The world had already changed; the U.S. woke up too late

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The rest of the world has lived with the spectre of terrorism for decades. In Israel, civil defense is a way of life. The U.S. State Department (and military) failed to adjust to the end of the Cold War. The intelligence communities have been poorly managed and funded since Vietnam. The U.S. has been reluctant to aggressively adopt effective tactics against terrorist cells or punish the rogue state that harbor these miscreants.

The tragedies of NYC and DC do not signal a change in the world, but that the changes in the world have arrived on American soil. Low intensity conflicts and terror are the battleground of the 21st century. Technology and money will only strengthen the enemies of the United States. To combat these enemies, we must radically change our strategic and tactical philosophies and understand that covert operations, assassination and aggressive deterrence are the only effective counter-measures. It is impossible to secure a country like the U.S. against terrorism. The only alternative is to strike these jackals in their lairs, and to punish the countries that harbor them. Some people have known this for decades, but many American officials have lacked the resolve to do what must be done.

Diplomacy, traditional justice or avoidance are doomed to fail. The success of the recent attacks will only embolden other terrorists. The challenge for America is move beyond the soft, fuzzy thinking cocoon where everyone is a "victim" and criminals are just misguided souls who lack a nurturing environment. Once upon a time, America was a harder place that understood the need for swift and terrible retribution, that decisive action often saves lives.

Could we have avoided some of the recent catastrophe? Perhaps. Perhaps if we had the will to eliminate bin Ladin or Hussein, dismantle the terrorist cells and lay waste to countries harboring these scum.

-- Remember (the@ld.forum.com), September 12, 2001

Answers

America is too busy having fun!! and scoffing at the biblical-warnings. the times we live in[violent]and becoming more violent,have ALL been foretold!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), September 12, 2001.

'member,

Eve posted an article on the "what to do now" thread. I found it echoed your topic here. This can not be business as usual. New York will never be the same global capital.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), September 12, 2001.


Americans are soft and lazy. Americans believe in nothing beyond your own creature comforts. We will destroy you. You deserve to be destroyed. You are corrupt parasites, vermin to be eliminated. You cannot defeat us. We are the vanguard of the future. You are overfed relics of the past. Die, you whining dogs.

-- (cell 1254@your.neighborhood), September 12, 2001.

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