Do you feel safer now - four years after 9/11?

[RickSp]

George Bush ran for re-election on the claim that he would make us safer than would John Kerry.

We have now seen in the criminal incompetence of FEMA, as part of the Department of Homeland Security, that even after all the billions spent, in the case of a major terrorist attack, the Department of Homeland Security would probably only make things worse. After all, with Hurricane Katrina the Department of Homeland Security had several days advance notice. Most terrorists will not be accommodating.

Bush keeps claiming that his invasion and occupation of Iraq is a key element in his "Global War on Terror." That may be true but it is hard to tell whose side he is on. Prior to the invasion Al Queda had no significant presence in Iraq. They now range freely over Iraq and occupy at least one strategic town near the Syrian border.

An Al Queda operative recently captured in northern Iraq had planning documents for the London suicide attackes. So instead of making us safer, the conflict in Iraq is spreading to Europe. How long till it arrives on these shores?

Terrorist had plans for London attacks

A terrorist captured near the Syrian border last month had a computer "thumb drive" that contained planning information about the July 7 suicide bombings in London, according to a U.S. military officer. Col. Robert Brown, commander of the 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division in Mosul, said that the man was captured north of Qaim in western Iraq and that authorities had connected him to the al Qaeda terrorist network. It is the first evidence of a link between the London bombs and terrorists in Iraq, but fits with other evidence of a growing presence in Iraq by al Qaeda, which has taken responsibility for the British attacks. Qaim, a Euphrates River border town, fell under the control of fighters claiming allegiance to Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization Monday, according to tribal members, officials, residents and others quoted yesterday by the Associated Press.

Can anyone reasonably claim that we are safer under the reign of our mad king?

[ibm]

the government should and can make us safer. we should rely on our government to make us safer, or at least feel so.

above is the mentality that american people today badly need to get rid of. this is a corrupted government. it has been for quite some time now.

[SteveA]

"Do you feel safer now - four years after 9/11?"

No, I'm more worried about our response than I've been over terrorists. I think it was the "You're either for us, or against us" speech that was the turning point in my sentiments.

I forget the exact quote but Thomas Jefferson said something along the lines of, "Those who prefer security over liberty, deserve neither". That's a sentiment I've come to understand a bit more clearly.

[Clarence]

How long till the conflict reaches our shores? It just did. pain and suffering at the hands of others induces vengful feelings in those affected. There are many people from New Orleans who were just converted to "terrorists". If nothing is done to punish the powers that be, these people will take it upon themselves. myself, being middle class white in the heartland, will probably be mistaken as a target. soo tragic. the fight against terrorism is now in U.S. citizen's hands. If we fail to raise a big enough stink, our way of life will crumble. as surely as the sun will set.

[Mia]

No.

[Pooeypants]

I feel exactly the same; not that bothered. Chances are, I'm far more likely to be killed in a motoring accident. I don't see people afraid walk out on to the streets on account of the cars so what's the big deal?

[Mia]

lol...we only have to worry before an election. Suddenly there's a terror alert every 5 minutes.....

[grandpa]

Quote by: Mia lol...we only have to worry before an election. Suddenly there's a terror alert every 5 minutes.....

I've noticed that, too. I'm glad our government has a means by which to keep us afraid. Without all that fear and ignorance, our collective intelligence and character building skills would be crippled.

Grandpa h.

[Osborn F Enready]

Grandpa said:
I'm glad our government has a means by which to keep us afraid. Without all that fear and ignorance, our collective intelligence and character building skills would be crippled.

I say:
ROFLMAO.... that is just funny.

I hate humor at freedom expense, but, being ironic in times of crises has a way of being funny more than it should.

[Osborn F Enready]

ON topic, I feel safer now because I have more ammunition for my weapons than I did on 9-11, as well as more training, more conviction, and more proof that I am on the right side.

