I'm sure most of you realize that our law enforcement in the US and in many democracies is terribly inefficient, mostly because of our freedoms. Part of our judgement of freedom is how easy it would be for us to get away with committing a crime. That's why, when people start talking about making law enforcement more efficient, a lot of us cringe. DNA tests of suspected terrorists? Linking the FBI with the CIA so they can exchange information? Oh no... they could catch people!(or at least that's how I think) Recently, I read that Canada reissued it's War Measures Act, allowing police to arrest people based on suspicion, because of terrorism, I believe. Sounds even more terrible than the Patriot Act. It's clear that with our old policies, we were not stopping terrorism in the US. So we had to get some new ones(the Patriot Act). In the US, we are under siege of terrorism, and it's only our swift action that has stemmed it. We could have lost Congress and the Pentagon, as well the World Trade Center. Some people just seem to scoff, "3000 people? That's nothing. Nothing needs to be changed." I'm appalled. A little history lesson on civil liberties. In the Civil War, Lincoln, considered to be our greatest president, basically bypassed the Fifth and Sixth Amendment and imprisoned thousands of people who opposed the war. In World War II, thousands of Asians were put into camps. We had the hunt for communists in the 50's. During the Vietnam War, protesters were actually killed. Nothing is ever perfect, but it is impossible for anyone to say that we are not improving in the area of civil rights during wartime. Once this has blown over, and people can do things safely, the Patriot Act will be taken away and we'll enjoy even more freedom. But part of the process is breaking up the power of the Middle East, where, like it or not, our terrorists came from, and where they will continue to come from. So, what I'd like to know is what you guys think of our strategy so far, what do your countries do to stop terrorism, and what would you personally do?
Does anyone even think that terrorism is a major problem in present society? I don't really like the TIPS program or Patriot Act, but I'm hard-pressed to think of something truly better. And, for those who bemoan Muslims getting interrogated, remember that every terrorist in 9/11 was Muslim, Al Quaeda is Muslim, and they are the only prominent terrorists with a strong agenda in bombing the US. I heard over 120 South Koreans died of terrorism... seems it's getting out of hand Edit: Seems I skimmed the article too quick. It might not have been terrorism, but their prime suspect is a man(Korean I think) who was videotaped holding a milk carton filled with flammable liquid, then throwing it at the subway. Seems like terrorism to me. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_20-2-2003_pg4_4
there is only one thing I will say about this current situation WHENEVER YOU GET RID OF A PROBLEM 5 MORE POP UP. gosh, a lot of countries hate the US and if they don't think this will happen, (other countries attacking the US) then this is just the beginning.
And he was moslim too? Damn these moslims went to S Korea and blend in so easily and destoryed the train. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Hahaha. Omg a moslim is coming : RUNNNN
Is all crime now terrorism? Fortunately the dictionary is not so easily changed: “terrorism: The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.” I haven’t read anything about the Korean subway fire-starter having such intent.
Was Mcveigh trying to sway the government? Sometimes people call him a terrorist, and I guess that I just tend to think of horrendous arson attacks as terrorism. I stand corrected, the Korean is probably not a terrorist, just a madman or arsonist. Still, one of the main issues of terrorism is our security and our ability to prevent a few people from causing widespread damage and death. So, zanket, what do you think we should do to fight terrorism in the US? Do you agree or disagree with our strategies so far, and for what reasons?
Terrorism and many other problems may be minimized through loving globalization. Always seek the root of a problem. People are not born with the intent of killing a busload or flinging themselves against a building. These are learned behaviors. Who teaches them and why? Some of the teachers seek money & power, the usual. I think though that terrorism is mainly the strategy of the desperate and vengeful. Why are they that? Could it be because the US-funded Israelis are oppressing them? Or because the CIA trained someone who tortured their parents? Watch the documentary about the Munich Olympic terrorists who killed the Israeli athletes. One of the terrorists survived and was interviewed years later. When asked why he did it, he said (paraphrasing) “When I was ten years old, the Israelis bulldozed down our house for nothing we did. We were lived in the streets and nearly starved. I did this to get back at them.” Sounds reasonable. The solution for the US is for them to quit doing the things that fuel terrorism. And look for ways to share the wealth & know-how rather than horde it. For example, instead of setting up a sweatshop in Malaysia, pay the US minimum wage and otherwise adhere to US labor standards. Replace dictatorship with real democracy, not a puppet who lets you steal the oil. Etc. When everyone has equal opportunity in this world for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, terrorism will fade away.
