The Threat Remains-But Who is Watching?

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Dec 28, 2009 at 13:02

Let us approach the statement of Janet Napolitano first, that the 'system' worked(?) to defend Americans on American soil. We know from a cursory look that the system was live-tested and found wanting in complete contradiction to Napolitano's comments. That they were reversed was insufficient to the circumstances of the potential threat that exists every moment there are potential enemies to the American way of life.

We are to presume under similar circumstances that someone is going to eventually 'get through', if for no other reason that we, as a national collective presence, remain a target for the agencies of antipathies against the United States of America.

Note that the alleged infiltrator was of African descent, yet was operating as an agent of another foreign power under the auspices of al-Qaeda. How has it been forgotten by the very authorities responsible for not letting this kind of thing happen that there are still terrorist mentalities ready to perpetrate yet another offense against American citizens? Is there negligence, or ignorance, or both, that we are faced yet again with the villainy of air piracy for the purposes of terrorizing the flying public. We shall let the powers that be answer that one, if they can.

Or, maybe they can't. Maybe, the situation is beyond their ability to fathom the battle that rages, that in earnest oblivion to the hostilities they have no answer to the mindset that devises plots of murder against targets of opportunity, the same way that mosques, transit facilities and bazaars are targeted elsewhere in the world. Can the agencies responsible for the protection of American citizens be of such ineffectiveness that all they can do is watch as the enemy explodes in rash hatred, and then file a report a year later after it happens? Are we not supposed to be able to expect more than that?

Let us face the reality, that we are exposed to acts of violence all the time, from domestic situations to terrorist ones. That an act of violence may be perpetrated on an airliner is one of greater significance due to the magnitude of an air tragedy should be no more nor less tragic than if many people lost their lives in some other manner at the hands of such villains. But we should also expect that a more serious response from our elected and appointed officials be forthcoming, instead of their being subjected to an audition to a bloopers reel in the aftermath.

Now, there is no magic necessary in intercepting potential threats to American security, only a sense of responsibility and cooperation amongst those responsible, and the courage to step up and deal honestly with the enemies of the United States. Political correctness in not wanting to offend a certain population sector cannot be allowed as sufficient reasoning for exposing others to a threat of bodily injury or death, unless of course, that is the object of it all. Should we wonder about that -allowing a problem so that a political solution can be offered instead of a practical one?

Let us then pose Dr. Pipes question in the vein of that thinking - what size disaster, indeed, would be necessary to topple the American government and eventually, the American way of life?

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