Please answer THIS question: does America's national security concern you? Aren't you scared? If not, why not?

Question

This is not a partisan question so please...no need for Bush bashing which doesn't address the question. We are allowing politicians to leak sensitive information for political purposes and NOT putting them in jail...the ACLU is fighting for the "constitutional" rights of FOREIGN enemy combatants...the NY Times publishes "secret" information WITH IMPUNITY that jeopardizes the lives of our military and citizens and the effectiveness of our programs that have for 5 years thwarted numerous attempts at another 9/11. Congress is concerned how we interrogate enemy prisoners for information to protect America or how comfortable they are in prison. Has America lost its heart and resolve? What can we do?

Answer 1

I have a genuine concern for the security of all people in the world where terrorism is concerned. Terrorists are a very different enemy than we have ever faced before. Novel approaches are required to fight an enemy which oiwes allegiance to no country, but rather a religious ideology. However, I think there are also other important considerations. If we become so obsessed with security that we allow the government to usurp basic rights we will lose the freedom we cherish most. This in effect amounts to a win by the terrorists, because their main goal is to frighten us into appeasement of their views. Below I will address my opinions to some of your questions.

Constitutional Rights For Enemy Combatants: I do believe that we have a right to detain enemy combatants indefinitely during time of war without benefit of trial. This is an old established precedent in time of war. Countries establish prisoner of war camps which remain in operation until cessation of hostilities. However, I also believe that civilized nations cannot engage in any act of torture regarding prisoners, and that all basic human rights must be adhered to without question.

Freedom of the Press: A free press is essential to a free society. Governments do not always act in the best interest of their citizens, even in our great republic. It is imperative that leaders know they are being watched, and the powers they allow themselves must be kept in check for the benefit of all citizens. However, I do not believe it is necessary for the press to act directly against the best interests of the country where security is concerned. This includes revealing classified data. If the press acts improperly then the organization in question should be brought to task for their actions, this includes prosecution for treason. The power of the press should not be absolute, and the argument absence of malice is no longer acceptible in many cases.

Right to privacy: There is not an implict right to privacy listed in the Bill of Rights, but we do have a reasonable expectation of privacy. I do not support many sections of the Patriot Act. It has been repeated to us on numerous occassions that we need these provisions to effectively fight terrorism. I do not agree. The one area the Patriot Act addressed that we did need was in making it possible for intelligence and police agencies to share information. Many people have forgotten Operation Able Danger. This was a military operation that involved no direct spying, but rather data mining to discern terrorist actions. This group properly identified several involved in 911, but was forbidden from sharing information with proper agencies such as the FBI. This is a situation we cannot be allow to happen again. I am mixed on eaves dropping by the government, but again this is an established precedent based on the FISA act of 1978, and has been used by every administration since Mr. Carter. I am okay with eavesdropping in National Security cases, but I have a problem with secret courts making the approvals. Civillian oversight is essential to protect civil liberties.

America has not lost it's resolve. The vast majority of people realize that terrorism is real, and that we must fight it vigorously for our own protection. However, security is an illusion. While we can prevent some terrorist attacks, we will never be able to stop them all. We cannot be bullied by the government into believing that if we just suspend a few freedoms everything will be okay. Once a freedom is lost, it is lost forever. I am not afraid of terrorists. This is because I am not afraid of dying. We are all going to die some day, maybe today, or maybe 50 years from now, but we will die. I am not in a hurry to find out what is on the other side, but we have to live for today. Yesterday is gone, and tommorow never come, so all we have is today, make every one the best it can be. You cannot do this if you live your life in constant fear.

Answer 2

One of the posters hit it dead on!! One world religion!! That is what the terrorists are fighting for..That religion being Islam. They are under Quaran commandments to achieve that goal.. Either by choice or death. The infidel is targeted, no matter where they reside. And England is a hotbed of these terrorists, whether they (the population) believe it or not. Recent events have established that England is not immune to attack. The US has many cells just across the border in Canada. Where they just sit and wait for the right time and the right orders to attack there and in the US. Most of them are watched carefully at the present time. There may be others yet to be found. But, 50 cells are known to be active. . We aren't being told how many are here in the states. known or unknown..

Answer 3

Under an incompetent regime, Bush must instill fear to stay in power. Do you seriously think a bunch of whack-jobs in a cave in Afghanistan is equal to the threat of the Axis powers in WWII?
If you don't think a bunch of cab drivers, barbers, construction workers, etc., who were pointed out (fingered) for $10,000 (a life's wages in Afghanistan) don't need conditional protection, then neither do you when you're captured.
The "secret" information that the NY Times published on the NSA was common knowledge since LAST September, but they won't tell you that on Fox News.
You should be grateful that the newspapers investigate and let you know how you as a citizen are being SCREWED.

Answer 4

Yes, the national security DOES concern me. What concerns me more is that our nation's SURVIVAL is at stake in this day and time and we do not seem to have any leaders (or many) that are aware of this. GW and some of the people in his cabinet seem to be aware of it. The Democrats seem to not care and put their own personal interests ahead of our nation. Joe Lieberman and probably a few I do not know of, being the exception. Our two parties, both of them, need to put the nation ahead of party politics, join together and show our enemies a solidarity in our fight. That would go a long way towards defeating terrorism. Besides the war on terrorism, we have major concerns that need to be resolved ASAP. The illegal immigrants and our energy dependency and our national debt. Yes, I am SCARED and any American that is not is either asleep in the corner, unaware of any problems, or spaced out on drugs and alcohol.

Answer 5

I don't think the national security of America is in any more jeopardy than it was 10 years ago. There are a lot of scare tactics out there to get people to vote a certain way.
I am not scared, I am however concerned with recent means of skirting constitutional rights.

Answer 6

Hi,,,, I have been saying this since around 1992,, We are slowly giving up our rights as indivudals here in America,,, With the 9-11 tragedy,,,, we are now just about under some kind of Marshall law,, we are giving up our identity to a government,,, that is under No control.. because congress,,, the house and senate have all sold us out !!!

Thats just the tip of the ice-burg,,,,, but i don't want to sound like a raving maniac,,,, but its coming for sure.......
Remeber,,, New World Order..... one government,, one money system,,, one religion.....

good luck

Answer 7

Scared no. Angry yes. It's time we woke up. These bastards hate us and no matter how much we try to be apiese them they always will. We have no choice but to exterminate them. I fear if the Republican's lose office we will go back to the Clinton apiesement years which brought us so many attacks. Say what you want about Bush but at least he's kept us safe since 9/11 and in my eyes that's his primary job.

Answer 8

I am most concerned about our national and personal security mostly for my six grandchildren and three grown children. I think there is a lot of blame to be pointed out for both political parties, but we as citizens are mostly to blame for letting our politicans get away with what they have been doing for years. I think we must fight to win and stop this PC business.

Answer 9

Yes it does. I am not scared but I am concerned that the way things are going we are going to end up with a nation that is so locked down and everything that we want to do will be scrutinized. So were did the freedom go.

Answer 10

Liberal lust for power is indangering all of us .
Anything to belittle the administration and gain votes in the up coming election .
The question is , do we fight back against terrorists and their supporters or do we just give them whatever they want regardless of cost ?
Meanwhile , the liberals play to the cameras and microphones and make promises they can not or will not keep >