What would it be like if terrorists launched random shooting sprees all over America in chaotic, intermittent pattern?

Wait a tick, we've already got that.

They come in bunches, with the initial one in any group triggering copycats. Some linger long in our memory, like Columbine, but most do not.

They happen anywhere, anytime. These "sleepers" awaken on their own timetable, but more stress in life brings more--go figure.

Naturally, our society is completely incapacitated by these developments. Work stops. Culture grinds to a halt. Politics ends. We are reduced to living in small, self-sufficient communities that squabble over remaining resources.

On the brighter side, I should soon be hearing about which teams I get to see at Lambeau this year.

If I can brave the badlands between here and Green Bay, I might risk the venture.

Comments

[David Sutton]

Just a quick thought –

If sleeper cells, say AQ idea affiliated networks across America, made up of mainly American citizens or naturalised immigrant started to use the random gun slaying methodology would that be terrorism or just another horrific crime.

I guess that comes down to the idea and the definition of terrorism vs the idea and definition of crime, one being for a specific purpose, normally politically or ideologically motivated, the other for profit or as some rage release.

Sure someone is a secure room has Red Teamed this one out. I think the same thing each time we see a massive conflagration sweep across Australia.

The economic and psychological damage that those incidents engendered; what if it was done with not just malice of forethought but with the intent to disrupt networks etc.

Lastly – Tom, brave the badlands, it will be worth you.

[zenpundit]

Many, possibly most, of these shooters, starting with Laurie Dann decades ago through Columbine included to today, have a record of emotional and/or mental illness and violent threats known to those around them. A few have formal, short-term, commitments to psychiatric facilities or brushes with the legal system or both.

What we don't have is a rule-set or a process as a society to intervene in a significant way with the crazies when they are still escalating their antisocial behavior but before they become mass-murderers

[dan Hare]

When an incident, terrorist attach, etc, is shown 100 times in a 24 hours news cycle, it 'feels' like its more than it actually is in terms of a sense of being 'omnipresent'.

[Mark Anderson]

I think the operative word there is intermittent...

Recall what Muhammad and Malvo were able to accomplish in the DC area with one rifle. Consider if AQ (and/or their imitators and admirers) were to conduct a coordinated, relatively simple and cost-effective campaign of direct action attacks (using small sniper teams and/or larger assault teams), combining small arms, IEDs and suicide attackers, and randomly targeting all segments of our populous (especially our children). I think that the effect on the American psyche would be significant...

The end of our society as we know it? Certainly not, but perhaps a catalyst for further devolution of the freedoms and openess in our society.

The enemy is intelligent, ruthless and patient, and they are obviously refining their doctrinal approach to asymmetric warfare...

Tactically, I know of no effective way to defend against this campaign without unacceptable compromises in our way of life.

Strategically, our only option is clear - shrink the Gap...