By Joe Autera
Those who’ve attended VDI’s “Best Practices for the Solo Practitioner” course have heard us discuss the fact that absent a serious, credible threat most Principals are not likely to be very receptive to increased security measures; and “serious, credible threat” in the minds of many Principals means that someone in a similar situation or circumstance to theirs has been the victim of an attack.
While conventional wisdom holds that if the protection practitioner simply educates the Principal on the need for additional security measures they will come around to the practitioner’s way of thinking, it is often misguided. Keeping in mind that the Principal typically has a far, far different – and occasionally more realistic – perspective on security than the practitioner, the De Gaulle Axiom of Protection is likely to prevail, absent that serious, credible threat and, in some instances, despite such a threat.
The De Gaulle Axiom was coined by Charles De Gaulle while President of France, and facing a serious, credible threat of assassination. During this time period, his Chief Bodyguard, concerned over the risks posed by a specific public event De Gaulle was scheduled to attend, recommended the appearance be cancelled. It is said that De Gaulle responded “It is my job to be Charles De Gaulle, it is your job to protect me while I am being Charles De Gaulle.”
Now that is not to say that the practitioner shouldn’t take advantage of every opportunity to educate their client, no matter how few and far between they may be, but rather that they should not automatically expect to see a change in their perception of, attitude toward, or receptiveness to additional security measures; unless, as the article points to, there is a serious, credible threat.
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