Only problem with that is ... none of us are bad guys. Guessing what someone else might do is not the same as knowing what they will do.

We're back to what Schneier (among others) has said: there's no substitute for good intelligence-gathering.

Once you have gathered the intelligence, you have to share it with the agencies that need it. Over and over this seems to be where the problem lies. The boys don't want to share. :td:

Maybe the pipes in the white house have special kool-aide piped in.

One way to not be scared it to consider the reasons it hasn't happened yet. Malvo was a good example of non-airport terror, so it isn't like the idea hasn't occurred to "them".

My take is that the "terrorists" are boogeymen. It hasn't happened yet because it isn't worth it to the people capable of doing it.

A real government won't do it because it is an act of war and it would turn out badly (see Iraq, Afghanistan...) Giving the bombs, cars, cash, training, support, and one-way tickets to a person capable enough to pull off the duplicity required would likely result in the agent going native while they wait for a good time to commit murder. As long as we're still the land of opportunity, a potential terrorist could do a whole lot better for himself and his family by working rather than blowing himself up.

Worrying too much about "What if?" gets you our professional paranoids at TSA. What we should focus on is "Why not?" Improving emergency preparedness, emergency response, intelligence, and investigation will be far more productive than chasing boogymen.

I think this white washes a lot of the 1950's and the general attitude towards communism, but the sentiment is correct even if the metaphor isn't.

Terror Math
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When the terrorists succeed in an attack, their is somberness, sadness, and reflection. When they fail, there is flailing, fear, and overreaction. We have lost do to the fact that our leaders (both parties media etc.) have no vested interest in actually protecting us. They survive and use to their advantage this state of fear.

I think a lot of non-airplane terror has occured and we just don't remember it. Remember Oklahoma city? remember the first WTC bombings? Not only was their significantly less knee jerk reaction, their is actually less memory too. Airplanes are effective as a target because people use them but infrequently, interact with new and unknown people in them, and have a relatively common fear of them in general.

EVERYONE HERE needs to re-examine how they are looking at the whole "Islamic terroist" problem.

WHAT IS IT YOU THINK YOU WANT?

Is it that you want "terrorist" incidents to stop and for flying to be "safe"?

The GOAL of Islam is to (one way or another) convert the world's people to Islam and Sharia law.

Would you be content if Islam and the terrorists conquered your nation and people and either brought everyone, muslims and "unbelievers" under Sharia law (or finally KILLED those who would not convert) IF THEY JUST USED PEACEFUL, POLITICAL, LEGAL AND NON-VIOLENT MEANS TO SEIZE POWER AND CONTROL OF YOU COUNTRY? (Massive immigration into a non-muslim nation, very high birth rate, high priority on converting population to Islam, emphasis on gettting Muslims into positions of political power and influence.

AS LONG AS IT WAS ACHIEVED LEGALLY AND PEACEFULLY, WOULD YOU SURRENDER TO Islamic rule, SHARIA LAW AND ISLAM AS THE ONLY OFFICIAL RELIGION?

Most (non-Islamic) people would say NO.

But that is EXACTLY what is happening. Your attention is drawn away to focus on "terrorists" while massive numbers of these people committed and supportive of this destructive ideology (unable to renounce Islam upon threat of death) are immigrating, have explosive birth rates, are changing the cultural norms in their new non-muslim countries, are inserting themselves into political and social positions of power and influence, are converting everyone they can to what most misunderstand as merely "another religion" and will sooner rather than later become strong enough politicallly to USE THE POLITICAL AND LEGAL PROCESSES OF FREE NATIONS AS WEAPONS AGAINST THAT FREE PEOPLE TO CONQUER THEM.

Remember if your democratic nation has a law and policy that "it doesn't matter which religion triumphs over the hearts and minds of our people" "all religions are equally respected" YOU ARE PRIME CANDIDATES AND TARGETS TO FALL TO BEING PEACEFULLY, LEGALLY, QUIETLY CONQUERED BY ISLAM. You defend no religion as "better" than another, so you cannot object to the triumph of Islam.

Once Islam rules, you should know the profoundly different way they regard women, gays, lesbians, children, animals and non-believers.

Beware of the DIVERSION that terrorism provides from our being more concerned and protecting ourselves from "peaceful Islam".

PC or not it must be said: Our real enemy is not a handful of religious extremists but is a certain destructive, intolerant, dangerous, violent religious ideology called Islam.

If you don't do SOMETHING about the quiet conquering of free people by Islam, YOU MIGHT AS WELL SURRENDER TO THE TERRORIST DEMANDS NOW AND AVOID THE RUSH. Then you would have your "safe flying", if that is your only goal.

Wow...that was patently offensive :rolleyes:

Islam is not attacking us. People are trying to attack us. Part of the problem is that not only has religious intolerance and hatred been tolerated because of the current climate of fear, but it has been encouraged.

Did you ever consider from 'their' point of view, Christianity is attacking 'them' and trying to force their ways on 'them'...of course not and your likely not capable of understanding the comparison.

Not only is your rant not PC, its not even close to correct.:td:

AINITFUNNY, I am not Islamic, but I do not believe it is right to condemn other people's beliefs nor do I believe that this forum is the place for hate speech.

I recently moved to Brussels, Beglium and regularly shop in stores that are mostly run, staffed, and frequented by Muslims. The store owners are always very nice to me and not one person has ever tried to 'convert' me to their faith nor handed me handy :rolleyes: information pamphlets on Islam.

I am somewhat surprised that this has not happened already to some degree.

How would it go over if Mall of America was hit, or a major Las Vegas casino?

There are very few "terrorists". They are mostly inept. Barely enough to keep our homegrown fearmongers alive.

Boggie Dog "Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party"? :rolleyes: @:-)

I think air travel has given them a good bang for their buck. Just threaten (don't actually have to succeed) and watch the vast majority of the western world cower in fear.

Mall of America attack would only affect the US. An air scare reaches its tentacles out into Europe etc. Not only that, it makes the US start dictating policy to other sovereign nations, thus furthering the image of it being the great Satan of the world.

Just some thoughts.

And yes, after watching all the hoopla on the news today, I still think good is dumb. :( :td:

And yet, 19 of them managed to take over four airliners and demoralize an entire nation followed by getting said nation to nearly shred its constitution in the name of security.

Meanwhile, their leader is safely tucked away somewhere plotting more ineptness.

Sounds like they accomplished their goal. Sad our government seems so intent on letting them win. :td:

we dont need terrorists to keep the fear wagon loaded. a high school kid walks into a school with a gun and we go off the deep end. we do exactly the same things. point fingers, call for resignations, demand justice. it takes very, very little to throw us off balance.