Terrorism is not a threat

[AdamLanes 1]

Relative to the threat we face from economic collapse, terrorists are a minor threat. Imagine hurricane Katrina as a terrorist attack. Now compare the effects of the hurricane on New Orleans and the Mississippi gulf coast to the devastation of a large-scale terrorist attack on a major US city. Hurricane Katrina was a LOCAL event, much like the attacks on September 11, 2001 were mostly LOCAL events in New York City and Washington DC. Our economic problems are a NATIONAL problem, most likely with GLOBAL repercussions. After Hurricane Katrina or the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, most people living more than 100 miles from the destruction were mainly effected by emotions. People living near the destruction could relocate and continue their lives. In the event of economic collapse, there will be nowhere to hide. There will be massive unemployment and widespread starvation. We are closer than you think; our current economy is a juggling act that can fall at anytime.

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

Relative to the threat we face from economic collapse, terrorists are a minor threat.

Your thread title is incorrect. While you may personally think that economics is more of a threat to America's survival than terrorism, that does not mean that terrorism is "not a threat". It is indeed a very real and substantial threat, as proven by the many terrorist attacks that are occurring in countries around the world. We've been lucky, since 9/11/01. And our response to our own terrorist attack is one of the things that has put us in such economic turmoil.

What measures do you propose to stop this economic "collapse"?

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Quote

What measures do you propose to stop this economic "collapse"?

Don't spend more than you make. How much more obvious does this need to be.
It applies to individuals as much as it applies to governments.
Don't tell me the Republicans are fiscal conservatives, because they are not.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Don't tell me the Republicans are fiscal conservatives, because they are not.

YUP.....I always wonder with all the tax cuts they love... who is going to pay for all the DOD goodies and infrastructure and services they EXPECT.. you cant get something for nothing.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

I'm guessing that you are too young to remember a recession. I think the US is in for a recession; a stiff one. That however is a far cry from an economic collapse.

[billvon 2,400]

> that does not mean that terrorism is "not a threat"

Correct. But compared to the threat posed to your life by other people's cars, lightning, bees and stray dogs, the threat is tiny comparatively. Heck, if you decide to drive instead of fly to "save yourself from the next 9/11" - you have just made it several times more likely that you will be killed by someone else.

Since 1987, we have averaged 160 deaths a year from terrorism here in the US. As a result, we have launched a trillion-dollar war that will result in hundreds of thousands dead and thousands of US troops dead.

Since 1987, we have averaged 160 deaths a year from the pollution from two coal-fired power plants alone - Salem and Brayton in Massachusetts. As a result, we have extended their operating permits and given them waivers to allow them to not meet clean-air regulations.

Today, 19 new coal fired power plants are proposed for Texas. The estimate is 240 dead per year from the additional pollution. Result - Rick Perry fast-tracks their approval and skips some environmental-review requirements.

You can be afraid of whatever you like. But it makes zero sense to be afraid of terrorism and not be afraid of power plants they are building in your own state that are far more likely to kill you than an evil terrorist.

So a better title for this thread might have been "terrorism is less of a threat than coal power plants."

[Gawain 0]

al Qaeda's stated intent is to cause the US an economic collapse. Remember the WTC attacks? That was not a "local" event. That was a global event. People from all over the world were killed in that attack, and in the financial center of the world to boot...

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[billvon 2,400]

> al Qaeda's stated intent is to cause the US an economic collapse.

Well, I'd say that it's a collapse, period, whether it's societal, economic or political. Their goal is to use terror (hence, terrorists) to accomplish their goals.

And they've been succeeding spectacularly. 9/11 cost us around $90 billion. That put us a bit more in debt, and our debt is probably our biggest risk in terms of damage to our economy. But then they manipulated us into a trillion-dollar war - and THAT is doing much, much more damage to our economy.

Another one of their goals is to destroy our society. They've been succeeding there, as well. They have revoked our right of habeas corpus (or more accurately, manipulated us into revoking it) which has long been one of the most basic rights we enjoyed. They have also managed to get us to create a worldwide network of secret prisons where nameless prisoners of the US are tortured and held forever. If it's true that you can judge a society more by how it treats its prisoners than how it treats its heroes, we have been damaged indeed.

A third goal is expansion of their organization. There again, we have provided a fertile recruiting ground in Iraq and a sanctuary for their organization in Pakistan that has allowed them to flourish and grow.

I imagine we will continue supporting them until we gather the courage to face our fear of them, and stop letting the terror they create dictate our foreign and domestic policies.

[nerdgirl 0]

Quote

Relative to the threat we face from economic collapse, terrorists are a minor threat.

Quote

What about an economic collapse precipitated by a terrorist event?

While many around here may object to current occupant of the Oval Office or the previous one, virtually none advocate overthrowing the government system (the Constitution) and governance by the rule of law (as opposed to theocracy or king).

