James Holmes. Anders Breivik. Simply saying their names evoke fear. We are now safe; they are incarcerated, no longer posing a risk to our children and those we love. So why then, are we still afraid? Instinctively, we know there are many more lone wolves, thinking, planning, stalking, getting ready to strike us again. We are afraid because we know it is nearly impossible to detect a brilliant loner’s careful planning. They, by nature, seamlessly slip through our terror nets. With al-Qaeda purportedly weakened, are they a prominent terror risk?

Olympic Countermeasures

London’s anti-terror defense preparations are complex, layered, and would make Churchill proud. Quietly, in the shadows, a think tank of experts studied, fretted, worked countless and thankless hours to devise the most complex Olympic defenses in history. Naval forces are on patrol in the Thames. Outer perimeter defenses are also in place. The Army and Marine regulars and commando units are deployed in and out of the City. Anti aircraft and missile batteries are set within the City limits.

Scotland Yard, MI5, and MI6 intelligence gathering is at its height. Police and military communications and intelligence are integrated. Undercover operations are in place, plainclothes police are throughout, and despite the G4S Security shortfall, uniformed police are at reported full strength. Electronic eyes grid nearly all quadrants of the City. It is an unprecedented peacetime preparation for war; the terror war.

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