Terrorism is NOT 100% preventable - MI5
Sep 17, 2010 | 12:02 am
#1
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Terrorism is NOT 100% preventable - MI5
Jonathan Evans - Head of MI5 -gave a speech last night talking about the terror threat in the UK.
Although amongst other things it would have just been his way of getting a message to the government not to cut back of the security budget when the cuts are announced, he did include this quote
IMO the biggest thing here is that this guy doesn't have to play politics, he can just tell it as it is
Although amongst other things it would have just been his way of getting a message to the government not to cut back of the security budget when the cuts are announced, he did include this quote
In recent years we appear increasingly to have imported from the American media the assumption that terrorism is 100% preventable and any incident that is not prevented is seen as a culpable government failure.
This is a nonsensical way to consider terrorist risk and only plays into the hands of the terrorists themselves. Risk can be managed and reduced but it cannot realistically be abolished and if we delude ourselves that it can we are setting ourselves up for a nasty disappointment
This is a nonsensical way to consider terrorist risk and only plays into the hands of the terrorists themselves. Risk can be managed and reduced but it cannot realistically be abolished and if we delude ourselves that it can we are setting ourselves up for a nasty disappointment
Sep 17, 2010 | 1:17 am
#3
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I think almost everybody can agree on that. No matter what you do, no matter how extreme you get, something's gonna happen. The best anti-terror regime in the world will be breached. So things must be approached in a balanced way. Don't give up crucial freedoms for the promise of perfect safety.
Sep 17, 2010 | 1:56 am
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... and in related news, the US DHS -- like its various related counterparts in the UK -- continues to respond like clowns to clowns who lack the "skills or character to make credible terrorists" of themselves. Witness the US and UK airport "security" dog and pony show, including that put up in response to even make-believe "plots".
Sep 17, 2010 | 1:56 am
#5
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The fact that we see that statement as one that not everyone in a government position can make is just sad.
Sep 17, 2010 | 9:59 am
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The fact that we see that statement as one that not everyone in a government position can make is just sad.
and now back to our regularly scheduled topic....
Sep 17, 2010 | 11:30 am
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I think almost everybody can agree on that. No matter what you do, no matter how extreme you get, something's gonna happen. The best anti-terror regime in the world will be breached. So things must be approached in a balanced way. Don't give up crucial freedoms for the promise of perfect safety.
It's this sort of nonsense that has dragged our country into the sad shape that we're in now. Unfortunately, most rank and file Americans are unsophisticated enough or unwilling to accept that not only is terrorism generally unpreventable, the risk of harm from terrorism is a tiny, almost immeasurable fraction of the risk that comes from our everyday activities like driving.
This is why pandering to fear is such a strong political tactic.
Sep 17, 2010 | 11:52 am
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Oh boy, don't let Pissy & Nappy find out! If they do, I bet we'll see another pointless useful piece of $#!@ hardware designed to keep us safe 
Sep 17, 2010 | 1:55 pm
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Government Safety
Remember when:
Asbestos was considered SAFE?
DDT was considered SAFE?
Carbon tetrachloride was considered SAFE?
Tylenol was considered SAFE?
X-Ray Feet scanners were considered SAFE?
Mercury tooth fillings were considered SAFE?
Lead paint was considered SAFE?
Backscatter body scanners were considered SAFE?
Just wait and see if my prediction becomes a footnote in history.^
P.S. These are the same people we are going to trust with our health care? GOD HELP US ALL!
Asbestos was considered SAFE?
DDT was considered SAFE?
Carbon tetrachloride was considered SAFE?
Tylenol was considered SAFE?
X-Ray Feet scanners were considered SAFE?
Mercury tooth fillings were considered SAFE?
Lead paint was considered SAFE?
Backscatter body scanners were considered SAFE?
Just wait and see if my prediction becomes a footnote in history.^
P.S. These are the same people we are going to trust with our health care? GOD HELP US ALL!
Sep 17, 2010 | 2:13 pm
#12
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The problem is, not everyone does agree with that - or believes it. Many of the Kettles think terrorism is 100% preventable, and if it isn't given the current security procedures, we need to ramp those procedures up until it is preventable.
It's this sort of nonsense that has dragged our country into the sad shape that we're in now. Unfortunately, most rank and file Americans are unsophisticated enough or unwilling to accept that not only is terrorism generally unpreventable, the risk of harm from terrorism is a tiny, almost immeasurable fraction of the risk that comes from our everyday activities like driving.
This is why pandering to fear is such a strong political tactic.
It's this sort of nonsense that has dragged our country into the sad shape that we're in now. Unfortunately, most rank and file Americans are unsophisticated enough or unwilling to accept that not only is terrorism generally unpreventable, the risk of harm from terrorism is a tiny, almost immeasurable fraction of the risk that comes from our everyday activities like driving.
This is why pandering to fear is such a strong political tactic.
Sep 17, 2010 | 5:42 pm
#13
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sadly, there are TSA employees who post on this site who also believe this...
Sep 17, 2010 | 7:48 pm
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The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower