Swedes teach Americans how to react to failed attacks

Sweden was recently attacked by a terrorist who blew himself up, almost killing many people.    Fortunately, the only person who died was the terrorist himself.  Of course, next time it could be worse.   Swedes, a people so obsessed with safety that they invented the Volvo,  understand that even a bungled terror attack is cause to feel very frightened; they know that's reason to stay awake at night.

Dr. Rebecca Wolf, Undersecretary for Community and Social Media at the United States Department of Fear, told Fox News, "After hearing of the failed attack in Stockholm, Swedes responded by sharing their fears on Twitter.   The Swedes provide an example for Americans to emulate."  Dr. Wolf explained, "Young Swedes promoted a new Twitter topic (#prayforSweden) which, for several hours, became the top "trending topic" on Twitter.  As a result, 9 million frightened Swedes were able to spread their fear throughout the entire Twitter community -- some 145 million souls."

Here is a sample of DoF's favorite tweets relating to the crisis in Sweden:

JessNilsson Did you know there's been a Terrorist attack here in Sweden?! I'm scared as hell!

13 Dec 

jamelaaisha France, Scotland, Sweden and London. I'm scared actually

13 Dec 

KashifKingKhan Police doing door to door questioning regarding Sweden Bomber. I was too scared so i went n hid under my duvet

13 Dec 

iBieberLovin hey what happened with #prayforsweden ?? we are still in danger :(

13 Dec 

sweetAsTheBiebs Please #prayforsweden ... There has been a terrorist attack over there. There may be more! #pray

12 Dec 

MileySweden gonna sleep. hope there wont be any new bombs this night :/ #pray#prayforsweden

12 Dec 

PrettyMissS  First terrorist bomb thing here ever last night. So scary.#PrayForSweden

12 Dec 

In the US, when terrorists attacks fail, the TSA creates new inconveniences for travelers, taking away more of their freedoms.   Given that the failed attack in Sweden did not involve air transport, how should Sweden respond?

DoF hopes that Sweden will react by taking away WikiLeak's presumed freedom to publish stolen documents.  The first step, demanding the extradition of Jullian Assange from Great Britain, is already underway.   After putting the alleged sex criminal on trial in Stockholm, DoF urges Swedes to support the  prompt extradition of Assange to the United States to face espionage charges.

By supporting US government secrecy, Swedes support the ability of American leaders to plan future wars in the Middle East.   To paraphrase George W. Bush, if we Americans can fight our wars over there, we many never have to bomb Sweden.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein: terrorism development "ominous"

In February, Sen. Feinstein warned us of the danger of trying KSM in New York City.   This week, the senator from California provided Americans with a new reason to be afraid.  SF Gate reports:

... Feinstein, a California Democrat who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the development ominous. 

"It's clear we're facing a new kind of attacker who is already here, who can hide in plain sight," she said. "We need to think about new defenses"

... She drew a link between Shahzad and Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab ...

"I think there's every reason to believe that Abdulmutallab and this man are prototypes of people that we may see more of," she said.

We can't spot them, but they're coming.

Failed terror bombings portend "dangerous shift"

According to a Reuters story entitled "Times Square bomb plot spotlights larger U.S. fear," former Homeland Security adviser Frances Townsend is speaking out about a new threat:

Frances Townsend, homeland security adviser under former President George W. Bush, pointed to what she called a "dangerous shift" from simultaneous, mass-casualty plots to "higher probability but lower consequence events" that are more difficult to detect and disrupt.

While serving Vice President Cheney in 2007, Frances Townsend told CNN that she thought al Qaeda might target the 2008 presidential elections.  When Townsend said that "no specific intelligence"  supported her statement, several bloggers cried foul.

We think it goes without saying that nothing ought to stand between the fears of senior government officials and the American people.  Our leaders need to speak their minds.  We should not wish for them to self-censor their gut feelings.

From the perspective of DoF, Frances Townsend is a "fear pioneer" -- a veritable role model for public officials in these threatening times.