[Logjam]

We are much safer now that we were prior to 9/11. Here's why:

1. The Taliban, which was a breeding ground for terrorists and Al Quida is out of power in Afghanistan.

2. Osama Ben Laden is on the run and has been his ability to plan attacks upon us has been minimaized.

3. Saddam Hussein is out of power and his ability to whip up WMD and to help terrorists has been stopped.

4. Terrorists are spending their time attacking Americans and our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan instead of attacking us here.

5. Iraq is well on the way of establishing a democratic government which will be more peaceful than was the Baathists government.

6. Syria, while still dangerous is having more trouble sending it's potential martyrs to Iraq.

7. The terrorists know that we mean business. If they do hit us they know that it'll cost them their lives. This makes them re-consider; and hopefully change their ways.

8. Lastly, if we win in Iraq, Iran will have to stand up and take notice too, and we may avoid a conflict with those guys. If we win in Iraq we'll have seasoned troops on their border, and leader of Iran will know that if they raise their ugly head we'll bite it off. If we lose in Iraq, of course Iran will have a free reign to commit terror where ever the want to do so.

[Osborn F Enready]

Wrong.

We are poking the hornets nest, while at the same time showing how our technologically advanced armies are not equipped with leadership trained to adequately deal with guerilla tactics, and extremist dilligence.

I am a rabid consumer of anything tactical, because I understand how tactics win wars. We are coping, we are not winning. We are suffering greater losses, than the terroists, and the Iraqis are suffering even greater losses because we chose their land as the international battlefield.

One entire company of Special Ops, could have caused more damage, more results, and less losses if put into the field properly. Our tactics are showing how ill prepared we were for this type of confrontation, and each day, the terrorist notebook is getting thicker on how to beat the over-equipped, under-trained military that is being applied to the problem.

[rcne]

Every time one of our neighbors across the pond(s) take down a cell or becomes aware of the danger in their own back yard and takes actions against it I feel safer.

Thousands of the terrorist are now dead - and thats a good thing as Martha Steward says. They must hide now and watch out for everyone.

South Asia is no longer safe for them, The UK is no longer a safe haven, Europe in general due to the snake that raised its head in the UK is taking measures to identify terrorist.

Once you find a roach and lift the board and find many more you take action against them.

So yes I definitely feel safer. The rest of the world now knows that they are targets also. Since they do we are all safer.

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: Logjam We are much safer now that we were prior to 9/11. Here's why: 2. Osama Ben Laden is on the run and has been his ability to plan attacks upon us has been minimaized.

The sound was off but the graphic at the bottom of the screen said today that Al Q is saying Los Angeles and Australia are to be attacked. Osama Bin Laden may have been on the run but it kind of looks as if he has stopped to catch his breath.

4. Terrorists are spending their time attacking Americans and our allies in Iraq and Afghanistan instead of attacking us here.

Not proven, as far as I know. Iraqis who just want us OUT of their country don't qualify as terrorists. Regardless of whether we invaded them for a good reason or a bad reason, we DID invade them and you have no proof these people would be attacking us here if we hadn't. It's all a guess based on flimsy and conflicting information.

5. Iraq is well on the way of establishing a democratic government which will be more peaceful than was the Baathists government.

That's counting the chickens WELL before they are hatched. Even if they DO establish a stable democratic government, which they do NOT have at this time, given the violent cultures and usual instability of the region there is no guarantee as to how long it will stay that way.

And the Baathist government under Saddam Hussein WAS peaceful. You did what you were told and you didn't get whacked. Simple as that. It was stable and peaceful because there would be hell to pay if it wasn't.

6. Syria, while still dangerous is having more trouble sending it's potential martyrs to Iraq.

How do you know?

7. The terrorists know that we mean business. If they do hit us they know that it'll cost them their lives. This makes them re-consider; and hopefully change their ways.

That's a fantasy. When you have a load of people who are happy to blow themselves up and cash in their 70 virgins gift certificate, death doesn't seem like much of a deterrent.
The terrorists mean business TOO and they also know we are not all that wild about dying. Morale-wise, this probably gives them an edge.

