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I see no "nation racked with fear". I really don't. I don't see this - "Fear is gripping this country, fear is driving policy, fear is percolating throughout our society".
I agree that money being spent is not being spent wisely or well. Airport security is a joke. It is the attitude of "we have to look like we're doing something". I think it's all a CYA thing so that if something happens they can say "we were doing everything we could".
Well, they are doing what they can without taking any real stands.
How can a free and open society really be "secure"? It cannot happen. The only thing I really think could be done better is border security, and that is even a painful and unpopular thing internationally. The only thing I can see to do is to utilize imminent domain and purchase all land along the border in order to build a wall - one that cannot be tunnelled under easily not scaled over easily.
As far as monitoring ship yards - it is an impossible task. How many millions of containers come in here a month? They cannot all be gone over. Spot inspections doesn't do it.
I am amazed how those who say "nothing is being done" scoff at the Patriot Act. The phrase "trading freedom for security" implies that freedom is usually without it. Impossible things are expected. Protect us but take away no rights and do not interfere with the free and open society. I say that is impossible.
Though not the "expressed reasons" for going to war in Iraq, the fact is that Al Qaeda is now doing their fighting and plotting there in a survival effort rather than launching offensives at the US.
Do not take this post as meaning that I am satisfied with what is happening security wise. I am simply being honest in the assessment that it isn't possible. The only thing that can realistically be done better is border security, but we have one hell of a lot of borders (north, south, the two oceans, and the gulf of Mexico) to control. Not even that is possible.
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