Posted on 09/13/2001 3:11:10 PM PDT by The Duke
The host of our local radio station (as well as a number of his callers) is today ridiculing the opinions of those who are critical of the tightening of security measures and "loss of freedoms" at America's airports in response to Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
Maybe it's just me, but by focusing our attention on increasing these security measures aren't we sending exactly the wrong signal to terrorists around the world? Aren't we signalling them that our response to their terror is to, as a society, basically go cower in some corner?
Any impediment to air travel will ultimately manifest itself in increased costs. Are these costs not simply a tax we pay to terrorists? If, for example, the use of "carry-on luggage" is ruled out then doesn't that suggest that a significant amount of space and carrying capacity onboard our aircraft will no longer be utilized?
It seems to me that a much more persuasive signal would be sent to terrorists worldwide if we focused our resources into projecting fource against terrorism. I think a different America, the America that could overcome the Nazi's and put people on the moon, would adopt much less of a cowering posture in response to Tuesday. I don't think that American would be cowering at the sight of a mere plastic knife.
While we're more clearly defining who we are as a people why don't we go ahead and replace our national emblem, the eagle, with the soft and cushy teddy bear?
On a tangential topic, how many of the planes on Tuesday would have missed their intended targets, and in fact landed safely, if every passenger was issued a gun before boarding? I'm guessing they would all have landed safely, and a few more buildings would be standing today.
My reaction to that drumbeat is that the terrorists accomplished their mission to strike fear in the hearts of the sheeple and make them give up the liberties that our forefathers fought for.
When the rats come up out of the sewers, you don't nail shut the basement door and concede that part of the house. You go down in the sewer and exterminate the rats, and then use your house like you always did.
It ain't rocket science, folks.
FReegards,
All that is needed is sky marshals (two per plane) more secure flight decks. Instead of the government (us) having to pay for them, wouldn't the insurance premium savings pay for them? How about alarms tied to the flight deck perimeter and autopilot? How about a pilot activated gas that would incapicitate all in passenger compartment?
I was watching the scrolling screen with the names and ages of all the plane passengers. That's when I got really mad. Excuse me, more than enough middle aged or younger people to put up a decent scrap against a small handful of numbskulls with tiny knives, enough to stomp them flat, completely. We don't need more sky marshalls, we need EVERY patriotic american to not be a WUSS when push comes to shove. The government and society has gotten everyone so brow beat that we can't fight in an emergency. I honor those few who DID fight back, at least they tried! And we don't need to throw more organized federal government at it, we need to go back to what is called "rugged indivdualism". We've taken it from weird foreigners and weird domestic goons for too long. We've been wussed down and dumbed down and browbeat into subservience. An america of 100 years ago would not have a klamath happening, and would not have a skyjacking like this happening.
Think those hijackers would have gotten away with it if the planes had a buncha redneck bubbas on board and some bruthas from the 'hood? People who aren't "successful" in our white collar society, but still can do things with their hands, and who can at least figure out right/wrong, fight/no fight once in awhile? At least there were a small number orf people left who still have the spark within them. And I don't mean "file a lawsuit' as fighting, or 'write a stern letter to the editor", either. No way this skyjacking could have gotten anywhere with 3 or 4 lamer jihader's against a plane load of people who weren't cowed by officialdom in advance. We have "zero tolerance" of righteous indignation and anger and whompping the badguys.. Yes, those terrorists used ultra violence immediately against the crew and passengers. That should have been clue one to go on the offensive, and not stop until they were piles of rags.
Anyone's mileage may vary, that's my true feelings.
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