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Posted by: Joel Gaines on

11:36 PM  

I was in DC on September 11, my family and I got back on a plane and flew across country on the 16th. The (or at least some of) Dulles terrorists stayed in the hotel room around the corner ours. We came home to an invitation for interviews with the FBI.

Having said all of that, I think we are safer. I think our dillegence or the constant reminder to be dilligent makes us safer. I could be wrong.

I do know we've gotten rid of a lot of bad guys in other countries, rather than fighting them here in ours. We don't really know war in the US, except as a spectator sport to argue over. I think I am right about my view of this based upon my experiences overseas. I've been to about 30 countries, but just looking at Korea and Germany (before unification) - the closer we got to the border with the communist counterpart, the nicer the people were to us. In Kuwait, even in Iraq, during GW1 people were always offering us things and trying to feed us - and I saw what Baathists were about in Kuwait city. Horrible. I can't imagine living under that regime for so many years.

If the only answer is to live in fear, what's the point? We have to be able to create the same kind of hope for others that we enjoy. The down side is people get killed and that's not pretty. Peace doesn't just happen though. I can't think of a single instance in history of that. Maybe one day humans will change.

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Posted by: veggiedude on

11:44 PM  

The first Gulf War produced Bin Laden. How many Bin Ladens will the current conflict bring forth? And currently, the overwhelming evidence points to Iran as the main culprit for the 9/11 terrorists. Does that mean we are in for another War? Can we afford it? What about Afganistan? When will we have the time and money to finish what we started?

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Posted by: Joel Gaines on

12:37 AM  

"The first Gulf War produced Bin Laden."

Tony, I know you have done enough research to know al qaeda was formed 3 years before the first gulf war. Bin Laden, by 1989 was already deeply engaged in spreading Wahhabist doctrine as a religious leader/Mujihadeen hero. Did you really think I would let that go without comment? :)

I think the Iraq war brought a bunch of them out of the woodwork, true. I don't think it is seterring them from trying to come over here and do dirty deeds. Yet, I feel we have alot better security infrastructure, even with its flaws, than we've ever had.

Iran may be culpable in making it easy for the hijackers to avoid Iranian stamps on their passports (which would make them highly suspected and scrutinized on entry to the US) and I am as certain as you are that Iran has done more than we know today, but I honestly believe Iran is going to "implode" politically. The majority of the population is under the age of 25, so they don't have the demon view of the US that the mullocracy was able to use earlier. Reforms are being demanded from within. I think Israel will take care of the nuclear threat Iran poses.

No, we can't afford another war - we are barely affording this one. especially with troops still rotating through Bosnia and a couple of other peacekeeping missions. I'm not sure about the other forces, but our Army is pretty much fully deployed.

Our best hope in Iraq is that the ICDC is able to take over the vast majority of the security functions within the next 10-14 months. I think that's crucial.

Afghanistan is a whole different animal. Very different culture than Iraq. Look at the roles of women in each place, as an example.

We have a very tough role in the world. I believe we should be a catalyst for change in places where hope is lost otherwise. Not always with force or the threat of it - but I would not discount it as a means to an end.

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Posted by: veggiedude on

12:47 AM  

I don't feel safer and I said so on July 10th. There are no guards at any of the thousands of chemical plants across the USA. Easy target for any wannabe terrorist. And Bush did not want to spend a billion dollars to outfit commercial airplanes with anti-missile system. How can that be? Until those things are done, I will never feel that the government is living up to its commitment to safeguard the American people.

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Posted by: Joel Gaines on

10:11 AM  

On those items, specifically, I agree with you totally.

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