Who Goes There?

“KEEP OUT”

“AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY”

“DO NOT ENTER:THIS MEANS YOU!”

These are just a few examples of the various signs posted throughout this country in various locations with but one intent: to let you, the observer, know that proceeding further will have consequences. And, just to make sure, various layers of security maintain vigilance beyond these signs.

Unfortunately, there are those that do not take these signs at face value and strive to proceed further. Some are bent on mayhem while others are merely curious. Some are suspicious looking and others appear to be a next door neighbor. And between these extremes of intent and appearance is a countless combination that creates havoc within the security details assigned to ensure only the select few are allowed to proceed further.

Michaele and Tareq Salahi created quite the stir when, earlier this week, they attended the state dinner at the White House sans (apparently) the appropriate invitation or clearance. Their modus operandi is unknown to the public at large, but their motive seems to be fame and/or fortune. They are currently peddling rights to an exclusive interview.

OK, so where do we go from here? There is a major breach of security to investigate, for certain. The fact that these two did no harm is beside the point as they were definitely in a position to do so had they wished. The additional claim that they were screened for weapons also is irrelevant as a host of weaponry could have been found or fashioned within the perimeter. (This fact exists regardless of whether the potential assailant was properly invited and screened.) No, heads will roll on this one as well they should. The claims of “everything was under control” were meant to assuage a citizenry increasingly questioning the government's ability to maintain any control whatsoever. It is obvious that everything was not, indeed, under control.

To top it all off, the Salahi’s are threatened with prosecution. I’m curious of the charge, though: brass balls, perhaps? All they did was walk up to the front door like you and I could and fabricate some cock-and-bull story to see if it would pass muster. The fact that it did has more to do with the security lapse than with the fabricators, don’t you think? I think they’ve performed a public service in shedding light onto some glaring shortcomings regarding White House security. Good for them!

To a point, however. While there is nothing wrong in looking for a highest bidder to report their story, no news organization should spend one red cent on providing insight into the processes that culminated in their unauthorized entry. They are not famous so much as the oddity du jour and should be allowed to melt back into obscurity where they more than likely belong. Anything more only encourages others to perform in kind and, while that may elevate the aptitude of security forces, the overall effect is something we could well live without.

There will always be unauthorized personnel looking to infiltrate defenses for a myriad of reasons. Authorized personnel can learn much from these attempts, successful or not, but to hail the trespassers as celebrities is ludicrous for more than one reason. God knows we have enough reality wannabe’s out there. Why encourage others?