America's Response to Global Terrorism

In the aftermath of the September 11th 2001 attacks on America, it is time for us to examine our national, and to some extent, local policies, as an integral part of our overall response to this “undeclared war” against America and her allies.

The principle assumptions are (1) that it is not the responsibility of the United States to be everything to everybody. And, (2) the only geopolitical variable that we can realistically control is the United States.

It is time for other nations, particularly developing nations, to step up to the plate and work to make things better for “their” citizens (see item # 4 below). It is much easier to get help, when you are trying to help yourself.

To this end, I am recommending that we take swift and concerted action in the following five (5) areas, to ensure that “civilized” interactions between peace loving nations and people can continue on this planet.

First, we need to develop a comprehensive National Energy Policy that will help us to sever our petroleum based economic ties, to nations that smile in our faces in public, and wish us harm in private. This policy should encompass the development of “all” sources of energy, and strike as reasonable a balance, as possible, with environmental concerns. The technology that results from these endeavors will create new opportunities and jobs for millions of Americans.

Second, we need to develop a comprehensive National Ground Transportation Policy that will compliment our energy policy. The system, when developed, should be as user friendly as possible, to ensure that people will use it. I envision a national system that makes use of Monorails for personal and commercial traffic. This system would approximate the current national interstate system, providing (1) a Blue Line for personal travel, and (2) a Red Line for commercial travel. Local transportation to and from the national system’s “Hubs” would also require a user-friendly orientation. This policy would also require restructuring and re-emphasizing the utility and importance of the nations Rail Roads. I firmly believe that they can be a vital element in our nations transportation system. Again, the development and deployment of this system will create new opportunities and jobs for millions of Americans.

Third, in that we have, over the years, built our entire economic and social culture around the automobile, we need to give serious consideration to “local” zoning laws and ordinances that perpetuate this state of affairs. In essence, by zoning businesses out of our communities, we have zoned ourselves into dependency on the automobile, and subsequently into “entangling alliances” with the oil producing nations, that produce the oil needed to power our vehicles. Another casualty in this scenario is the sense of community that we have lost by not having local/neighborhood businesses within “walking distance” of our homes. Think about it; for most Americans, going to work, buying a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, getting a haircut, or going to school, involves the use of their automobiles. Period. Can we do better? Yes we can. Do we need to do better? Yes, it is imperative that we do things smarter, and better, in and for our nation.

Fourth, relative to the current Global War on Terrorism (GWoT), it has become imperative that America cleans up its house of all “questionable” characters, from nations that espouse and embrace the use of terrorism, as a means to achieve political goals. Now you may call this what you will, (I call it using the good sense that God gave us) and I strongly recommend that our Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) take steps to round up any and all citizens of Middle Eastern extraction that are in this country, on any temporary Visas, and return them to there native lands. My main thrust being, to let “their” nations sort out, and determine whom the criminals and terrorists are. We do not need to be expending our precious resources, time, and effort, in such a nebulous undertaking. This project would be further enhanced if all of the other peace loving nations in the “civilized world” would take these same steps. I would bet, that if forced to deal with the potential for terrorism on their own soil, most Middle Eastern nations would become very proactive and focused in dealing with these questionable characters.

Fifth, and finally, after all of the aforementioned measures have been implemented, we need to establish a policy of “Disengagement” as it relates to our relations to and with any nation that embraces terrorists, or employs terrorism, to achieve its political ends. This step entails the “closing of our borders and ports of entry” to anyone bearing a Passport from any of the nations in question. This is not to say that we should shrink from interactions with other peace loving nations. This is a method of isolating those individuals and nations that would, for no good reason, harm innocent children, women, and men, through senseless and violent means. You would not allow vipers, asps, or rabid dogs to occupy the backyard where your children play---would you? Then why allow “known” terrorists to move about freely across international borders, enter our countries, and ultimately kill our citizens? It goes without saying that the stakes are far too high to take a “liberal” wait and see attitude in this matter.

Please know that I am not a racist, or person that sees colors or regards those characteristics (race, color, national origin, creed, sex, or economic status) that are beyond people’s control. These are not the issues. The issue is the use of terrorism against American citizens, on American soil, by individuals that are backed by nefarious elements in “rogue” nations. Period. Every step mentioned above is designed to protect the nation that I love, the people that I love, the world that I love, and the life that I love. I will not compromise with anyone, in any way on the security and well being of my country!

