Of Enormous Potential

 327.

1. Education. How did we get here?
2. Community Outreach. What do we do about it?
3. Preemption. Before the strike.

"What we will be doing is revolutionary. No-one has ever tackled such an ambitious project covering such a broad range of interaction. One could call this a radical departure from traditional police, or in our case, counter-terrorism, ways and means. Our special weapons are our willingness to engage and our tactics the tools of change. We will seek to align communities with our efforts to bring about the total package of resistance. Grass roots policing of self. The organic rebuke of fear. We will lead, and it is our belief, that given a credible, positive and holistic model to follow, a significant counter terror program will result. History has shown us that, when provided the accurate historical background, an unsatisfactory current situation and the potential of an improved future quality of life, people will enlist for the good fight," says Julie, mincing narry a word.

I am borderline shocked at the opening of her presentation. To use the term 'revolutionary' in her description of the plan, is an understatement of intergalactic proportions. I am also a bit disappointed that they, I will assume that Harlan played a large part of the plan's formulation, didn't consult with me at any point of its conceptual manifestation. I look around the room to gauge the response from the rest of the team and see expressions ranging from disbelief, Drysdale, to enthusiasm, The Queen. I wait as long as possible before breaking the elongated silence that her proposal has produced.

"Is there a projected structure to the human resources necessary to accomplish the campaign's objectives?" I ask politely.

"The structure is us. We are it. There is not a doubt in my mind that you all have the skills, training and experience to handle the required multi-tasking.  We simply need to do it smartly and efficiently," she replies in a staid and trenchant tone.

I again review the expressions and see them change from shock, Davis, to awe, Saunders.

I want to scream 'impossible, we aren't social workers, educators or security rent-a-cops, we will be wasting our valuable time trying to be all things to all counter-terror professionals by stretching ourselves, already threadbare, to this extent,' but I bite down hard and wait for the other shoe to drop.

"I am not saying that this will be easy. What I am suggesting is that we give it a try, just four cities that have been trending in the direction of eminent strikes. Also, so you are all aware, this comes as a 'highly' recommended strategy from the interim Homeland Security deputy-director, aka our new boss, and as you might gather, definitely a left-leaning dove," she answers my question before I ask it.

"Here are the cities and teams for starters:

1) Madison, WI, Drysdale and Saunders.
2) Sacramento, CA, Cap and Mustang.
3) Austin, TX, Davis and The Queen.
4) Washington DC, Myself and Harlan."

She continues, "Please take the overview of this new opportunity home with you tonight and run it through your processing systems. Please, please, try to look at it objectively and consider that although it is a radical departure from our normal MO, the potential is enormous."

"Tomorrow, same time, we will detail some of the specifics and Harlan and I will try our best to answer any questions you may have," She concludes, ending the session with a one word command.

"Dismissed."