Slippage
Source: ISIS threat to U.S. air bases, S. Korea warns – CNN.com
The purported reach of ISIS is amazing. According to this story, the terrorist group is collecting intelligence on numerous vulnerable targets, which has credence based on their proven ability to get recruits from within foreign countries. There are always zealots willing to perform services for ‘the cause’ but I suspect that, for the most part, there’s another factor.
If we assume that not all ISIS supporters are convinced that a repressive regime based on 12th century theocracy is desirable, then the other reason would be the universal one; money. Put simply, not for the Mullahs, but for the moolah. So for good information, someone would need to pony up some walking around money to get interest and then some back end money when the deed is done. At least that’s how it works in the normal world.
If you were to embark upon some kind of commercial adventure, one of the first things you’d have to do is pay a small army of consultants including accountants and lawyers to give their opinions first. Who knows how many great ideas were snuffed out at infancy by the daunting crush of red tape to be considered before starting. This is true of any intelligence operation undertaken by any Western governments. Before any surveillance or military operation can be executed, the plan likely has to go through the filter of lawyers who will dictate the terms and type of operation allowed. By the time all the legal considerations are factored in, the operation may be slimmed down to a water glass held to an ear against a wall.
This is why ISIS and terrorism of all kinds works and is so sinister. They have no rules of engagement. They have no lawyers. They are free to exploit any weakness, whatever the venue, whatever the cost. They are not hamstrung by shaming in the media. There are no protestors pleading for the rights of the soon to be extinguished.
The West addresses terrorism as if playing by the rules of golf, calling penalties on themselves whereas the bad guys are playing by cage match rules. While the West takes great pains in ensuring that no one gets offended in the process of getting killed, militants have no such restriction on their actions. Their costs of business are greatly minimized by not having to pay lawyers to navigate the rules of killing people. All of their money goes straight into the process without all the admin fees that the West has to contend with.
It’s a fair bet to say we’ll never get rid of the lawyers on our side. The only hope is to get the other side to feel the need for lawyers in support of their cause. When they have to spend money defending their actions and placating their public, the money going directly to military action and paying followers will subside. As soon as their costs of business through slippage goes up, the end will be near.