8. Lastly, if we win in Iraq, Iran will have to stand up and take notice too, and we may avoid a conflict with those guys. If we win in Iraq we'll have seasoned troops on their border, and leader of Iran will know that if they raise their ugly head we'll bite it off.

Somebody should tell the president that, because he has this notion that we will be out of that country when the Iraqis take over. But if you mean seasoned IRAQI troops on the border, they tried that once already, remember? And that was with us helping Saddam too.

If we lose in Iraq, of course Iran will have a free reign to commit terror where ever the want to do so.

There is no proof I am aware of that they "commit terror" now, but if they do there is nothing to stop them anyway, with or without the Iran/Iraq border covered in troops.

[RickSp]

The nice thing about self delusion is that it makes one worry less. Of course the Taliban is still very much in control of key sections of Afghanistan. Osama is hardly on the run. He is esconced comfortably somewhere in Pakistan, at least according to all estimates. Saddam was never a threat to us before the war and he still isn't. His country is a terrorist breeding ground according to Bush's own CIA and yes, by the way we are losing the damn war. US and Iraqi troops just cleared out Tal Afar for the second time in two years. They met little resistance and the insurgents will no doubt be back as soon as they leave. The democratic government Logjam dreams about is a joke. If we are lucky we will get an only moderatedly oppressive Islamic Republic with close ties to Iran. I doubt we will be that lucky.

But, hey, self delusion is great.

[Pooeypants]

It doesn't matter whether Osama Bin Laden is on the run or not, Al Qaeda was just a small affliation of disillusioned Islamists. The invasion of Afghanistan sent what few of them scattering into the foothills, so to speak. There is no global organisation of terror which one bearded man in a dingy little cave controls, there simply isn't any evidence of that. What we do have are phantoms, ghosts that we will forever be chasing.

Al Qaeda the idea however, is what has and will continue to cause problems unless we address the root of it. The London bombings are an example of its dangers, fighting ideas with bullets will only lead to genocide.

Don't be caught in the politics of fear.

[Osborn F Enready]

I agree Pooey.

[Logjam]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready Wrong. We are poking the hornets nest, while at the same time showing how our technologically advanced armies are not equipped with leadership trained to adequately deal with guerilla tactics, and extremist dilligence.

We should stop "poking" at that nest, and hit it with a hammer.

Now, listen closely: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRORISTS ATTACKS UPON OUR COUNTRY!

We have suffered terrorists attackes for decades and we have done little. Bush put his foot down. He has essentially announced to the terrorists that we aren't going to take it any more.

Haven't you seen the list of attacks we suffered before 9/11? Aircraft highjacked, passengers thrown over the side of cruise ships, embassies bombed, night clubs bombed, ships bombed, etc. All of these attacks happened before 9/11. Before we "poked" the nest.

You must understand that the terrorists are trying to destroy our nation, our way of life and our people. Rolling over for them will just make it easier for them to hit us again.

Don't you understand that simple fact?

[Osborn F Enready]

I don't logjam, because it is NOT a FACT.

Do you understand the meaning of entangling alliances?

Do you not understand that since we began the practice of such alliances, we have become the target for those who we target by our alliances?

Obviously not.

[Logjam]

Quote by: RickSp Osama is hardly on the run. He is esconced comfortably somewhere in Pakistan, at least according to all estimates. What! The guy has his head so far down all he can see are his heals! One public appearance and we'll have him. We have hundreds of smart guys searching the hills for him. He cannot operate nearly as freely as he did before we attacked. Saddam was never a threat to us before the war and he still isn't.

Are you crazy?! Saddam was shooting at our aircraft. He was paying terrorists to attack allies. He was scheming to build and deploy nuke and chem weapons. He had Al Quida training camps in Iraq. He was not our friend fella, and given a chance he would have hit us hard. What are you doing? Putting your faith in the goodness of Saddam Hussein?

Take some deep breaths of fresh air and stop smoking those funny cigarettes.

The World is a much better place with Saddam gone. And we are safer for it.