This article consists of 841 words with five sources cited for the reader to gain a greater understanding of terrorism concerns.

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Terrorism is a real threat.
The only way stop terrorism, if even we can stop it, is to nip it in the bud. How? By actively detaining and evaluating those who appear to fit the profile of terrorists.

We hear a lot of complaining about profiling. Instead of complaining we should encourage more profiling whether for racial or other personal attributes.

Our safety is in our hands. When we fail to protect ourselves, we deserve what we get. Online searches turn up a large number of items addressing terrorism. Here are three to show the threat is real and that we must approach terror threats, whether from outside our boundaries or from within, with certain, even harsh, no-nonsense action. That’s the only way potential terrorists will know we mean business.

Two articles written by different authors between January, 2005 and April, 2008 provide very convincing evidence violence and terrorism are alive and well in New York City.

Operation Torch
Magee Hickey’s April 24, 2008 article, Machine Gun-Toting Officers To Patrol NYC Subway, describes some of the particulars about “Operation Torch.”

Operation Torch consists of up to six teams that will patrol major transit hubs in New York City. The “Torch Teams”, established for fighting terror efforts, consist of M4 Carbine Rifles, MP5 Submachine Guns, Body Armor and Bomb Sniffing Dogs.

According to Hickey, many of the 5 million daily subway riders like the idea, an idea that arose because the city’s subway system has been considered a potential terror target since September 11, 2001.

The Herald Square incident
It comes across as a good idea to me too, even at the high cost to taxpayers, when considering a January 8, 2005 Associated Press article, NYC Subway Bomb Plotter Sentenced to 30 Years. The man, a Pakistani immigrant, unsuccessfully plotted to blow up the Herald Square subway station as revenge for wartime abuses of Iraqis.

Domestic extremists
According to the article, FBI Describes Top Domestic Terror Threats, dated June 21, 2005, John Lewis, FBI deputy assistant director in charge of counterterrorism, the agency has about 150 open cases of arson, bombings and other violent crimes associated with militant environmental and animal rights activists protesting the experimental use of animals in medical research.

A google search will turn up reports of violence and terrorism in many of our larger cities. To me, Washington D.C. seems to be one of the more troubled areas.

District of Columbia violence
Allison Klein, A Washington Post Staff Writer prepared the June 5, 2008 article, D.C. Police to Check Drivers In Violence-Plagued Trinidad, describing how serious violence is in part of Washington D.C.

The words “terrorist” “terror” and “terrorism” aren’t used in the article but as I read Klein’s report I don’t see much difference. Regardless, the article describes action that I think is appropriate with respect to “real” terrorists.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced a military-style checkpoint yesterday to stop cars this weekend in a Northeast Washington neighborhood inundated by gun violence, saying it will help keep criminals out of the area.

This action in itself does not set well with some Trinidad residents who believe the police could have done more to develop good relationships in the area.

I suspect most of you reading this hub would consider the Klein article very shocking.

Again, I wish to point out that New York City and Washington D.C. are not alone. If you live in a large metropolitan area, chances are good you have similar violence and terrorism as well.

Success or not?
Judging by these news items, it sounds as if we are aggressively pursuing terrorism at least in New York and Washington D,C. But are we throughout the country?

In his June 3, 2008 article, FBI: Some Watch-list Hits Not Reported, Kevin Johnson informs us state and local police officers fail to notify federal authorities about encounters with possible terrorism suspects up to 10 times a day. From reading the article one can safely conclude additional training along with reduced workload pressures will help improve reporting.

What does all this mean to us?
What this means is that we should be concerned. Most of us are not aware of terrorist threats since September 11, 2001. That doesn't mean we have been threat-free.

Remember, terrorists come in different forms. Anything from foreigners destroying our property by bombs and whatever to neighborhood violence in our cities, caused by foreigners and domestics.

Whether the Obama administration will be proactive and continue the effective Bush anti-terrorism policies is not yet known.

With memories we have of the 9/11 targets (World Trade Center, Pentagon, and the White House), the 1993 attempt to bring down the World Trade Center and Timothy McVeigh at Oklahoma City, can we afford to dilly-dally over our security? I think not.

Let’s get and train a sufficient number of officers, or civilian police employees, to do the job and work in harmony. And, do so without delay. Call it profiling or call it something else. It doesn't matter. Just do it.

Will we? I'm skeptical.

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