Perfect Storm for Terror?

Scott Louis Weber, the former Senior Counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, warns that our nation is in a very vulnerable state at the moment that terrorists could exploit with maximum impact:

The United States finds itself in an unprecedented vulnerable state as it welcomes a new president and rescues a battered economy. The downturn in the economy has gutted markets worldwide, fanning the already rising flames of anti-American sentiment. Our economy is reeling; creating a fertile ground for a terrorist attack and history demonstrates that terrorists view periods of transition as optimal times for attack. Now is not the time for corporate America to let down her guard.

The presidential transition will be a major undertaking that will last many months as President-elect Obama brings new people on board. This transition will likely be the most important in our lifetime. Simply put: we are teetering on the edge of a national security precipice and cannot, under any circumstance, move in the wrong direction.

In 2004, ten backpack bombs exploded in Madrid on a crowded train three days before a national election for prime minister. Just days after Britain elected Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2007, terrorist tried to attack London’s nightclub district and the Glasgow airport. Terrorists attacked the World Trade Center during presidential transition periods — the 1993 bombing took place five weeks after President Clinton’s first inauguration and FBI Director Mueller had been on the job just one week when the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks took place.

In addition to the inherent vulnerability that comes during a changing of the guard, the United States is trying to deal with staggering economic challenges — to the great pleasure of our enemies. Adam Gadahn, an American who heads Al-Qaeda’s propaganda machine, was silent for ten months before he released a video in early October wherein he discussed America’s economic problems with apparent glee. “The looming meltdown [is] threatening the crusaders economic system,” Gadahn said. The United States is “facing a crushing defeat,” he said.

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America’s current economic climate, the imminent administration change and the passage of time since 9/11 present the perfect storm for terrorists. All the more reason for companies to invest in security in order to heed the lessons learned throughout history. When it comes to security, smart companies work with, but do not rely upon the government. As distressing as it would be to be remembered as one of the companies that failed during these tumultuous economic times, it would pale by comparison if your company fell victim to a terrorist attack — especially when the writing is so visibly on the wall.