Otoh, Al Qa'eda -- as lead of larger, nebulous global salafist movement -- has advocated the use of terrorism as a means to cause economic collapse of US and western world.

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

• Quote

Share this post

---

Link to post

Share on other sites

[rushmc 18]

Quote

> al Qaeda's stated intent is to cause the US an economic collapse.

Well, I'd say that it's a collapse, period, whether it's societal, economic or political. Their goal is to use terror (hence, terrorists) and liberal/democrats along with the US mediato accomplish their goals.

And they've been succeeding spectacularly. 9/11 cost us around $90 billion. That put us a bit more in debt, and our debt is probably our biggest risk in terms of damage to our economy. But then they manipulated us into a trillion-dollar war - and THAT is doing much, much more damage to our economy.

Another one of their goals is to destroy our society. They've been succeeding there, as well. They have revoked our right of habeas corpus (or more accurately, manipulated us into revoking it) which has long been one of the most basic rights we enjoyed. They have also managed to get us to create a worldwide network of secret prisons where nameless prisoners of the US are tortured and held forever. If it's true that you can judge a society more by how it treats its prisoners than how it treats its heroes, we have been damaged indeed.

A third goal is expansion of their organization. There again, we have provided a fertile recruiting ground in Iraq and a sanctuary for their organization in Pakistan that has allowed them to flourish and grow.

I imagine we will continue supporting them until we gather the courage to face our fear of them, and stop letting the terror they create dictate our foreign and domestic policies.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[billvon 2,400]

>and liberal/democrats along with the US media

So it is your assertion that the democrats are supporting an ongoing war in Iraq? And that the democrats are the ones who have signed executive orders authorizing unconstitutional wiretaps, and supported Justice Department policies that prevent the exercise of Habeas Corpus? Interesting . . .

[rushmc 18]

You are amazing sir. Your out of context posts are pure fiction
How did you get all of what you posted from the following?

"Their goal is to use terror (hence, terrorists) and liberal/democrats along with the US media to accomplish their goals.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 18]

I just made the post contextually correct

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[billvon 2,400]

See if you can follow this -

I listed several things that the administration has done as evidence that Al Qaeda is (indirectly) accomplishing their aims. You did a 'clever' edit of my post to claim that it is really the democrats and the media.

But unless you think that the democrats are in charge of the administration, your edit makes zero sense. (Other than in the usual 'rushMC zinger' sense.)

So - if you truly believe that the democrats are helping Al Qaeda accomplish its goals, what is your rationale? (A rationale is a set of supporting defensible theories that give your argument substance.)

[rushmc 18]

Quote

See if you can follow this -

I listed several things that the administration has done as evidence that Al Qaeda is (indirectly) accomplishing their aims. You did a 'clever' edit of my post to claim that it is really the democrats and the media.

But unless you think that the democrats are in charge of the administration, your edit makes zero sense. No, it makes complete sense in the context of the terrorists using the media and the Dems to accomplich thier goals. They have proven to be great puppets of the propanda of them and their goals(Other than in the usual 'rushMC zinger' sense.)no, not a zinger, well, maybe a zinge in hind site, but in line with comments and positions I have listed before

So - if you truly believe that the democrats are helping Al Qaeda accomplish its goals,Yes, I do. They (Al Qaeda) know they cant win the a war with the military. They are smart enough to fight the battle on the political front here. They cant get hurt here. But they can, have and do work as an influence on what is reported here. what is your rationale? (A rationale is a set of supporting defensible theories that give your argument substance.)

And the media buys into it hook line an sinker. I would think diffenent if both sides of the story were reported by the media but i know it is not. I think you do too (but I only assume this)

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[masterrig 1]

Today, 19 new coal fired power plants are proposed for Texas. The estimate is 240 dead per year from the additional pollution. Result - Rick Perry fast-tracks their approval and skips some environmental-review requirements.


One of those plants is proposed for a place about 150-miles from where I live. There is one woman in particular who is really pushing for the plant and really has that area 'fired-up' over the idea. The way the plant is being 'pushed' is, it will make for more jobs in the area and will in no way, harm the environment. Just like all the oil wells and gas plants in the area don't hurt the environment.
Rick Perry also, is the one who was wanting to make it mandatory in the State of Texas for young girls to recieve injections of a drug that hadn't been fully tested!
Just about everything Perry does, really makes me believe that he's easily bought-off by the big drug companies as well as those wanting coal fired plants in this State and just about anyone with a fat wallet.


