"ISIL and other terrorist groups do not pose an existential threat to America," says FBI Director Jim Comey...
To all:
During a time of year that is usually filled with good cheer, the American people are feeling a significant amount of anxiety. Because I believe they rightly view the FBI as a competent and independent force in the life of our country, I have been doing more public speaking about our work than I might normally. My goal is to explain our work, and urge them not to let fear become disabling, but to instead channel it into something healthy – an awareness of our surroundings.
When I first became Director, my children were each given a copy of the book, “The Gift of Fear,” which teaches the channeling of instinctual fear into awareness. My family learned there are four possible states of existence: Red (you are in a fight for your life); Orange (you are preparing to fight); Yellow (you are keenly aware of your surroundings); and White (you have your headphones on listening to music and are texting on a lonely subway platform late at night). It is impossible to live life in a prolonged state of Red or Orange because the stress level would destroy you. Most people instead live in White, moving through parking lots or restaurants unaware of what’s happening around them. Yellow is a life of balance – acknowledgement that there is evil around us, but with awareness, not disabling fear.
This holiday season you will have many opportunities to represent us to the American people, in all kinds of conversations. Friends and relatives will ask you what’s going on and whether they should be afraid. They should not be afraid. ISIL and other terrorist groups do not pose an existential threat to America; our great country is too big and too good. Instead, terrorists hope to kill, or inspire others to kill, in order to induce a crippling fear. These savages actually believe they can significantly damage our country and our economy through fear. They cannot and they will not.
The people of the FBI work every day to find and stop the killers. We have stopped many this year. Unfortunately, the nature of the threat is such that we simply can’t see it all, and so we can’t stop it all. Because the potential killers are hard to see, we depend upon people telling us when they see something concerning; we depend upon people living in Yellow, not White.
And part of enlisting that help is the trust we have earned – and must keep – with Americans of all backgrounds. I have long believed that the enduring power of this country lies in the talent and character of the people we attract. I am so lucky that my ancestors came here. A whole lot of folks back in the day weren’t too excited to have the Irish joining the American family but they made it, and in the process made America better, as have countless other groups. The FBI’s connection to all Americans is vital to our success. Thank you for maintaining it.
However you celebrate this time of year, I hope you carve out the time to treasure your family and friends, hoist a favorite beverage, and maybe laugh until you can’t breathe. You have been working very, very hard, doing tremendous good across the land and around the world. America often asks you to sprint a marathon. But if we are to keep protecting her so well, you must take a break from time to time and step away from the work.
As for me, this Christmas my family is finally living in one place, which is a great joy. Our new house in the DC area has narrow doorways, but I am determined to drag a big fat Christmas tree into it anyway, despite my wife’s understandable skepticism. I will be responsible for vacuuming pine needles for months. But it is totally worth it.
Merry Christmas.
Jim Comey
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