In closing, please know that, I do solemnly swear to defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and the American way of life, against all enemies---foreign and domestic, so help me God! Let’s Roll.

A CONCERNED AMERICAN CITIZEN

A four-front approach with which I can only agree.

Mr. Bailey wrote:

Couldn't agree more. I remember reading somewhere that as Saudi Arabia is to oil, America is to coal. With America's ability to engineer just about anything, why couldn't coal burning processes be improved to the point where they are less polluting than oil? If every new manufacturing plant had to heat its facility, and had energy-efficient means to do so with low polluting burning, it wouldn't have to convert from some kind of heating to this new way, it would be in place from the getgo.

I guess the only place that Monorails exist today is at Disney parks, but I remember reading a Popular Science when I was in Jr. High that stated that this would be the popular method of travel in 50 years. We aren't even starting to build any kind of network, so it's still a transportation system sitting on the shelf.

One of your ideas under this heading was to have communities that had shopping within their borders again, removing the need to drive to go shopping. There are "model" communities in New England and in the South, where houses are built with porches so people can talk with their neighbors, garages are behind the house, so that the emphasis isn't on always using the car, and shops and large department stores are within easy walking distance as the community is built in a hub.

I wonder if they've thought of moving sidewalks as a way of implementing this integrated store/living concept for our aging population. Those who can't walk several blocks to do their shopping, could do so if they had a mobility assist. I've also seen communities that use electric golf carts and another that uses large tricycles which the people who use them, just love.

I have said elsewhere that I think that America needs to shut her borders for 5 years, while the INS figures out who is here and sends those home who don't belong here. Then we address the need for stricter screening at ports of entry - airports for one, or Northern and Sourthern borders for another. We need to figure out a way to keep those hostile to our freedoms from freely entering this Country with the idea of doing us harm. Until we stop all immigration, we won't know who's coming in and who needs to be sent home.

Fifth, and finally, after all of the aforementioned measures have been implemented, we need to establish a policy of "Disengagement" as it relates to our relations to and with any nation that embraces terrorists, or employs terrorism, to achieve its political ends. This step entails the "closing of our borders and ports of entry" to anyone bearing a Passport from any of the nations in question.

Nothing I can add to this but to say I wholeheartedly agree.

I find that those of us who espouse these ideas of controlled immigration have to defend ourselves from the onslaught of cries thrown at us "Racist, racist". We are NOT racist. We are interested in preserving America and her uniquely American freedoms, but we can't do that and continue to have anyone who wants to be here overrun our borders, wherever that border is, at airports, at the Mexican border, or Canadian border. At some point, we have to stop processing new people coming in and turn our attention to finding out who is here and who doesn't belong here. Doing that is a huge task and the numbers of people that it will take to accomplish this will be a new "army" of committed citizens. I envision this group being under the aegis of Homeland Security.

About oil - we know there are huge deposits of coal in the middle of America. The problem is the tree huggers will never let us dig it out of where it is. And as for the ANWR - where we know there is oil - the presevervationists are yelling "Foul" before there is any exploratory work.

Over and over, we've been told that the area in the ANWR where the oil is, is not inhabited with the animals that the Greenies always show the pictures of. I believe that it might be that there is enough oil there to help remove America's dependence on the Middle East for oil, but we'll never know if we don't try.

Mud - what I worry about more than anything is the disappearnce of our First Amendment rights. What Lott said was stupid, but we should all be willing to defend his right to say it. The PC police are keeping all of us from voicing what we want. The stupidity of not targeting Arab men between the ages of 18 - 35 is clearly suicidal. I recently flew and had the opportunity to see two Caucasians, one a man in his 30's, blond hair, nicely dressed, go through the process of having his carry-on emptied on the table and having to take off his shoes. They had also singled out an elderly lady who didn't mind her purse and her carryon bag loaded with prescription medicines being displayed on the table, but when it came to her shoes, she adamantly refused to take them off, saying, "If I do, my feet will swell and I'll never get them back on, and do you want me to meet my new son-in-law with no shoes on? No, I didn't think you did. Now get out of my hair and let me on that plane!!"

Those of us within hearing, burst out laughing and gave her a round of applause. The examiner was not thrilled - his face turning a bright red. But, two of us said, in unison, said, "Get a life." And, "Remember who the pilots of the those jets were and let her on the damn plane."

AF_Blue - isn't it time we heard something from you?

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