“All your ‘barriers’ are worthless”
A frustrated Russian Naval Officer during Japan’s surprise attack on Russia’s Pacific Fleet at Port Arthur on 9 Feb 1904, the event kicking-off the Russo-Japanese War
Early last Sunday morning, a single suspect (without any special equipment) easily jumped a “security fence” surrounding the home of PA’s governor.
He then, still unhindered, approached the Governor’s Mansion and used a hammer to break a ground-floor window and enter the building.
He then pitched several Molotov cocktails into the first room he entered. The resulting fire(s) ultimately did catastrophic damage to the home. It is indeed amazing how much damage can be done so quickly by a single VCA employing, as we see, the crudest of weapons.
No “high-tech” here!
No one was harmed in the attack, but the governor and his family were forced to flee their home in the middle of the night.
The single suspect then silently slipped away from the crime scene (again unhindered), but turned himself into police later that day. He was arrested without incident.
Lessons:
1) Our state governors presumably enjoy a high degree of taxpayer-funded security, as do other politicians and government officials.
With all the talk of “high-tech” threats, it is curious the way this single VCA, absent any kind of elaborate plan nor sophisticated weaponry, was able to get that close to a state governor, and do that much damage to the governor’s home in the process, and not be interfered with!
2) Fools question why a prudent man routinely goes armed, and why prudent men are constantly aware and alert.
This is because fools, particularly arrogant fools, lack circumspection and prudence. They invariably manufacture in their minds a self-deceptive fantasy and then live as though their fantasy is somehow tangible and something upon which they can literally bet their lives.
3) Critical incidents rarely permit intended victims the luxury of belatedly realizing their errors and then making “last-moment upgrades.”
Even those who (supposedly) enjoy external “security services,” still need to take personal responsibility for their own safety. “Personal” as in personally participating in your own rescue plan!
“Prepared” is always present tense. “Victim” is always past tense. “Justice,” at least in theory, can be either, but most agree that no justice exists in past tense!
Frank Sharpe
/John
