The Lone Wolf

The Lone Wolf
by Mike Madias, Clinical Sociologist

Guest Columnist

July 25, 2002

Columnist Mike Madias Whenever there is an act of terrorism, the police and the press are quick to blame shadowy foreign conspiracies. And there is evidence that foreign governments and well financed quasi-governmental crime syndicates plot mayhem. But, while we protect our airports and other public venues, we have not come up with ways to prevent the crimes of the murderous lone wolf; the unibomber for example.

FBI profilers suggest that anthrax laced letters and pipe bombs are the products of solitary home grown terrorists; not affiliated with international conspiracies. Actions taken to track down these sociopaths are considered to be a sidebar to the greater military adventure. This may be a misguided strategy.

There are neo-Nazi groups operating in Europe that have organized branches in the United States. These groups go well beyond racist rhetoric. They provide training materials for aspiring saboteurs and fifth columnists. One such group, the moral and political offspring of Adolf Hitler, goes by the name "Blood and Honour".

It seems that Blood and Honour is centered in Scandinavia. In Denmark, they hold parades and public rallies in memory of Rudolf Hess, a Nazi Party deputy who was second in line, after Hermann Goring, to the chancellorship of the Third Reich. They have additional "divisions" in Sweden and Finland. From there they branch out to other national groups in Serbia, Slovinia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Blood and Honour USA is headquartered in Richardson, Texas.

The group appeals to the disaffected, the isolated and the violent in a society: the lone wolf. The slogan of the US division is "No leaders. No followers. No bulls#*t."

This quote is from the B&H International magazine Route 88, "We believe in Direct Action, Leaderless Resistance and National Revolution. We base that belief, not only on the company we keep, but we take this radical, often lonely and always dangerous stand because we have seen the failures of the old ways. And the entities and ideas which failed at the peak of their strength can hardly be picked up and polished as a new alternative for the future, which will surely become far more alarming and oppressive times."

The "Blood and Honour Field Manual" which can be downloaded, includes the following, "Direct action involves the disruption and elimination of all that is detrimental to our race and opposed to the cause of National Socialism. Direct action is also the clearest demonstration of National Socialism in action, often involving acts of great courage and heroism. As such, direct action serves to show our Cause in the best possible light, strengthens the bonds between fellow National Socialists and inspires others with the right qualities to join our Cause.

" . . . Anyone contemplating direct action must bear this in mind and take all steps possible to minimize their vulnerability to the enemy's forces.

"The most effective way to do this is to operate alone and speak to no one of your plans - the ‘lone wolf' tactic.

"The ‘lone wolf' tactic is by far the most secure approach as you are dependent on no one else for the successful completion of your plan and your personal security is entirely in your own hands. In this way, if your plan fails for whatever reason you have only yourself to blame. If your plan succeeds your courage will speak for itself."

The field manual goes on in great length to describe ways of conducting criminal "direct action" while not leaving behind evidence that can be found even by the best equipped crime labs. These techniques include ways to "clean up" a cime site after a shooting, a theft or an arson.

The covers of B&H publications feature Nazi iconography: Swastikas; National Socialist spread eagles; SS officer "Death Head" insignia. They tie in sex and rock and roll. An American B&H magazine features a picture of an attractive young woman brandishing an assault rifle. The US divison fronts a touring heavy metal band called "Youngland."

Taken one piece at a time, groups like B&H do marginal subversion, minor fraying of the fabric of the republic. But taken as a whole, the actions of these groups justify and instruct the actions of lone wolf terrorists who bomb buildings, and send anthrax through the mail.

If an international group set up subversive cells in the United States; encouraged lone wolf terrorist acts; instructed devotees in ways of exercising their fanaticism; and praised Osama Bin Laden, the Justice Department would do everything in its power to cut off its supply of funds and shut the group down. International groups like Blood and Honour do just that. The only difference is that they idolize Adolf Hitler. And they hide in plain sight. ***

Photo of Mike Madias courtesy of the author

A clinical sociologist living in the Metropolitan Detroit area, Mike's work has appeared in The Detroit News. He may be reached by e-mail at News4629@aol.com.