Will terrorists be the end of altruism?

Overshadowed by the murder of police officers in Dallas, Texas, was a chilling incident in Georgia in which a caller dialed 911 to report a car-break in and then ambushed the responding officer. USA Today explained:

The call came in just before 8:00 to the Three Oaks Apartments in Valdosta about damage to property… “Upon arrival, VPD officer encountered a male in the parking lot. Gun shots were exchanged,” according to a statement from police. WALB-TV reports the officer was under fire immediately after arriving on the scene. The officer also shot the suspect, who has not been identified. Both were taken to the hospital.

Dallas, Texas, July 9, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri.

In some ways, the episode was similar to an ambush perpetrated by the Islamic State in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula almost a year ago. As Jane’s 360 reported:

The local branch of the Islamic State in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula claimed on 15 July that it had destroyed an Egyptian frigate with a missile. The statement from Wilayat Sinai was accompanied by still images that appeared to show a projectile heading towards a patrol boat, exploding, and the vessel burning. The Egyptian military confirmed there was an attack on a coastguard vessel….

There were numerous reports that the Egyptian was responding to a distress call when attacked. If that is true, it threatens longstanding law of a sea which mandates a response to distress.

Terrorists, be they domestic or foreign, often take advantage of what they deem weakness in society.

Terrorists, be they domestic or foreign, often take advantage of what they deem weakness in society. In the West — and in countries which aspire to Western values — that is often the desire by police and military to protect the innocent and respond to those in distress.

In the debate about how best to counter terrorism, many analysts and activists worry that too much emphasis on surveillance and security can undermine civil rights and freedoms. That is subject to debate (and the trustworthiness of government) but the vast majority of people argue that they want some security. Perhaps that’s why terrorists are seeking to undermine the altruism and the desire to help those in distress which underlies public service.