[David Isaac]

Terrorism has been a threat since its inception, but I have seen not one damn person who gave a rat's pooper, before 9-11. Who rang alarm bells when our intelligence services were neutalized? We have acted exactly as we did before WWII (with respect to knowing what our enemies were up to) and, oddly enough, reaped the same reward.

Bill O'Reilly asked the question but missed perhaps the most crucial part of the question. "WHO'S LOOKING OUT FOR YOU?" Which of our leaders, of either party or branch of government, at any point in time, upheld their constitutionally defined duty.

[MEG33]

Look at the rules put in place for the CIA during the Carter Years,the further cuts by Congress during the years and more"rules" imposed.Look at funding by Congress.They can stop a war and shape an intelligence agency.Big money was spent on technological marvels and they wouldn't fund more arabic speakers.

[cyncooper]

President Bush, for one. Despite the lies of the dems saying he didn't, he did realize the importance of the terrorist threat and had his staff working on a plan which landed on his desk September 10.

It is not defensive to point out that he was in office 8 months when this happened. It is an outrage what they have done and continue to do to him. Stymied every step of the way to even get in the damn office, then his appointees and such blocked for as long as possible by the dems.

There is no equivalence, as you falsely state, between the two parties and their assessment of the threat of terrorism.

Why last night the dems assured us the threat has been exaggerated. Out of the foul mouth of that Kerry, who gets more hideous in appearance, demeanor and rhetoric with each passing day. He conceded military force might be needed "occasionally", but he's all for retreating to a more subdues response like, oh, a lawsuit or criminal filing now and again.

[_Jim]

Terrorism has been a threat since its inception, but I have seen not one damn person who gave a rat's pooper, before 9-11.

READING/researching actual history would reveal a different observation than this, although you are right about this for the last 25 to 30 years ...