Combating the beasts
The world is a jungle and its beasts — humans and animal — are out to get us. Can the forces, sworn to protect and defend us, keep them at bay? It’s touch and go. The basic task is not to catch them after they’ve struck, but to prevent them from striking.
The authorities must be on alert 24/7. The beasts need but one opportunity. Arguably, the human beasts are the more dangerous. The number of madmen and women is limitless — serial killers with unintelligible motives for one. Terrorists who commit mass murder because heaven told them for another.
Animals are being reduced to endangered species. Terrorists are increasing in number. Animals have claws. Terrorists have bombs. Animals have instincts. Terrorists have that plus human intelligence plus greater speed. Counterintelligence is hard put to outsmart them.
In his autobiography/factual memoir Soldier Spy, Tom Marcus details his part in the war on terrorism. In a city in northern England (its name not mentioned), he avoided his abusive parents to the extent possible by living on the streets, learning more about life than he did in school.
Joining the army at 16, Tom found his niche as a physical training instructor. Clever and gutsy, he was singled out for special operations training. Praised by his handler for his field work, he was recruited by MI5. More gruelling training and he found himself in his element.
Surveillance was Tom’s speciality. Along the way he met a woman in special forces who could keep up with him and he married Lucy, producing a son. In Soldier Spy, Tom tells of how MI5 goes about detecting, tracking and apprehending enemies, domestic and foreign.
The IRA in Northern Ireland, Middle Eastern bombers in London. Edinburgh has more than a few. Drug lords aren’t omitted. Dangerous work, rifles and handguns taking their toll on both sides. A point the author makes is that deals between the government and terrorists aren’t uncommon.
Sadly, after decades on the job, Tom came down with post-traumatic stress disorder and was pensioned off.
We are told in no uncertain terms that terrorism’s object is to destroy the free world and every effort must be made to prevent this catastrophe.