Re: On terrorism - or the lack thereof
<
...what is the need of the massive "Homeland Security" bureaucracy, Patriot Act, invasion of Iraq, etc?
LJ
In case my view isn't borne out...in case, as Tom suggests, the bin Ladens out there perhaps really don't have a goal other than to inflict maximum damage on the US (or whatever enemy they think they face) and to heck with the consequences.
I have some trouble with that. I think I agree with some of Robert's "Decoding the message of Sept 11," in that there is a mundane agenda behind the attacks...and if there is, it's certainly in our best interests to understand and address that agenda.
But as you point out, LJ, for all it's muscle the US remains frighteningly vulnerable. I have no idea how effective or ineffective the present security measures will be, but I'd be quite concerned if the govt sat around in it's bathrobe doing nothing.