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When Terrorism Hits You Are On Your Own
Townhall.com ^ | January 5, 2010 | Douglas MacKinnon

Posted on 01/05/2010 5:37:09 AM PST by Kaslin

As the farcical and almost-tragic facts about the Nigerian-Muslim terror suspect play out, one thing has become crystal clear: Your government can't protect you from a terrorist attack. Worse, when the next one hits - and only delusional elected officials would deny this certainty - you are on your own.

Although a clearly incompetent Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano saying "One thing I'd like to point out is that the system worked" (after the suspect paid cash for his ticket, had no check-in luggage, smuggled a bomb onto Northwest Airlines Flight 253 and then proceeded to try and detonate it) may be amusing to some, it was deadly serious to the almost 300 passengers and crew whose lives were spared only because the explosive malfunctioned.

As Republican Rep. Peter King of New York said, "It's not reassuring when the secretary of Homeland Security says the system worked … it failed in every respect." Even President Barack Obama has belatedly agreed.

There is zero surprise in any of this. This latest breach of our post-Sept. 11 "security" only serves to reinforce what intelligence and Pentagon officials have been telling me privately for years: No matter how well the government says you are protected, the fact is that you and your family are on your own and will be on your own when we are next hit with a large-scale terrorist attack. Plain common sense tells all of us that our nation is too big, is too open, has too many targets of opportunity, and has a security system too suicidally weakened by political correctness to fully protect us from fanatical terrorists willing to kill themselves in the hope of slaughtering hundreds or thousands of innocent human beings.

If we take a deep breath and give this a moment's thought, we all know it to be true. That said, how many of us are prepared for this horrific reality? We have become dangerously complacent to the growing threat of terrorism. While we would all like to bury our heads in the sand and pretend it's not happening, radicalized fanatics are working feverishly, 24-7-365, to develop or acquire chemical, biological or nuclear weapons of mass destruction. The dream target of those weapons being the United States of America.

In spite of this pending menace, it's become passé or even embarrassing to sit down with family members and go over a few of the basics - basics that many in earthquake country cover. Such as: Do you have a week's supply of water and food along with batteries, a radio, flashlights, candles, cash and other survival gear at home, as well as a smaller supply in your vehicle and office? Do you and your family have an agreed-upon place to meet should/when the unthinkable happens? Doubtful.

Remember, when the next large attack happens, you are on your own. Your government won't be there because its members will be either too busy covering their butts, protecting their particular partisan and useless political party, looking after themselves and their family members, or just totally confused and not sure what just happened or who to speak with. Cell phones and land lines may be overloaded for days or could completely fail. As will other communication outlets, banks, water supplies, power generating facilities, gas stations and the like.

Don't believe any of this or think it's an exaggeration? Fine. That's up to you. We are all responsible for our actions or lack thereof.

The experts I speak with tell me point-blank that our nation and the world are not prepared - or refuse - to confront radical Islam. That is what the terrorists are counting on as they prepare for their next strike.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: pckills; preparedness
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1 posted on 01/05/2010 5:37:11 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

“Although a clearly incompetent Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano saying “One thing I’d like to point out is that the system worked””

Janet joins the list of deer-in-the-headlights women’s club of incompetents along with Kathleen Blanco, Lousiana ?Governor.


2 posted on 01/05/2010 5:40:21 AM PST by bestintxas
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To: bestintxas

Really think about it. When anything hits, you’re on your own. Think of any bad societal circumstance and how the “authorities” run around like keystone cops. In any crisis, the government response should not be relied upon. Be self-sufficient as you can because help is not necessarily on the way. In bad times, most of ou are screwed unless we can survive on our own.


3 posted on 01/05/2010 5:43:31 AM PST by hal ogen
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To: Kaslin

Given the longer wait times in terminals, chance (though slim) of a real terroist event, chance of a “test run’ incident on board grounding you, crappy airport food and 10 dollar mixed drinks, restrictions on your luggage and extra bag fees, weather delays, cancelled flights etc. etc. I don’t fly anywhere under 800 miles anymore. And I try not to fly at all unless I have to for work. How many other people are getting fed up with the hassel? It’s got to have some effect on commerce don’t you think? But hey it cuts down on global warming! Up in the Air may seem romantic but that isn’t my experience lately at all. No wonder the rich: CEO, Speaker of the House et al have their own private planes.


4 posted on 01/05/2010 5:49:20 AM PST by dblshot
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To: bestintxas
. Janet joins the list of deer-in-the-headlights women’s club of incompetents along with Kathleen Blanco, Lousiana ?Governor.

Napolitano is a woman?

5 posted on 01/05/2010 5:51:23 AM PST by Trust but Verify
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To: dblshot

Well, it is a hassle, but I’m not going to stop living and going to the places I love because of it.


6 posted on 01/05/2010 5:52:26 AM PST by Trust but Verify
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To: Kaslin

The only aspect of the “system working” is that TSA has hired likely more than 100,000 people who otherwise could not get a job. Standard Democrat policy.

Now those TSA folks stand around for a few minutes before taking a thirty minute break.

Of course, TSA folks likely are Democrat voters so Napolitano is also correct in saying the “system works” in that regard.


7 posted on 01/05/2010 5:53:35 AM PST by Presbyterian Reporter
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To: Kaslin
"(after the suspect paid cash for his ticket, had no check-in luggage, smuggled a bomb onto ...)"

