Aristotle tells us that “nature abhors a vacuum”, as the natural order of things is to fill unused or neglected space. I had no idea that Aristotle was in the security business.
This is large part of the mission in the security business, be it government sponsored or private sector. Defend a void/deprive a vacuum with a forceful enough counterweight to generate harmony and balance within that space. The problem with the voids created by vacuums, is that it is most quickly filled by the material that nature deems the most expendable and the least desirable. Vacuums become a repository for refuse.
For example, imagine that you own a vacant warehouse in the inner city. If there is not a presence, a force, an entity exerting pressure to maintain this status- something to counteract the vacuum- it will likely and quickly be filled with garbage. Even if there is a sign that clearly states “no dumping”, if the gate is not locked, and nobody is watching the place….garbage. With the garbage will come flies, rats, raccoons, snakes, birds, and then decay, disease, death etc. Vacuums of this nature, of a security nature, always end up being a race to the bottom, and death is the ultimate bottoming.
We have seen this elsewhere. The Central Afghan government created a security vacuum after the Russians were expelled that allowed the Taliban to gain control. This generated the second and third order effects that resulted in 11 Sept 2001.
Also, After 1 May 03 “Mission Complete” in Iraq, the US policy was to eliminate the Sunni oligarchy and “de-Baathify” the Iraqi government. This policy was based upon political and moral grounds, and the removal of all sense of local authority created the vacuum which was filled with insurgency. Some of us know how difficult it was to counterbalance that space after it had been filled with such refuse.
One thing that we can say about the Sunni’s prior to being disarmed and removed from authority, is that those suckers knew how to get them some security. If we would have held our nose a little about their politics and looked at the issue with the realism required and in deference to the security situation; more of our boys and girls would have made it home. Security ought to always place first; politics can be second.
The US has long history making politically correct decisions which have created this security vacuum, and history then repeats itself. The same fellows that brought you de-Baathification created the vacuum that created ISIS, and we had to go back. The same void after the Russians left Afghanistan will be present after the Americans leave Afghanistan, and the Taliban are already licking their chops. Those of us who interacted with the Afghan government on a regular basis, have friends there, and had interpreters there- we have our concerns.
I had an interpreter and worked with several. Mine was a young man, 22 or so then, who was trying to save some money to get married and start a family. I am sure that he is known to the Taliban. I am sure that he be in danger in this future vacuum. I would like to see him make it to the US, but the policy says, “no dumping”, and from Afghanistan there is a lock on that gate. Maybe if he bought a plane ticket to Mexico and made his way to the border- where the policy is still the same, but nobody is watching and the gate is unlocked- maybe then he’d make it out of harm’s way.
Speaking of the border, Is that situation a security vacuum? Oh, heck yes. From everything that I hear about what is going on at the border, it is what we called in the day a “goat rope.” Which translates to “things are fairly chaotic at the border.” The worst report tells me that things are so chaotic, that no one will predict the severity of the effects in the coming months and years. This is surprisingly bad news, but understandable in view of what they have going on.
I understand that the policy is humanitarian. I am sure that the policy and the politic are with the best of intentions, but simply opening the flood gates for the greatest of humanitarian reasons will result in as much contaminated water flowing into the vacuum as does the pure. Adventurism can’t help but to follow.
In the right context, it remains possible to have a humanitarian mission that seeks to care for those who are escaping despotism, and still maintain a counterweight enough to avoid a security vacuum. Difficult, but possible, but not possible without real resources, and resources that are mutually cooperative, and focused on that space to eliminate the vacuum. The current policy is not doing this and lacks both vision and resources. It straddles a fence- no pun intended- between security and humanitarianism; and so straddled neither side has traction, except to work against each other. Goat. Rope.
The last vacuum that I would like to discuss is one that I have no explanation and find overtly ridiculous. This notion, or movement, or ideal that de-funding the police is going to have a positive effect on security. It will not. It is quite literally insane to think otherwise. If a vacuum is created here, nothing but chaos will reign, and it will take years to regain the proper amount of harmony and balance.
The police force has two core functions: public protection and criminal investigation. If public protection becomes a prohibited practice due to social demand, public safety is not possible. Your safety is not possible. I do not think it can be said any plainer than this.
This vacuum in conjunction with the other security related adventure of this day has had a quiet, but eerie effect on the citizens of the country. Gun stores have reported record sales in 2020 and in those sales reported in 21 to date have eclipsed that pace. 40% of these gun sales are going to first time gun buyers. The public anticipates that they may be responsible for their own public safety and are taking steps to see to this. Certainly, the public sees this void taking shape, and is concerned, and is instinctively looking to fill it.
This should make us all a bit nervous. I do believe that responsible ownership of firearms is an absolute right, and when exercised in the collective, will fill the spaces that we have discovered. But firearms are not the alpha and omega of security, and in the hands of a novice who has no idea how, when, where, or what to use is going to create some problems.
Likely not on par with the vacuum in public safety that this “defund the police” foolishness has created, but still, real issues. Public anxiety is one thing, armed anxiety quite another, in fact I would venture to say that there are few things more inherently dangerous than an armed and frightened novice. If you are a new gun owner, do not be too proud to ask for some help in learning your system.
All said, congratulations about making it through the first year living dangerously, and hopefully you will have the same success in the next two coming. If you need any assistance assessing, locking, watching, or defending your spaces, give us a call.