While that is reasonable in the long run, we have a problem to deal with now, and simply talking or even giving these fanatics therapy is not going to stop them. There is a culture in the Middle East that hates Westerners, Americans specifically. It's more than what the US does to them, it's envy and cultural conflict that is inevitable. Al Quaeda is primarily inspired because of their religion, and really little else. They believe that our Christian morals are weak, and that the US is decadent and evil. At least that's how I understand it, I'm no expert. This religious conflict wasn't spurred by us abusing the Middle East, the two religions have just warred ever since they came around, and simply giving them more money won't solve it.
I don’t believe that religion is a major catalyst. There are hundreds of thousands of former Middle-Easterners living in the US peacefully, practicing their faiths. The solution I presented would have an immediate dampening effect on terrorism. The US could announce tomorrow that Israel’s oppression of Palestinians would no longer be supported and the billions will instead go to stopping the oppression. They could announce that post-Hussein Iraq would be governed by a bona fide UN-selected leader, with elections planned as soon as possible and oil money to be audited by the UN to ensure no hanky panky. But they will do no such thing, so terrorism will continue unabated as an effective counter to malicious US policy.
What the hell, I'm bored, I'll expand. Sounds nice. Is Saddam promoting that? Ahh, this isn't a war on Iraq thread, gettin off topic. I was more thinking about the threat of Al Quaeda, and I know little about the Israeli vrs Palestine conflict, and maybe someone else can address that. I believe that most or all of the hijackers during 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Saudi Arabia has not been receiving much pressure from the US at all. They are not a poor country, on the contrary, their oil gives them enough money to do well, and maybe I'm overestimating oil, but I think they should be one of the most prosperous countries around. So, we don't oppress the Saudis... who does? Their government? While many people on the forum bemoan religion, compare the rules of Islam to Christianity. These people are forced to follow the rules and religion of Islam, and it isn't always a nice thing. This is where the teachers are from, and they aren't lead into it by money or power, but by superstition alone. Muslims have a tendency to be fanatical compared to Christians, and a sect of them has been taught that it's their God's will to destroy the US. Rather than give poor, oppressed Saudi Arabia financial aid, might I suggest that a monarchy change be more effective? Seriously, that may be the only solution. Can't argue with you there. There are always reforms to do, and things to improve. This is a good one. I'm hoping we'll do that next(and if we don'tPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!).... Too bad we didn't do it the first time. Let's try to put the past behind us, though, at least until we see how this has turned out. We all make mistakes, and history lets us learn from them. You're shootin high, but hell, shoot for the stars, and you'll hit the moon. Or something like that. The truth is that the only country that is actually supporting liberty with action is the US. We did it in the Vietnam War, the Korean War, the Gulf War, and we're going to be doing it now, when we liberate Iraq. The US works toward a day when the whole world is a democracy, and enjoys the freedoms we do.
Good suggestion. I’ve said on other threads that the US and preferably all democracies should stamp out dictatorship (my definition: any country minority ruled) while seeking to minimize casualties. Regarding Al Quaeda, I see this as a power-seeking group who is using the desperate and vengeful. I think bin Laden’s primary goal is entertainment derived from power. I think his training by the CIA helped him choose his means of entertainment. The US pulling funding of Israeli oppression wouldn’t stop suicide bombers overnight, but it would go a longs way to not creating new ones. Once a terrorist is created they are unlikely to be reformed. Existing terrorists will typically need to be stopped by force. As I alluded to, I think we’re planning to rape Iraq, not liberate them. We can therefore expect terrorism to increase, and I think that suits Bush and his corporate sponsors—who make wads of money off war & oil—just fine.
I would comment on everything he said, but I'm way to damned tired, could somebody else do the honours? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Moderator Edit – reduce length of quoted text; insulting member
Time will tell, but I optimistically think that will not happen again. The last time... well, I hear all these things about how we created Saddam, but wasn't that in the 50s or 60s, caused by displacement? We didn't want to kill him, as that would have bothered the Middle East, so we gave him Iraq. Or am I completely wrong? Anyone know where a good version of the story is?
