What Would Currant Surveillance & Security Systems Have Accomplished on 12-7-41

How similar is the world now in 2011 to what was happening in 1941? Financial issues worldwide, check, the rise of religious fascism substituting for political fascism, check, the U.S. seeking to reduce defense postures, check, dangerous leaders, check. Seems pretty similar to me ? We can’t help but wonder as another Pearl Harbor Day comes around what is next in store in terms of a terror type attack. While certainly there are similarities in surprise between Pearl Harbor and 9-11 the key fact is that the Japanese attacked in traditional fashion and with traditional weapons and tactics. That was not the case with 9-11 and must be fully and continually articulated and mentioned as we in the west tend to minimize and marginalize the true deceptive and clandestine approach of our terrorist adversaries. One can not help but wonder what the outcome at Pearl Harbor would have been if today’s technology in Surveillance and Security would have been utilized. Early warning as to the approach of the Japanese fleet could have come from UAV’s or satellites. Harbor defense systems would have certainly detected the mini subs seeking to enter the Ford Island channel. While that type of scenario could have played out then and now it is far harder to detect and counter the intentions of the asymmetric threat.

RQ-180 UAV

One constant though is the professionalism and bravery exhibited by our service members yesterday and today. In 1941 we had just months prior to Pearl Harbor instituted a draft. The Navy afloat at Pearl Harbor though were volunteers, many seeking a way out of the hard economic times that dogged the 1930’s. While countless books and movies cover the actual attack it’s interesting to focus on a theme exhibited by the actions of one ship that was in the harbor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_New_Orleans_ . The crew shaking off the initial shock of the attack rallied around their Chaplin Howell Forgy. From his actions the famous WW 2 song that captured  a generations’ true feelings was born. “Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition” was developed in the forties to help lift sprits and sell bonds but it could have equally demonstrated the bravery of another Navy crew early in the war on terror when  on  10/12/2000  the  Cole was attacked by Islamic terrorists. For additional details    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cole_bombing  . Just as at Pearl Harbor with the New Orleans, the Coles crew saved their ship and persevered. One again can’t help but wonder had Surveillance and Security techniques and technology available now been used then would the outcome have been different. For example using video biometrics could have proven an early warning as the day before the attack the Cole was boarded by local merchants seeking to sell their wares. In reality they were probing for weakness and latter reporting back to the terror cell planning the attack. Would a micro UAV stationed overhead when the Cole made port call been able to beam pictures of the fishing boat parked outside the terror cell’s house several miles inland and not the usual location for such an object. We can only prepare for the next attack leveraging all our technology while confident that just as with the New Orleans and Cole our service personnel will rise to the occasion.