SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group discussion

If you're looking for a slow-burn type espionage/terrorist thriller based on current events that Chris Wray, Director of the FBI, says could very likely hit American in the very near future, this is one to try out. We think we are insulated here in America, but this book caused me to examine how vulnerable we are to a wide spread catastrophe. I'm not a serious "prepper", but I am provisioning. I discuss this at city council meetings and ask who will be able to survive 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months without government intervention? Looking at the crowd, very few, in my opinion. Be one of the survivors.

H'mmm ... I can hardly imagine how that local city council reacts when you conjur up these hobgoblins. In general, the North American landmass can weather a lot of damage. We could handle a pair of tsunamis if we had to.

In my opinion: it's part of the social contract that we rely on our nat'l gov't to prevent catastrophes. That's what we pay them for.

Any kind of electronics breakdown (EMP, sunspots, satellite failure) is not concerning to me. The recent Microsoft meltdown (Jul 19th I believe the date was) rather illustrates that.

In the event of a catastrophe the govt cannot prevent, (meteors, plate tectonics, polar shift?) then we should hug each other goodbye and not worry excessively over what we can do so little about.

After all, who would wish to live in a world ravaged so badly by some kind of devastating plague, nuclear attack, or radiation?

In the meantime ...I think xenophobic anxieties makes needless divisions between neighbors.

One of my good friends went so far with such paranoia, as to re-locate himself to a Florida swamp in order to shoot guns and raise farm animals. Has tripwires set all over the property. Insists to me that I should invest in silver and grow vegetables on my fire-escape.

I'll add the book title above to our shelves, but this discussion forum observes calmness.

If History has taught us something, it is that fleeing your home and taking to the roads without knowing where to head to is probably the worst choice you can make, unless you are facing something like a wildfire or an exploding volcano or a tsunami, which gives you little other choice but to bug out and run like hell. Once on the road and on the move, you become more vulnerable, not more secure, unless you have a reasonable chance to arrive quickly at some kind of safe shelter (example: elevated position vs tsunami). In many cases, like when clogging the roads to flee an advancing enemy army, you only make matters worse for yourself and others by causing logjams and exposing yourself to air and artillery attack. The best thing to do in most cases of natural disasters which arrive with little to no warning (except wildfires), stock non-perishable food and water reserves in the strongest room of your house (above or below depending on the type of cataclysm you are expecting), have a portable radio and spare batteries in that room and, most importantly, listen to the warnings and directives given by government authorities. Unfortunately, in some cases, you will probably have to kiss your ass goodbye (nuclear war), whatever you do. Just don't endanger others by your actions by panicking and running like a headless chicken. I lived for two years in Beirut during the Civil War there and the Israeli 1982 invasion, plus am an ex-soldier and military intelligence analyst, so am more than just an armchair expert on that subject.

Wise words, Michel.

FYI: there is a "prepper's reading group" on Goodreads. I've posted various little tips there (I'm a fan of certain types of gear).

But that's as far as I 'provision'. I tend to believe that when a crisis forms, a lot of prior planning and calculating and reckoning all gets tossed out. Always a big lack of info and situations which are dim/partially perceived.

Also: 'tunnel vision' and shock can befuddle one's decision-making.

Yep --generally best to stay put.

a favorite aphorism I like to bear in mind during troubles times:

"No evil can befall a good man, either in life or in death"

--Socrates