"Sudden Jihad Syndrome" in Seattle

Daniel Pipes has an essay called "Sudden Jihad Syndrome" in Seattle in which he makes a number of comments that are worth thinking about. He begins by relating the tale of the recent shooting at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle in which a Muslim man forced his way into the building where he shot several people, killing one of them.

This leads to his initial comment about how law enforcement views this incident:

First, law enforcement has, as is its wont, ignored what is self-evidently a case of radical Islamic terrorism. David Gomez of the FBI's Seattle office commented: "We believe ... it's a lone individual acting out his antagonism. There's nothing to indicate that it's terrorism-related." As in other cases, if the police cannot connect a terrorist to Al Qaeda or some other group, he is deemed not a terrorist.

It is troublesome to think that the only way an event can be deemed a terrorist attack is if it is tied into terrorism. Terrorists do not have to be a member of a particular group to be considered terrorists and law enforcement should accept that.

Pipes attributes the actions of the Seattle Shooter to what he calls Sudden Jihad Syndrome:

"Fourth, Mr. Haq's actions are a clear instance of "Sudden Jihad Syndrome," whereby normal-appearing Muslims unpredictably become violent."

This next section is where things get dicy.

"His attack confirms my oft-repeated call for special scrutiny of Muslims. Because the identity of the next homicidal jihadi cannot be anticipated, Muslims generally need to come under heightened observation. I regret writing this as much as you dislike reading it, but it needs to be said and operated upon."

Racial profiling is something that needs careful consideration. I am reluctant to give up civil liberties because once they are gone they are not easily recovered.

So the question is, what do we gain by doing so and what do we lose by engaging in this. There is an awful lot to consider there. I don't have time to cover this now so let's move back to the essay

Pipes also addresses the cause of 'Sudden Jihad Syndrome.'

"...sudden jihad syndrome never erupts in isolation, but results from a steady diet of antisemitic, anti-Zionist, anti-Christian, and anti-American incitement fed by Islamist mosques, schools, voluntary associations, and media. Leftist demonizing of Israel further contributes to the problem."

And there you have some reasons why monitoring what is being said in various places across the country and the world and so many places around the world. Am I the only person who feels like he is living in a Dickensian world.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

My hope and dream is that we do what needs to be done to keep a position in which we always say "it was the best of times."