Heads on a swivel

In January of 2024 I wrote Terrorist Attacks in America: for what are they waiting? It warned of a new reality: thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of terrorists allowed into America  by Biden’s Handlers with little or no vetting. many were given free bus or jet travel to locations of their choice.

Mexican drug cartels are known to have arrangements with enemy states. They transport weapons and all the goodies terrorists need across the border. As I wrote then: “they’re sort of a cartel/terrorist UPS.”

Flash forward to March, 2026. The US and Israel struck Iran, reportedly killing the Ayatollah Khamenei and as many as 40 high-ranking regime officials in the initial round of strikes.  

That’s a very good thing. It’s certainly disheartening to the 7th century Islamic lunatics running Iran, but it’s also potentially very dangerous for America here in the continental US. Why? Remember all those terrorists hanging out in America, just waiting for the “go” order?

With Khamenei and many other high-ranking terrorists that would have given the “go” order obliterated, command and control is likely at least somewhat disrupted. In the meantime, President Trump has demanded the surrender of the Iranian military, suggesting the possibility of “immunity” of some kind: 

Graphic: Truth Social Post

“We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social where he also announced that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was dead. “As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!'”

A sane enemy might take advantage of that offer, and I suspect some of the remaining, high-ranking functionaries will. However, Iran, like every other Arab/Muslim culture in the Middle East is an honor culture. They will not take their humiliation and impending military defeat well. Some of the remaining Iranian officials may very well give the “go” order. And even if they don’t, the individual jihadists in America are likely to activate their cells without any order from Tehran.

These are 7th century barbarians, people whose entire lives have been formed around the idea that America is the Great Satan and that it is their life’s duty to conquer all infidels to establish a world-wide Islamic caliphate. They are Shia Twelvers. They believe there is a 12th Imam who is hidden, waiting for men like them to provoke Armageddon, which will cause the 12th Imam to return and rule the world for Islam. These are not Methodists who might sample a local Baptist church. They are fanatic true believers for whom being killed in Jihad is their highest earthly aspiration.

They will not do 9-11 style attacks. Such events are likely to be discovered and intercepted. Instead, small groups of terrorists, armed with automatic weapons and explosives, will attack public gathering places in every state of the union. Grocery stores, theaters, parks, sporting events, schools, anywhere they can kill large numbers of infidels before they’re killed. They’ll keep killing until they run out of ammunition—then they’ll use knives—or until they’re killed.

Even without a formal “go” order, many of these fanatics will take it upon themselves to take the path of Jihad out of revenge and religious fervor.

But won’t the police protect me? They’d love to, but there aren’t nearly enough of them, and even if it takes multiple officers a mere five minutes to respond to an attack—that’s an outrageously optimistic response time—hundreds—including you and people you love—could be dead.

So, what do we do?  Stay at home? Shut down America? We don’t do that. We’re Americans and we’re really bad at running scared. We prepare, and we do that by going armed, and by practicing situational awareness as we’re never done before. The police call that putting one’s head on a swivel, being very aware of your surroundings, keeping an eye out for anything unusual or threatening, knowing where entrances and exits are and always asking “what if?” That means continually thinking and planning ahead.

This isn’t unreasonable paranoia, but a reasonable assessment of a potential threat. Situational awareness can allow one to avoid trouble because they identify it early enough to simply leave before things get western. It also allows those so trained and inclined to be ready to effectively fight back, perhaps ending a terrorist attack before it really begins. That’s American too.

It’s possible Iran might be under new management in days. It’s possible the Middle East will know a peace it never thought possible. But even if those wonderful possibilities happen, the terrorist threat in America is at a fever pitch. Be aware, be prepared and be strong.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. 

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/03/heads_on_a_swivel.html