoring without intrusion. As you know, we were all on our best behavior in school when the teacher was watching- but when she turned away, scandalous thoughts tempted us and some of us even tasted the action. Imagine if some kids have a cell phone that is always on-even when he/she thinks it is not. Recording sights and sounds, compressing them into burst transmittable packets every 6 hours or so. Now suppose you give these smartphones to a select group of people (but only tell them they are regular cellphones). This select group might be those you consider most likely to be recruited into a terrorist cell-that way you capture the recruitment process, (the players, the location, the MO) Or perhaps you offer select criminals their freedom in exchange for a service. Suppose you have a Filipino drug dealer in jail. Tell him he can go free if he goes to help in one of these camps. Put an RFID chip behind his prostate during his 'routine physical' that includes immunization, stress test, colonoscopy and prep for release abroad, etc,etc. Give him a smartphone and tell him he has to check in EVERY DAY. Now, human nature being what it is, the bad guy will eventually ferret out other bad guys.
When he goes off the grid, you may have some info on the events precipitating his change. And you can always find him with the RFID chip he doesnt know is there.
Terrorism is an action of the individual against the group. Although our literature and history have respected the underdog (because he/she represents the interest of the individual oppressed by the group), in our day, the individual can REALLY TAKE OUT THE GROUP. A nuke, a nerve gas, a bioweapon-these were not around when the American revolution was fought, or in any of the myriad other conflicts that highlight the importance of individual freedom. These weapons are foreign to human nature and offer no survival benefit to the individual-they really should not have been invented. The physicists, chemists, biologists who pursued their development had lost touch with their ability to live as individuals. I shudder to think what horrible weapon is coming next-will someone figure out the underlying principle of gravity? Will the earth be turned into another asteroid belt?
I close this essay with a request for comment on the last paragraph. Those of you reading this may in fact be involved in some of these areas. Would you be so clever as to gently bend the results of your research, projects, efforts so as to prevent weaponization? Remember the military industrial complex ( a word invented by the great american general and president, Eisenhower) has many grade A (and below) people working on weaponizing stuff. These are not supermen-they rise above the rest of us because they stand on the shoulders of the giants who preceded them. How can we remind them and and every one of us for that matter, that our daily efforts should be aimed at improving the life of the individual.
To paraphrase roosevelt 'an ipod in every hand and 2 pcs in every garage'.
Now I am not suggesting that the water supply of Iraq be dosed with estradiol and prozac, but rather I am pointing out that areas of poverty are the breeding ground of terrorism. Yes, the concept of family is a powerful positive force (children know they came from somewhere) and the concept of microcredit empowering the family to engage in business is a great tool also (a business transaction requires trust and this is a good way to teach trust). However, the maladaptive hierarchies and inequalities within these dysfunctional families can sometimes drive the children away (I say children but also include teenagers) into whatever alternative organization is around.
Can we set up training camps for orphans? Who would run them-well, an international coalition of course-that way all nations will get 'heaven points'. What will they do? well whatever kids do at camps here in the us-play, eat sleep, do crafts, team sports.
Technology is also a wonderful thing that can allow monitoring without intrusion. As you know, we were all on our best behavior in school when the teacher was watching- but when she turned away, scandalous thoughts tempted us and some of us even tasted the action. Imagine if some kids have a cell phone that is always on-even when he/she thinks it is not. Recording sights and sounds, compressing them into burst transmittable packets every 6 hours or so. Now suppose you give these smartphones to a select group of people (but only tell them they are regular cellphones). This select group might be those you consider most likely to be recruited into a terrorist cell-that way you capture the recruitment process, (the players, the location, the MO) Or perhaps you offer select criminals their freedom in exchange for a service. Suppose you have a Filipino drug dealer in jail. Tell him he can go free if he goes to help in one of these camps. Put an RFID chip behind his prostate during his 'routine physical' that includes immunization, stress test, colonoscopy and prep for release abroad, etc,etc. Give him a smartphone and tell him he has to check in EVERY DAY. Now, human nature being what it is, the bad guy will eventually ferret out other bad guys.
When he goes off the grid, you may have some info on the events precipitating his change. And you can always find him with the RFID chip he doesnt know is there.
Terrorism is an action of the individual against the group. Although our literature and history have respected the underdog (because he/she represents the interest of the individual oppressed by the group), in our day, the individual can REALLY TAKE OUT THE GROUP. A nuke, a nerve gas, a bioweapon-these were not around when the American revolution was fought, or in any of the myriad other conflicts that highlight the importance of individual freedom. These weapons are foreign to human nature and offer no survival benefit to the individual-they really should not have been invented. The physicists, chemists, biologists who pursued their development had lost touch with their ability to live as individuals. I shudder to think what horrible weapon is coming next-will someone figure out the underlying principle of gravity? Will the earth be turned into another asteroid belt?
I close this essay with a request for comment on the last paragraph. Those of you reading this may in fact be involved in some of these areas. Would you be so clever as to gently bend the results of your research, projects, efforts so as to prevent weaponization? Remember the military industrial complex ( a word invented by the great american general and president, Eisenhower) has many grade A (and below) people working on weaponizing stuff. These are not supermen-they rise above the rest of us because they stand on the shoulders of the giants who preceded them. How can we remind them and and every one of us for that matter, that our daily efforts should be aimed at improving the life of the individual.
To paraphrase roosevelt 'an ipod in every hand and 2 pcs in every garage'.
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