What We Don't Know CAN Hurt Us--BLOCKBUSTER MUST-READ

City Journal ^ | Spring 2004 | Heather Mac Donald

[redhugh]

Immediately after 9/11, politicians and pundits slammed the Bush administration for failing to “connect the dots” foreshadowing the attack. What a difference a little amnesia makes. For two years now, left- and right-wing advocates have shot down nearly every proposal to use intelligence more effectively--to connect the dots--as an assault on “privacy.” Though their facts are often wrong and their arguments specious, they have come to dominate the national security debate virtually without challenge. The consequence has been devastating: just when the country should be unleashing its technological ingenuity to defend against future attacks, scientists stand irresolute, cowed into inaction.

[proxy_user]

I'd be no good. Too white, don't speak Arabic.

But if the intelligence agencies spend their millions on this, instead of pie-in-the-sky computer projects, they should be able to come up with someone suitable. There are a certain number of guys who are attracted to danger.

[aculeus]

The privocrats only grudgingly acknowledge that terrorism exists, and they never concede that a gain in the public good may justify a concession in “privacy.” Their operating principle can only be formulated as: no use of computer data or technology anywhere at any time for national defense, if there’s the slightest possibility that a rogue use of that technology will offend someone’s sense of privacy. Consequently, they are pushing intelligence agencies back to a pre-9/11 mentality, when the mere potential for a privacy or civil liberties controversy trumped security concerns.

[eno_]

Well now that's a canard without basis. I'm as strong an advocate of privacy as you'll find here, and MY argumenet goes like this:

1. 9/11 COULD have been stopped by enforcing the the visa laws and border controls in place at that time.

2. It isn't like we didn't have a vast array of anti-terror measures in place before 9/11, we just SUCK DEAD HAIRY GOATS at implementing them.

3. So what do we do? Reward LEA incompetency with more intrusive powers? How is that going to help? I say NO. Let's get the borders and visitors under control, and deport vast numbers of illegals, before we tear off another sheet of the Constitution for JBT asswipe material.

I certainly don't "grudgingly" acknowledge terrorism exists. In fact, I suspect our government has covered up some significant acts of terrorism partly in order not to alarm people about how incompentently both pre-existing and new anti-terror laws and powers are implemented and used.

[eno_]

It's how we deal with skinheads and neo-Nazis: infiltrate and listen. Why do you think a less hands-on approach will work with Moslem radicals?

We could certainly cut down on their numbers by deporting every Moslem with fraudulent visa or naturalization paperwork, or none at all. Then treat the rest like we treat the homegrown terroists.

[aculeus]

Go here to learn what others have done so people like you have the right to whine:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1148009/posts

[eno_]

Well they didn't do so that JBT fanboys like you can live to lick more bootblack.

[hinckley buzzard]

I'm sure your children will thank you for standing up for their privacy rights, even as the "radicals" are raping them and slitting their throats.

[eno_]

And after the next mass-casualty attack, what will you advice be?

Surrender more rights? Yeah, that'll work.

[hinckley buzzard]

Huh? You think the fact that the mob still exists in some form is proof that wiretaps are a bad thing, I suppose.

Got news for you--if there is another "Mass-casualty attack"
this dithering about imagined "privacy rights" will be less than academic.

When you and what's left of your family are evacuating a radioactive city, be consoled by the assurance that at least the government didn't get to read your library card records.

[eno_]

I don't live in a city. It is extremely unlikely that I will be "evacuating a radioactive city."

So, I ask you again. Just what is the erosion of our rights doing to protect us? What did all the prior erosions of our rights do for us BEFORE 9/11?

Perhaps for people like you the TSA could start a small money-making operation where they would, for a small fee, perform a cavity search on you any time you like. That would no doubt make YOU feel a lot safer, or something.