The news is doing better on the IRC shooting. But old habits die hard. This does not include CNN and FOX News, both of which are not reliable sources. Some would argue they aren't even legitimate news agencies.
Should people have known the Farook's had radicalized? Not really, it seems more common they don't know. A Sunday School teacher was on the verge of taking her 11 year old brother to Syria to join ISIL. Her family fortunately discovered it. Some parents don't realize until their kids leave a note and are heading to the airport. Some people leave nothing and make it to Syria, leaving families and friends shocked.
Were the neighbors wrong to not report the Farooks? That depends. There is a big difference between having friends over and having suspicious looking friends over. That shouldn't be a factor no matter who it is.
One thing the media needs to do is drop the baby. These two were fully radicalized. Whatever was going on, they were willing to die. No one takes their bombs and baby, guns down people and go on a high speed shootout. That would have shocked the hell out of everyone.
It's normal to wonder if the murdering duo destroyed computers and phones to cover outside (non Syrian) contacts. It makes sense because if they were directly ISIL recruits, there would be no need to destroy anything. ISIL is in Syria and has its hands full there.
Reports keep indicating the couple attacked the IRC and then planned to hit something else. That doesn't make as much sense. According to the inventory we are being told about, it appears they were planning a much bigger hit. Their actions indicate that a racially charged argument caused Farook to forego the original target and acted impulsively instead.
What if, however, the garage was a bomb store and not a personal workshop? The impulse killing caused it to be exposed but then it was mistaken. Possible but that doesn't feel right. It would be more likely they were working with others than being solo over just making and/or selling. On the other hand, if they were totally or mostly independent, then many things they did will likely never be understood.
The news is targeting Malik as the bad guy. Let's keep this straight. They are both, equally and collectively murderers. Neither of these people should be viewed, even in the slightest, as a victim of another.
Farook fits the ISIL target age group. He was lonely, few friends, bored, racially oppressed. (As apposed to the other groups; racially sympathetic or thrill seekers.)
The reports from Pakistan on Malik are indicating she had extremist ties within her family. As far as her visa goes, visa and illegal border crossing remain just behind American radicalization as the most likely way for terrorists attacks to occur. Some visa are easy to get, others more difficult. All are much easier than the years and micro-detailed path of going through the refugee program.
Right now the road is leading away from this being a hybrid attack. That is the only good sign in sight so far. If that should change or happen elsewhere then America has a huge problem.
We may actually see bombs and babies strapped to their mothers in a gun fighting shootout.
There is so much that can be done to fight ISIL from America. Focus on ISIL. Show what they really are, what life is really like being with them and what happens when people try and leave. The media should drill that with the intensity they did against Muslims after 9/11 and the Paris attacks.
The media, overall is doing much better on not playing racial cards to lure viewers. Maybe Paris taught them something after all or this shooting woke them up a bit.
Perhaps the biggest thing that can be done is for the media and people to flood the web and TV on what is and isn't racism. Americans seem to be unclear on the definition. America needs to learn this and fast.
As of today, in America, the count is: Asians, Native Americans, Caucasians, African-Americans, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindi- 0. Terrorists and racists- 14 dead and 21 injured.
