I've watched the events in Ferguson with a little detachment. I think we're seeing the beginnings of protests about the economy. The incident is simply a cover for other issues.
I watched the interview with Officer Wilson. I'm on the opposite side of the majority of my audience here. The story sounds flaky as hell. The shooting might have been justified, we'll never really know, but his telling of events is just off as fuck.
But ignoring all of that.
This should catch everyone's attention and the focus should shift to national security and the vulnerability of today's youth to glom onto whatever the hot thing is...and ISIS' ability to tailor their message to appeal to them. Check this out from the Daily Mail...
The note Hussain posted on Twitter today is titled 'From #IS 2 Ferguson' and contains a promise to send militants to the Missouri city if protesters pledge allegiance to ISIS.You can ignore the implications if you like but I hope security professionals aren't.
It reads: 'We hear you and we will help you if you accept Islam and reject corrupt man-made laws like democracy and pledge your allegiance to Caliph Abu Bakr and then we will shed our blood for you and send our soldiers that don't sleep, whose drink is blood, and their play is carnage.'
Underneath the picture Hussain tweeted: 'Accept Islam & give bayah [allegiance] to Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi & then we will send u soldiers that don't sleep! - #IS #Ferguson'.
The note was accompanied by a photograph of a number of masked young men posing with assault rifles and mobile phone cases bearing the black and white logo of the Islamic State.
It is understood the men in the photograph are militants based in ISIS-held areas of Syria and Iraq, and that one of the men is 20-year-old Hussain.
Another militant, who uses the Twitter handle @Abu 3antar Britani and is also thought to be British, tweeted: 'From #IS to #Ferguson we heard your call and we are ready to respond! #FergusonDecision #BeLikeMalcolmX #FightBack'.
Juvenile unemployment is high.
Black and Hispanic youth unemployment is in the stratosphere.
The Islamic State has a tailor made audience for their message, these people feel alienated from society, have high energy and like all young men are looking for a cause to believe in AND fight for.