#177 November, 2005

The Peace Keepers

... a soldier teaches law enforcement a lesson

Last evening I watched as ABC News' Bob Woodruff reported on the Person of the Week for "World News Tonight." They've posted the story in case you missed the broadcast.

It was about Army Spc. Darrell Green's quick thinking and marksmanship that saved hundreds of lives this week in Iraq. Green was rightly called a hero. That single act epitomized the entire concept -- indeed the very foundation -- of law enforcement in a single nutshell... a single act.

Notice that none of the litigators, legislators -- in fact, no one -- complained or took up offense at that act. Notice that no papers were required -- no 'rights of discovery' filed -- no due process. No one forced themselves into the public eye with a cry injustice or infringement on personal rights.

Green had the authority and the means to stop a crime in the process of being committed. He effectively blocked and neutralized the criminal's ability to consummate the crime.

You'll also notice that no one was advocating that the street be destroyed. The street was how the truck got there -- but no one said kill the street. Likewise, no one jumped up to declare it was the truck's fault. No one complained or mounted a case against the truck or the truck's manufacturer. What about the gas in the truck? Was the gas or gas station to blame? They certainly contributed. Were the manufacturers of the bomb components to blame? Theirs was certainly the weapon of choice.

Of course, by now you're laughing -- as I am. It's simply ludicrous to propose a case be made against the street or the truck or any of the other elements in use for this attempted crime. They were simply "things" which were essential in the attempted commission of a crime.

To Green, the criminal was easily identified. Being authorized to act; empowered with the tools to act, without hesitation, Green took the steps to end the attack. Hundreds of lives not to mention two hotels were saved from becoming the victims.

This is an excellent lesson for the U.S. Judicial and legal system. It's ludicrous to debate and legislate on such clear-cut, undeniable acts of crime. Our law enforcement system would surely come under serious scrutiny if ten-thousand such bombings happened today, and no one in enforcement lifted a finger. No arrests. No headlines. No nightly news stories.

Every day, all day, blatant criminal acts are perpetrated on innocent citizens -- and each day, the judicial system simply does nothing. Each and every time a phishing attack goes out it's just like that guy driving that truck toward the hotel. Three happened today; two yesterday. Tomorrow will bring more. But there's no Army Spc. Darrell Green -- no heros -- to stop them.

We've tracked one criminal running attacks since June from the very same IP block. And, we've reported them each and every time. But they just keep coming.

I have to wonder what the nightly news would say if each of these Phishing attacks was a bomb attack on a hotel right here in the US. You can bet they'd be right on top of it -- probably leading the angry mob to lynch the officials in charge.

We have a choice: shall we stop such criminal activities -- or ignore them? No, it's not quite as dramatic as a truck filled with explosives. However if the attempt succeeds, it's the same level crime. Just like Army Spc. Darrell Green, the judicial system has the means and the tools to stop these crimes, but unlike Green, they choose to do nothing.

Thanks for reading...

Fred Showker

Editor: DTG Magazine and 60-Second Windows contact me!

Read the ABC story: Soldier's Quick Thinking and Marksmanship Saved Hundreds of Lives - Oct. 28, 2005

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