Earlier this week, the FBI arrested six men accused of plotting an attack at Fort Dix, N.J., home to several thousand U.S. military personnel.
The attack represented a "new form of terrorism," according to an FBI spokesperson: "They operate under the radar...they strike when they feel it is right whenever that might be."
What new form of terrorism, you might ask? Pizza delivery! It turns out that one of the accused terrorist plotter often made pizza deliveries to Fort Dix and to nearby McGuire Air Force Base. He believed that under the guise of delivering a pizza, he could penetrate security at the base, and help bring about an attack "to kill as many soldiers as possible," according to the indictment.
Far be it from me to criticize the successful dismantling of a terrorist cell by the FBI. But a "new form of terrorism?" Hardly.
There are an exceedingly small number of real terrorists, and they ALL seek to "blend in" with the larger population in order to carry out their actions. Blending in as a pizza delivery person to penetrate security at a military base is hardly a unique strategy.
Naturally, the arrests are already being used to justify support for a national ID card and other initiatives that would compromise civil liberties. But I have a simpler solution.
Rather than force pizza delivery persons to carry a biometric national ID card (or perhaps have it implanted in their hand), or turn pizza delivery services over to the FBI, why not require all deliveries of food and other non-essential items to military bases go to a secure location away from large groups of people or equipment?
Otherwise, if you work on a military base or other "secure" location, the next time you order pizza, the dialog might go something like this next time it's delivered:
"That'll be $9.95 for the pizza and $19.95 for the 'pizza terror screening.' And please don't forget the tip."
Copyright © 2007 by Mark Nestmann
Comments