Chuck

[loco.cerveza 0]

I will agree with you on the subject that terrorism is not the threat that the government would have everyone believe that it is, but I will disagree with you on the economic collapse part. The economy will go up and it will go down that is a simple fact of life and if we still lived in a free country that would not be a big deal. We live in a now live in a socialist state that is pretending to be a democracy. Between George the second and Billy Clinton we have lost a large number of our freedoms, do to the fact that the people of this once great country will not and/or can not think for themselves that want to government to come in and make everything nice for them. For example: If you don't like a place because it does not have a no smoking area don't spend your money there, don't let the government pass laws tell people where they can or can't smoke. I am not a smoker and I tend not to like places that are fulled up with smokers but I make the choice not to go to those places. Another example is the government tapping your and mine Internet providers in the name of National security. Keeping in mind the government is not getting warrants, they are using the same tactics that the mob uses to get people to pay protection. I could fill a library full of things that are wrong with programs like welfare and Social Security. I had a co-worker tell me that it was not worried about what the government was doing because he had nothing to hide, I reminded him the Jews in Germany in the 1930's felt the same way and look what happened to them, I also suggested that he read 1984 by Orwell, and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein. Hurricane Katrina is not the problem of the Federal Government, it is the problem of the state governments. It is not the duty of the people not from those effected states to pay for the clean up after something of that nature. Hurricane Katrina and what it did was sad and heart breaking, but on the other hand it should have been up to the state government to have a plan of action and or put in to place the protection from weather of that kind so it did not happen in the first place. I for one blame the people in those states for letting that happen do to the fact that they did not elect officials that wanted serve the need of the state. They elected people that were busy filling their pockets with the money of the tax payers. It all comes down to TANSTAAFL (There ain't no such thing as a free lunch) Everything in life has a price and if you are going to pay for it one way or another. It may be money, or it may be losing your freedoms but you will pay for it.

Remember that expectant life span is an average, and most people are below average
--Garrison Keillor

[philh 0]

Using past statistics to compute future threats is a very questionbale activity. If one had done that in 2000 one could have said the number of Americans killed on Us soil by Al Queda is close to 0 therefore the chances of it happening are close to o. The past is not necessarily a predictor of the future.
In assessing the threat form AQ and similar organisation we need to know their intent and their capability.
Their intent is a major threat ,they intend to destroy Western society and replace it with a world wide Caliphate.
Their capbility to carry out their goals is something rather unknown. They may be able to kill no more than a few hundred poeple over the next few years and that would make them a minor threat compared to lets say the normal crime or accident rate; or they may be able to get hold of WMD'sand kill countlesspoeple. We just dont know. So the threat of terrosim is real but rather hard to qauntify. That uncertaintiy makes people worried and thats not irrational. Assuming the past will replicate the future is simply wrong.

[Royd 0]

Quote

Since 1987, we have averaged 160 deaths a year from the pollution from two coal-fired power plants alone - Salem and Brayton in Massachusetts. As a result, we have extended their operating permits and given them waivers to allow them to not meet clean-air regulations.

I wonder how many deaths we would have from hoof strikes from people trying to shoe their horses.

[idrankwhat 0]

Quote

.....No, it makes complete sense ....

Only in Twistedlogickistan.

[billvon 2,400]

>No, it makes complete sense in the context of the terrorists using
>the media and the Dems to accomplich thier goals.

How have terrorists used the media/democrats to remove some of our constitutional freedoms? Examples, please.

How have terrorists used the media/democrats to run up trillions of dollars in debt? Examples, please.

How have terrorists used the media/democrats to prevent inspection of cargo containers in our ports, our #1 vulnerability right now? Examples, please.

(Note that "I hate the liberal media" is not an example.)

[The_Almighty 0]

Quote

al Qaeda's stated intent is to cause the US an economic collapse. Remember the WTC attacks? That was not a "local" event. That was a global event. People from all over the world were killed in that attack, and in the financial center of the world to boot...

er no !!!

people from all over the world were killed in a local attack actually...

[akarunway 1]

I have the ALMIGHTY strapped to my hip. ASSHOLE.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[The_Almighty 0]

Quote

I have the ALMIGHTY strapped to my hip. ASSHOLE.

fuckin' A !

[Gawain 0]

Quote

Quote

al Qaeda's stated intent is to cause the US an economic collapse. Remember the WTC attacks? That was not a "local" event. That was a global event. People from all over the world were killed in that attack, and in the financial center of the world to boot...

er no !!!

people from all over the world were killed in a local attack actually...

er yes...look at AQ's transcripts from their "video" releases. They are tying everything they can from "over there" with the intent on causing the US to shrink away from the world stage and if possible, cause an economic implosion, which by the way, would take the world with it.

The people that caused these attacks were foreigners who crossed oceans to cause great harm to innocent civilians, citizens of over 60 countries I might add. There was also an attack on the Pentagon, and a thwarted attack that ended in Pennsylvania.

Add attacks on two embassies in Africa, the USS Cole, and WTC I. Then add March 11 in Spain, July 7 in the UK, and you have a global conflict.

The gloves have been off since Munich, and you say it's not a threat?

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!