“AIR COMBAT” HAS TAKEN ON A NEW MEANING
FROM GRANDPARENT TO GLADIATOR AT 30,000 FEET
Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
As a frequent flier, I began some years ago looking thru the waiting areas during preboarding for “potential terrorists.” There is nothing more embarrassing than picking out a would be hijacker, an insidious terrorist, then, five minutes later, seeing a wife show up dragging and pile of small children, clutching around his legs. Still, the danger of finding yourself in a brawl with a bomber or hijacker, perhaps several of them while heading off to see Aunt Polly for the holidays has become a real possibility. What you don’t know may very well kill you.
Terrorists have proven they can get past passport control, “find” weapons stored on planes and bring incendiary devices and explosives past sensors in even the world’s most sophisticated airports. It is also clear that they have help from security services of yet “unidentified” countries and that our system of “no fly” lists and terrorist tracking is now and always has been a farce. What are our options for dealing with this threat realistically?
We have to begin by admitting the obvious and outlining the problem:
- Terrorists know more about our security than we do. Only a couple of weeks ago, the Transportation Security Agency posted some of its most vital and secret security information on the internet. We are training terrorists ourselves, it seems.
- Air Marshals are on only 2% of planes. Terrorists know this, you don’t, or didn’t. You know it now.
- Pilots may now have guns but air crews are not competent to deal with terrorist attacks onboard planes although they are trained well in using their limited resources.
There are two basic approaches to real security onboard planes. One is more armed passengers, trained and certified law enforcement and/or military and intelligence professionals, the other, seeing to it that passengers are advised of their role in protecting themselves and their family.
WHAT CAN A PASSENGER DO TO PROTECT HIMSELF?
If you are onboard an aircraft and have reason to fear for your life from a hijacker, bomber or some other form of threat to you, other passengers or to the control of the aircraft, you may use any force necessary up to and including deadly force. Such threats are now, beyond any doubt, real threats to the lives of all passengers and may be responded to as such.
If a passenger is confronted with a real situation on a plane, noting that, typically, any aircraft incident can lead to, not only the death of all onboard but as in the Lockerbie crash, those on the ground also, once a threat is identified, there is no reason for any hesitation. Terrorists love people to hesitate.
A passenger defending an aircraft who is in reasonable fear for his life cannot be prosecuted or subject to any litigation.
To verify this, I spoke with a retired senior FBI counter-terrorism official. His advice:
“Any passenger fearing for his or her life from a terrorist attack onboard an aircraft can use any force necessary without any fear of consequences.”
HOW CAN WE GET MORE ARMED PROTECTION ON AIRCRAFT?
While interviewing the same FBI counter-terrorism expert, he explained to me the process for retired Special Agents, Secret Service and other federal law enforcement retirees to carry weapons on aircraft:
“For the FBI, regional offices have to certify that retirees maintain weapons qualification but also, the airline offices in the region along with the TSA (Transportation Security Agency) have to coordinate policy which isn’t consistent nationwide. This certification process could be streamlined and expanded.”
“Additionally, overseas flights require coordination with the host nation regarding weapons entering their country. If a method of issuing weapons with appropriate ammunition could be arranged, allowing for their secure storage and return or reissuance to weapons certified boarding passengers, more flights would have coverage.”
A national program to encourage the thousands of highly qualified retired law enforcement officers who travel to maintain certification should be funded. Airlines should offer incentives for these passengers in the form of significant discounts and upgrades.
Terrorists should know that the second thing going thru their mind after the thought of destroying a plane will be a well placed bullet.
CAN A PROGRAM FOR QUALIFIED VETERANS HELP?
Military veterans who have appropriate combat training including advanced unarmed defense classes and can pass a certification screening process should be considered for a security role on commercial flights.
Even if firearms weren’t authorized, a “Duty Free” bag of goodies, chemical restraining agents, perhaps a taser could be used to assist in response to in cabin terrorist emergencies.
Finding people with the patience to restrain themselves from using these items on unruly and obnoxious passengers may, in itself, represent a significant challenge. Veterans and retirees, some who qualify already for free Space-A (space available) flights could be encouraged to maintain certification and fly commercially thru a system of discounts, frequent flyer mileage or upgrades.
We have spent billions training our military and veterans to fight global terrorism. Empowering them to keep that role and maintain those skills can make our skies safer and make terrorism on commercial aircraft a bad bet.
HOW SERIOUS A PROBLEM IS THIS?
We can’t expect the prospect of attacks on commercial aircraft to go away. In fact, we have every reason to think that this type of threat will become increasingly common and the ability of terrorists to defeat airport security will outpace attempts to counter the problem.
What is the worst thing you can do? You can be controllable and compliant.
A safe flight is a flight where a terrorist or group of terrorists will know they will be beaten and kicked to death by an army of enraged passengers or quickly dispatched with a bullet to the head from a very unsuspecting source. They should learn to depend on this. It is our job to “make it so.”
VT Senior Editor Gordon Duff is a Marine combat veteran and regular contributor on political and social issues.
Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.
Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.
Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.
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