WTF? Paid cash? How dare he do that?
Had noooooo check-in luggage? Shame on him.

This is BS folks. The only things the guy did wrong was he allegedly smuggled a bomb onto a flight. I fly all the time and NEVER check in luggage. Those jerks at the airports toss it around better than most people toss a fruit salad or they lose it. And while I usually buy my tickets on line weeks before I fly in order to save some money there have been times when I needed a ticket at the last minute and had to pay cash at the ticket counter. In fact it used to be common practice, and still may be common practice to pay your travel agent (if you have one) in cash.

No... comments like this are the communists way of slowly brainwashing the public into thinking that paying with cash is a bad thing and to do away with carry on luggage.

My humble opinion.

8 posted on 01/05/2010 5:56:41 AM PST by The Anti-One (So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.)
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To: dblshot

I gave up flying for good after 9/11 and have been happy as a clam. The only fear I have of them now is one blowing up and crashing on me. I don’t need a job that demands it, and there’s noplace I want to go that I can’t drive to.


9 posted on 01/05/2010 5:57:21 AM PST by Tolsti2
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To: Kaslin
“The system worked”

Particularly after the Jihadist was arrested, sent to an American jail, appointed a lawyer, given Miranda rights as a US citizen, rushed to a medical center for the very best treatment for his injury's and allowed to have his lawyer present during all questioning. And the American media circus is presenting this terrorist as just some very young, misguided and confused teenager who is a victim.

In the end, it will become America's fault, particularly the “previous administration” because of it's International invasive policy.

To an Obamao Marxist, this is the system and for them, it works.

10 posted on 01/05/2010 6:03:56 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP
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To: Kaslin

“The government is not helping” would be putting it far too mildly. The govt is actually discouraging people from basic success at war: hating the enemy.
In fact, they take every opportunity to convince us that we can’t even identify the enemy.
That’s not a war.


11 posted on 01/05/2010 6:10:38 AM PST by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (STOP the Tyrananny State.)
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To: dblshot

>> No wonder the rich: CEO, Speaker of the House et al have their own private planes.

You don’t have to be rich to avoid commercial jets. Have you looked into the alternatives? A private charter can get you places without a patdown.


12 posted on 01/05/2010 6:15:17 AM PST by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (STOP the Tyrananny State.)
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To: Kaslin; appalachian_dweller

Best survival info is on appalachian_dweller’s homepage


13 posted on 01/05/2010 6:27:00 AM PST by WestCoastGal
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To: Kaslin
Like its been said:

If our government can't stop an inept terrorist like the pantie-bomber, when:

The father meets with CIA to inform on his son's jihad ambitions.

Pays cash for his one-way international flight to the US.

Checks no luggage.

Has no passport.

And U.K. informs the CIA on pantie-bomber recent activities

...then who can they catch and stop?

14 posted on 01/05/2010 6:29:11 AM PST by TexasCajun
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To: Kaslin

I’m ok with that.


15 posted on 01/05/2010 6:31:53 AM PST by airborne (S. S. D. Y.)
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To: 668 - Neighbor of the Beast

Tell me more. I’ve been wondering about cheap charter flights for a family of 4 + 2 dogs.


16 posted on 01/05/2010 6:35:26 AM PST by ctdonath2 (Virtue is to be apologized for. Depravity commands respect. - Galt)
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To: Kaslin

Today Obama is meeting with all the intel heads and is going to reveal new airline security measures. Problem is TSA did nothing wrong regarding the crotch bomber. There is no TSA in Amsterdam. There is a system of warning and watch lists and indicators such as paying cash for one way tickets and having no luggage. If these things would have worked like they are supposed to then the guy would have either been denied on board or have been subjected to secondary screening. Now Obama wants to impose actions on foreign countries with no backing rationale, just to do something because he doesn’t want to look stupid anymore.


17 posted on 01/05/2010 6:47:07 AM PST by Harley (Life is Tough, But It's a Lot Tougher When You're a Liberal. Stop Global Whining Now.)
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To: TexasCajun
...then who can they catch and stop?

People with dangerous assault weapons like Brown Bess muskets and WMDs like fingernail clippers.

18 posted on 01/05/2010 6:55:57 AM PST by 17th Miss Regt
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To: hal ogen

I really do hope the ‘authorities’ run in circles and leave me alone. However, doing what they do best, micro mismanage, it looks as though the terrorists and their mayhem might not be the only problem to contend with. In fact I think our govt will be the biggest problem.


19 posted on 01/05/2010 7:07:43 AM PST by 556x45
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To: Kaslin

Such as: Do you have a week’s supply of water and food along with batteries, a radio, flashlights, candles, cash and other survival gear at home, as well as a smaller supply in your vehicle and office?—————————————

I suggest flashlights and radio’s of the wind up or solar kind, avoiding batteries if possible.

One thing I do not have yet, but will get soon, (as we were told to do in 2001)...get plastic for all windows, doors and vents and openings in your homes!

A sense of urgency hit women of the United States a year ago. Call it women’s intuition. They talked their husbands into buying more ammo, guns, supplies etc.

Something wicked this way comes, and the women knew it.


20 posted on 01/05/2010 7:27:23 AM PST by Freddd (CNN is not credible.)
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