Guest commentary by Ralph E. Shaffer from the Contra Costa Times According to Ralph E. Shaffer, professor emeritus of history at Cal Poly Pomona, the FBI and other federal agencies should adopt a policy of early intervention to stop potential terrorist acts instead of wasting millions of dollars in pointless, headline-grabbing “sting” operations.
“Arrests, trials and convictions are more exciting, newsworthy, and justification for promotions and bigger budgets than quietly warning potential terrorists that their conduct could lead to long prison terms. But that warning would have been a lot cheaper for the government and would have saved many young people…from the ruin they now face.”