Commentaries

Stay alert: See something, say something

  • Published
  • By Don Branum
  • Academy Spirit staff writer
Let's talk about ISIS for a moment.

No, not the Egyptian goddess. I'm not here to proselytize. I mean the terrorist group, more accurately known as ISIL, or the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant, which is neither a state unto itself nor, for that matter, Islamic.

So what? What makes ISIL worth paying any attention to?

First, ISIL is on social media, and they're paying attention to us. ISIL has called on its followers to hunt down service members and their families via social media.

Second, ISIL is recruiting Americans. Shannon Conley, a 19-year-old living in Arvada, Colo., pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization after she was arrested at Denver International Airport in April. Jamie Paulin-Ramirez, from Leadville, Colo., was arrested in Ireland in 2010 and later pleaded guilty to a similar charge. And just last week, three young women from the Denver metropolitan area were stopped in Frankfurt, Germany, en route to Syria.

And while ISIL is distinct from al-Qaida, there's no doubt the Air Force Academy is on extremists' radar. A recent al-Qaida publication encouraged "lone wolf" terrorists to target the Academy along with targets such as Las Vegas casinos, Times Square and sites abroad that draw American tourists.

The men and women charged with ensuring our security are vigilant, but they can't be everywhere at once. That's where they need your help. If you see something suspicious, such as someone asking detailed questions about the Academy's security procedures or surveilling points of entry onto the installation, call 333-2000 and let someone know.

Commentaries - Articles

Stay alert: See something, say something

  • Published
  • By Don Branum
  • Academy Spirit staff writer
Let's talk about ISIS for a moment.

No, not the Egyptian goddess. I'm not here to proselytize. I mean the terrorist group, more accurately known as ISIL, or the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant, which is neither a state unto itself nor, for that matter, Islamic.

So what? What makes ISIL worth paying any attention to?

First, ISIL is on social media, and they're paying attention to us. ISIL has called on its followers to hunt down service members and their families via social media.

Second, ISIL is recruiting Americans. Shannon Conley, a 19-year-old living in Arvada, Colo., pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization after she was arrested at Denver International Airport in April. Jamie Paulin-Ramirez, from Leadville, Colo., was arrested in Ireland in 2010 and later pleaded guilty to a similar charge. And just last week, three young women from the Denver metropolitan area were stopped in Frankfurt, Germany, en route to Syria.

And while ISIL is distinct from al-Qaida, there's no doubt the Air Force Academy is on extremists' radar. A recent al-Qaida publication encouraged "lone wolf" terrorists to target the Academy along with targets such as Las Vegas casinos, Times Square and sites abroad that draw American tourists.

The men and women charged with ensuring our security are vigilant, but they can't be everywhere at once. That's where they need your help. If you see something suspicious, such as someone asking detailed questions about the Academy's security procedures or surveilling points of entry onto the installation, call 333-2000 and let someone know.