Friday, September 06, 2013

Let's Not Get Too Paranoid

Syria is not known for being more than a regional sponsor of terrorism. Rather than worrying about Syrians in America specifically as a source of terror should we strike Syria, worry that any lone wolf might fight their own atomized jihad in sympathy for Assad (notwithstanding that jihadis are fighting Assad).

Is this really a serious problem?

The F.B.I. has increased its surveillance of Syrians inside the United States in response to concerns that a military strike against the government of President Bashar al-Assad could lead to terrorist attacks here or against American allies and interests abroad, according to current and former senior United States officials.

If we strike Syria, I don't even have a lot of worry that Syria's puppet-master the Iranians will hit us hard with terrorism in response.

Sure, the Iranians are global terrorists, but these things take time and luck and they don't have sleeper cells of crack terrorists poised to launch coordinated strikes against us.

After all, a year and a half ago the Iranians couldn't manage to work up a good terrorism campaign against Israeli interests world-wide when they tried. If the Iranians can't get their A teams in gear for Jews, are we really in particular danger?

Be careful, of course. And pay attention to indications of threats. But don't be paranoid.

UPDATE: Of course, it is true that "they" are out to get us:

The United States has intercepted an order from an Iranian official instructing militants in Iraq to attack U.S. interests in Baghdad in the event the Obama administration launches a military strike in Syria, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Apparently, Iran wants back in on the American embassy action that Iran pioneered back in the Carter era but which Sunni jihadis hijacked recently.

And what the heck, we've shown there are no red lines around our embassies, given our complete lack of retaliation for last year's Benghazi diplomatic outpost sacking and the killing of our ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.

All the more reason to seek the toppling of the Assad regime. That outcome would be the best retaliation for Iran's act of war against us.