{"id":52988,"date":"2015-11-22T15:08:30","date_gmt":"2015-11-22T15:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2015\/11\/22\/troops-and-their-families-are-terror-targets-at-home-more-must-be-done-to-protect-them\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:55:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:55:50","slug":"troops-and-their-families-are-terror-targets-at-home-more-must-be-done-to-protect-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/opinion\/2015\/11\/22\/troops-and-their-families-are-terror-targets-at-home-more-must-be-done-to-protect-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Troops and their families are terror targets at home. More must be done to protect them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The heartless murders recently <\/span>carried out by terrorists in Paris and now Mali have naturally sparked global security concerns, from questions about the safety of landmark buildings, air travel and major public events to the potential risks of just being in the wrong neighborhood cafe at the wrong time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These episodes also has revived concerns about the threat of attacks against U.S. military installations, service members and their loved ones. Terrorists have had that community squarely in their crosshairs for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly a decade ago, for instance, six radicalized Islamic men conspired in a plot to bluntly “kill as many soldiers as possible” at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Fortunately, that plot was foiled broken up<\/span>. But details of the investigation suggested just how targeted and vulnerable the nation’s military facilities installations <\/span>are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The terrorists had a map of Fort Dix, obtained by a Turkish native who delivered pizzas to soldiers there. The ring leaders members <\/span>also had conducted surveillance of what is now Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, to the east in New Jersey, and Fort Monmouth to the north; Dover Air Force Base in Delaware; and the Coast Guard building in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The degree to which installation security \u2014 to say nothing of threats <\/span>intelligence threats \u2014 has improved since then is hard to measure, given the sprawling range of U.S. military facilities, the mix of authorities responsible for their protection and the general lack of details about security measures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But clearly, more must be done to protect the nation’s troops both on base and off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A fallen soldiers memorial is silhouetted in front of the podium where the memorial service that US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will attend for the thirteen victims of the shooting rampage by US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan on November 10, 2009 in Fort Hood, Texas. Hasan, an army psychiatrist, killed 13 people and wounded 30 in a shooting at the military base on November 5, 2009. AFP PHOTO\/Jim WATSON<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A fallen soldiers memorial for the 13 victims killed at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo Credit: Jim Watson\/AFP<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n