Newark Needs a Surge

Having grown up a mere 10 miles from Newark, NJ (although in terms of environment and living conditions it was more like 100 miles) I can attest to how the execution style murders of those young adults there this past week has shocked this region. To know Newark is to be inured of Newark's dysfunction. Most people just know Newark as the disaster that has always been there and nobody is ever shocked about what goes on there. It's just Newark. But these killings have done the remarkable - they've created shock where shock was barely possible. Who knows if the shock will spur any people out of there mental comas or if it will fade without bringing any reassessment. Will Newark rethink its sanctuary city policy? Will the black community attack the "no snitchin' " culture and teach its youth to respect and work with law enforcement to cull the community's ne'er-do-wells and promote safety? Will parole boards and judges learn what serial criminals look like and endeavor to keep these people removed from society? Will the NY Times offer anything more than touchy-feely platitudes as a solution? Or will Newark just go on being Newark? Alas I am pessimistic. What Newark needs is a "surge". Newark needs a big bang, aggressive anti-gang counter-insurgency, but this is the northeast, after all, where the first reaction is to look for and debate endlessly the "root causes".

I propose enlisting the help of New Jersey native, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno after he's done with his job overseas.