The Cipher Brief reached out to Jayson Ahern, a principal at the Chertoff Group, to get his thoughts on what it will take to prevent another attack like the one we saw this week in San Bernardino, CA. Ahern, who previously served in senior positions at the Department of Homeland Security, discussed the challenges law enforcement faces, the U.S. government’s outreach to Muslim communities, and a community-based approach to preventing gun violence.
The Cipher Brief: We still don’t know the motive behind the attack in San Bernardino. If a link to terrorism is established, what does this attack tell you about the changing nature of the homeland threat? What more do law enforcement and the Intelligence Community need to do to prevent these types of plots?
Jayson Ahern: Whether the San Bernardino attack was carried out in support of an international terrorist group or as an independent act of violence, it is yet another reminder that we need to continue building and improving our capabilities to better prepare for acts of violence. This requires increased coordination and cooperation from the public, law enforcement, and government organizations that monitor today’s ongoing threats. One of the greatest challenges the law enforcement and Intelligence communities face is detecting and interdicting attacks conducted by unidentified individuals. As a result, this places emphasis on the need for effective incident response plans. Law enforcement already participates in regular trainings and exercises, but there is always more that can be done to improve response to today’s persistent and evolving threats. Moreover, law enforcement must continue to build relationships within their communities and improve the public’s awareness of these threats. The public can serve as a force multiplier for law enforcement and together they can enhance homeland security.
TCB: Syed Rizwan Farook has been described as a devout Muslim. Is there enough law enforcement outreach to the Muslim community in general and to mosques and Islamic centers in particular, to promote understanding and trust?
JA: There are many active government-led and government-supported programs that aim to foster relationships between Muslim communities and local law enforcement. Following the December 2011 release of the Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated three pilot programs – Greater Boston, Los Angeles, and the Twin Cities – that seek to address the causes of radicalization identified in each community. These programs leverage the federal government to foster engagement among community leaders, local partners, interfaith organizations, and state, country, and local governments to make high-risk communities resilient to radicalization. By participating in community meetings, conducting outreach to local community leadership, and organizing community events, local law enforcement and FBI are building trust and promoting understanding with these communities and their leaders. Of course, more can always be done. Law enforcement, supported by the federal, state, and local government, must continue to make communicating, engaging, and working with Muslim communities a priority. Local citizens and advocacy groups should similarly continue to work with law enforcement in a joint effort to foster relationships.
TCB: Press reports indicate the two shooters were not on the FBI’s radar. Are you concerned that restrictions placed on intelligence gathering in the aftermath of the Snowden affair may have contributed to the lack of information on this plot?
JA: The post-Snowden world certainly placed restrictions on intelligence gathering. However, in the case of the San Bernardino attack, this does not appear to be the central problem but until further analysis is conducted, we cannot predict the unknown.
TCB: If a link to terrorism is not discovered, what, if anything, can U.S. law enforcement agencies do to counter mass shooter violence? We hear calls for stricter gun control, but what do you do when a law-abiding citizen, regardless of religious faith, decides to conduct a violent act?
JA: The recent shootings in San Bernardino underscore how individuals in the United States are not immune to being seized by radical ideas and moved to action. Law enforcement will remain challenged to predict and prevent attacks from individuals who are not on their radar. Assuming that this trend will continue – whether in an independent act or as an act of terrorism – we must take action to minimize the loss of life. This action should not be isolated to law enforcement. Rather, we need a community-wide effort – incorporating commercial entities, public institutions, and law enforcement – that implements safety measures and develops protocols to respond to such events.
TCB: How can American cities – and ordinary Americans – do to better prepare themselves to deal with incidents like these in the future? What are the lessons for law enforcement and first responders?
JA: Communities of all sizes must be prepared to respond to violent acts as seen in the San Bernardino attack. American cities should implement safety measures – at schools, movie theatres, and other widely-gathered venues – and train on response procedures to mitigate causalities in the event of a mass shooting. Law enforcement should be familiar with the community’s venues and their response protocols. Furthermore, if not already doing so, law enforcement should conduct onsite training so that response can be faster and more effective to mass shootings and acts of violence.
Jayson Ahern is a Principal at The Chertoff Group where he advises clients on a broad range of security services including homeland and border security management, global commerce and supply chain security, critical infrastructure protection, risk management and strategic planning and implementation. In 2010, Mr. Ahern retired after 33 years of federal service to both the U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Throughout his career at CBP, which spanned over parts of four decades, he progressed through every rank in the field and held numerous senior leadership positions. At the time of his retirement, he had served for nearly a year as CBP’s Acting Commissioner and was responsible for securing, managing and controlling our Nation’s borders.
