Focus on Refugees: Real Human Tragedy and Real Security Concern

"It’s our dream that there should be a caliphate 

not only in Syria but in all the world and 

we will have it soon, God willing..."   — ISIS operative​

Refugees all Across Europe

I am not one to cry wolf, ever, but I do post this with great concern about a serious problem.

What better tactic or method to get nasty operatives into a country than mixed in as refugees ... not all of them for sure, but plenty and enough to later resort to doing great harm.

Just look at what only two men did in OK City, or what 19 did in 4 planes on 9-11 or at hotels or resorts in Mumbai or Tunisia, or well elsewhere – take your pick.  

It does not take many if they are well armed and well-trained and highly motivated and bent on mass destruction as suicide bomber or truck or car bombing.

Food for thought ... this is a very huge security problem ... believe me it is, and it is real and a fact of everyday life now it seems.

That ISIS quote above appeared in the UK (the Express).  It ties directly into my focus of this post:  The vast majority of over 4 million Syrians who have fled the country are nowhere near Europe – they are scattered all over Iraq, Turkey, and elsewhere, and most of them see no way out of their desperate circumstances. 

One summed it up for most saying: “The influx of our Syrian refugees has left few work opportunities in Turkey. We don’t know what to do or where or how to live.”

I add as I’ve said before that this presents not only a humanitarian crisis but a national security set of circumstances for the receiving countries, namely those with strong ties to the West, and more aligned with or close to the U.S.  

Some can’t be paranoid enough in this day and age of massive terrorism around the globe and not just from large groups like ISIS, but smaller one or two or three man groups bents on mass destruction and wide scale, so this issue is a serious concern - may not paramount to everyone who does not want or need that - but critical nevertheless. 

Among all the refugees as I have noted before based on the images we see are a heck of a lot of young men with all hopes lost and maybe, and I emphasize maybe ISIS plants – let’s face it as I’ve also said, what better way to get your guys into a country easily disguised as a refugee.

This is serious food for thought and hearty discussion isn’t it? I emphasize not unfounded hype from FOX and others - fear only sells if we buy ... debate and rational thinking is called for. We can ignore ISIS quotes and PR crap, but we should not.

The following headline from Vox.com is a bit disturbing for a number of reasons outlined below along with my emphasis in RED about the disturbing points and my justification of my view about those disturbing reasons in the article – feel free to chime in.

The Vox.com article and headline: “Letting Syrians come to the US would benefit them enormously, and quite possibly pay for itself.”

The Syrian toddler (a 3-year old boy) who washed up on a Turkish beach wearing a bright red t-shirt and shorts will not be the last.” Thus writes Noah Rothman at Commentary, who added: “America and the West own a portion of the torment that characterized his short time on Earth. In our comfort, we allowed this great human catastrophe to metastasize. 

I note: That photo generated worldwide headlines and outrage as millions strive to escape and leave their native countries for a better life in Europe and elsewhere, mostly to avoid ongoing war there or for economic reasons.  

Continuing: The sentiment [in the article] while admirable is dead wrong. What Rothman means is that the United States should have gone to war years ago to intervene more forcefully in the Syrian civil war — a costly undertaking that likely would have failed. Any US shortcoming isn't an undue hesitancy to help Syrians by dropping bombs. It is our refusal to let Syrians help themselves by allowing more refugees to move to the United States — a solution that would certainly work, would carry little in the way of short-term financial costs, and that would likely provide a powerful boost to the US economy and drastically increase the living standards of Syrians who were able to relocate.  

I note: I totally disagree with that for so many reasons it would take 50 sheets alone to list them, but I will harp on a few key ones that I hope are as obvious to anyone following this mess.  

As I watch refugees fleeing, stuck on trains, boats, and anything to use to escape for whatever reason, I cannot but ask why so many young men, who don’t have a care in the world, look healthy, energetic, and able to work – so why flee? (1) To avoid serving in the Army or anti-government groups (like in Syria), (2) unable to find work, (3) can’t get ahead education-wise, or simply lazy bums looking for a way to America and “land of golden opportunities they imagine?  

I don’t know, but those scenes concern me that a young, healthy man in his 20’s with nothing to look forward to back his native land that his native government is unable or unwilling to do anything positive to make his life better. That tells me that he is a prime recruit for ISIS or a like-minded terrorist group based on him being desperate. It would be easy to come to the US as a refugee with no papers, no passport, no ID of any kind, just lust to do damage to the US for not helping in their native land? How ironic is that view? So what better way to come here “legally” as it were?  

I do not by any stretch want to sound wacky or goofy and certainly not paranoid but I do think the questions I raise are paramount ones especially in this day and age. And, let’s be honest, harsh terrorist activities do not take an Army. Any small number can cause great turmoil and death and destruction while planting fear and disruption on a wide scale.  

Any group that is well-trained, well-funded, and well-armed can inflict great harm in a short period of time, even under the label of gratitude. That is my concern, and my only concern.  

Compassion must never dilute or taint our security interests and focus first and foremost. That aspect is what ISIS may be counting on ... look the other way: help refugees, don't consider any security issues... hopefully those sworn to serve, protect and defend are thinking along the same line as I am. Nothing should ever take the place of public safety - nothing. 

That is my #1 concern all along, and not to avoid helping people in dire need. But, to me, there is a huge difference between those two avenues to thought. 

One is for rational caution and not complacency vs compassion while ignoring the obvious indicator for nastiness by a few, even as they claim refugee status from a generous nation. 

Vigilance is the operative word in all cases. This human loss situation will be us for a long time.  

Thanks for stopping by.