Timothy Snyder: The Next Terrorist Attack

[Nevilledog]

https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-next-terrorist-attack

Thirty years ago today, I was driving a moving van across the country, from the west coast to the east. The hold was packed well; the ride was wobbly, and I kept the heavy vehicle between the lines, mile after mile. Driving carefully, I was surprised to be stopped by state troopers. When I rolled down the window to face some polite questioning, I didn’t know that Timothy McVeigh had bombed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring 684 more.

In the days that followed, the horror was treated for what it was: an attack by a racist, right-wing anti-government terrorist. I worry now that, thirty years on, a similar attack is very likely, and would have a different outcome. I don't want us to be more frightened than we should be. But I do want us to be ready, so that a moment of predictable shock does not become a lifetime of avoidable subjugation.

As I will try to show, the present government invites a terror attack. Most of the people directing the relevant agencies are incompetent; the next few layers down have been purged in culture wars; much the remaining personnel have resigned, been fired, or are demoralized; resources have been diverted away from terror prevention; Americans has been distracted by fiction and chaos; and potential attackers have been encouraged.

And so we have to think — now — about what would follow such an attack. Musk, Trump, Vance, and the rest would try to exploit the moment to undo remaining American freedoms. Let me cite Lesson 18 of On Tyranny.

*snip*

[BoRaGard]

1. The republicons have stripped the USA of core defenses and personnel

they are G.O.P. Surrender Monkees under the direction of a
five-time draft-dodging, casino-hustling felon-rapist.

No honor. No protection for the nation.

[yorkster]

2. And the toxic mix of fear and fury rises daily,

stoked by Trump and his minions.

[sop]

3. Frightening stuff. Snyder's piece is a must read.

"The Putinism on display in the federal government creates an atmosphere in which a Russian operation inside the United States would be much easier...It is not hard to see what Russia would gain from a false-flag terror attack on American territory. Moscow would be seeking to weaken the United States, and by generating a response from Musk-Trump that suits Russia. Having Trump blame his enemies for what was in fact a Russian attack is in the interest of the Russian Federation."

[usonian]

4. They are setting up the next terrorist or nation-state attack for the purpose of declaring martial law. Period.

I discussed "downfall" scenarios. They are so blatant in their negligence of national defense and cybersecurity, focusing entirely on DEI and immigration that an attack is guaranteed.

The first two items are what they are setting up.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20215296

[yardwork]

5. I expect that to happen.

[erronis]

6. An earlier post on this. Just to try and link the thoughtful comments.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220252323

I do think that many of these topics should be repeated since they are so important, and they fall off the DU radar so quickly.

[Wild blueberry]

7. Whole article is Excellent

Couple more excerpts:
"...this [forcible rendition of migrants to a Salvadoran concentration camp] is a media strategy, meant to frighten Americans. And a media strategy does not stop actual terrorists. It summons them."

"Moreover, Musk-Trump make the United States look vulnerable. Americans under the spell of Trump’s or Musk’s charisma might imagine that strength is being projected. Not so. To prospective terrorists we look erratic and weak. Even apparently unrelated policies — such as enabling foreign disinformation, gutting environmental protection, undoing weather forecasting, ending food inspections, and undermining disease control — make life easier for terrorists and open avenues of attack. By taking apart the government, crashing the economy, and dividing the population, Musk and Trump invite attention of the worst sort, from people who wish to hurt Americans."

Highly recommend whole essay.
Thank you, Mr Snyder.