If there is a major terrorist attack who will you blame?

Question

Clitoon did his best to deflect any criticism or personal responsibility for 911. What is it with this guy and personal responsibility?

It seems to be an American pasttime to place blame, point the finger and then try to find out why something happens. There are nutcases who think our government did 911.

So if there is a major attack, say a dirty bomb in NYC, LA or DC, who would be responsible? If we had a terrorist leader who knew the plan but we did not interrogate him enough to prevent the attack, who would be at fault?

The Congress?
The Administration?
The Democrats?
The Republicans?

I mean so far since 911 through some very hard work by a lot of people we have been fortunate to not see thousands of innocent people slaughtered, but lets say the security leaks that the NYT publishes help the bad guys. Who would then be responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent Americans?

Answer 1

funny I was just saying that this morning to my husband. We were watching CNN and I was saying how 2 faced and forgetful the American public is. Seems like if a Republican is in office when something goes wrong then the entire republican party is to blame, so the next election we go democrat and when something goes wrong, people tend to blame the democratic party, when in truth there is very little the president can do.
The president does not tell airports to screen or when, and he is not in charge or oil or gas prices. People have a tendency to forget that this is a free society.
If a there were another terroist attack it would be nobodys fault but the terrorists.
ON 9/11, I do believe there were measures that could have been in place that may (MAY) have prevented an attack but we don't KNOW that for sure.

Answer 2

I think the real question should be 'does it matter who we point the finger at?' I mean really... If (and when) it happens, I would rather not worry about who I will be pointing the finger of blame at people, but rather saving American lives - for now and the future... seeing as we can't change the past!!!

I would like to focus on making America a safer place to live and focus on keeping us safe. Once an attack on American soil happens, what is the point of pointing fingers? We need to find ways to STOP the attacks then worry about who did what and why!!!

And to all you consperacy theorists that believe our own government is doing this - GET A GRIP!

Answer 3

I will always blame the terrorist, because it is irrational to believe that in the face of constant threats we can detect and stop them all. It is well known that terrorists only need to succeed 1 time in a 100 to be successful, but protection must be EVERY time, or it is a failure. Chances are, we will fail at some point.

No, the blame is on the perpetrator. Unless someone was specifically negligent or remiss, if some important programs were stopped, if roadblocks were erected that prevented our ability to detect and stop the threat, then there really is no one to blame.

As for the security leaks - those leaks need to be found and stopped, then prosecuted and imprisoned.

Answer 4

Clinton fought back. The Bush Administration constantly lies and says that Clinton didn't do enough to battle terrorism. Yet if you look at his actions, he actually tried but the republicans kept claiming that he was just trying to divert the attention from the Lewinsky scandal. When he tried to pass a LEGAL wire-tapping program with FISA oversight, some republican by the name of John Ashcroft called it an invasion of privacy. Yet, the same John Ashcroft who cried foul when it was planned, helped set up and covered for an ILLEGAL wire-tapping program.

I've never been a big fan of Clinton or Gore, but give me a choice between them or Bush, I'd take CLinton any day.

As for blame for a terrorist attack here on the States, I've blamed every administration since 1953. Take a good hard look at our foreign policies, both in the Mid-East and in Central America and you will see how hypocritical we've been.

Answer 5

Clinton admitted on TV that he tried and failed to kill Bin Laden. Bush had been in office for 8 months when 9/11 occured. He made no attempts to kill Bin Laden and wasn't paying attention to the terrorist threat -- why do you absolve Bush of any responsibility for 9/11? What is it with you and not holding Bush responsible for anything?

I guess you would blame the New York Times, although they didn't publish anything that the terrorists didn't already know.

Personally I would blame the terrorists and the Bush Administration and Republican Congress, as they have held power for the last six years and have not implemented most of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations and have wasted billions of dollars in Iraq that could have been spent protecting the country, not to mention helping to create a new generation of terrorists through their bungling of Iraq occupation.

Answer 6

The government.
They were responsible for 9/11, and they will be responsible for the next attack, which they will blame on Iranians.
Problem is that this time there will be even more radiation than there is in Iraq with the DU shells used there.
We are heading for a nuclear holocaust because so many Americans are living in denial

Answer 7

We blame all of us. We all, as citizens, have a responsibility to our nation. All levels from the common citizen to the Oval Office will share in the burden, with varrying loads of the burden assigned by their justifiable means. If you knew an attack was about to happen, and did nothing, you would be more at fault than the victim city, or its governance.

Answer 8

I do not wish there would be any terrorist attack in those cities or in any country coz if it happens many innocent people losses their lives.... as far as 911 is concerned BUSH did it to enter Afghanistan and After that he pointed out Sadam, uses him as a door to enter Iraq he want to rule over the world but he dont know that people of this age are well aware of theri rights and liabilities... I really thing that GW Bush is the main reason of terrorist attack all over the world including USA, PAKISTAN, INDIA, CHINA, FRANCE, GERMANY, UK AND MANY MORE....

Answer 9

I am going to have to say the terrorists themselves. I am big on placing responsibility squarely on those who are responsible. I do not blame Boeing for building the jets which were flown into the twin towers, I blame the terrorists.
However, I do think the NY times used poor judgment and they should be held responsible for any deaths to which their greed contributes.

Answer 10

I will blame the terrorists first and foremost. I will also blame the Arab Street, which does not renounce terrorism (although its popularity drops substantially when they themselves are the victims, as in the 2004 attacks in Turkey).

But many will try to gain political advantage from the attacks here in the U.S. Democrats will blame Republicans and Republicans will blame Democrats - and the terrorists gain. (Remember? Divide and Conquer?)