Do you feel that we are being protected from terrorists, even as our borders remain wide open?

Question

Over 3100 of our military men and women have been killed in Iraq. Over 15,000 have returned without arms, legs, sight, and with severe brain damage. Why are these men and women fighting and losing their lives/limbs in Iraq--fighting the "war on terrorism"-- when terrorists could easily come into our country through our open borders--with chemical, nuclear, biological weapons/bombs?

Answer 1

Good point--but follow you're own logic (which is fine as far as you took it--a couple steps further.
>If the administration (Bush, etc) are really concerned about protecting this country, why have they left our borders (and, by and large, our ports) open?
>We are told the terrorists are determined to attack us. Now, granted, there are a few terrorists out there--we are all too aware of that. But if they waned to committ acts of terrorism on US soil all that badly, they could have done so many times in the last fivve years--yet none have.
>While there have been attacks overseas, there's been no serious plots or attempts uncovered that target the US itself. Please note I said SERIOUS attempts--the handful of screwballs that are all the intelligence agencies have uncovered hardly constitute serious threats.

Conclusion: The Bush administration is not concerned about the borders because they know that terrorism on US soil, while certainly possible, isn't very likely. Therefore, the "war on terror" is mostly a hoax, propaganda to justify their actions--including the very real war in Iraq.

And if you think--or hear--"that's because we're fighting them there so we don't have to fight them here"--reread what I said. That reasoning is nonsense. The terrorists have hit Madrid, London,etc. And they have an open door into the US. If they were all that bent on bring terrorism to the US, they'd have done so. The "war on terror" is a sham.

What's tragic about this (besides the needless loss of life) is that our actions have increased the incentives for terrorism. And the 800 BILLION dollars that have been squandered could have been used to invest in and improve thelives of the people in those regions--a course that would have discreddited extremist claims about US attitudes and taken away the resentment and hoplessness that breed terrorism. Instead we've spent 5 years acting in a way that seems to confirm everything bad the terrorists say about us.

I'm not saying there won't be more attacks--but if there are, it will be mostly due to the actions of the Bush administration, not in spite of them.

Answer 2

You are absolutely right about the waste of American lives and limbs in Iraq - their presence does not defend our liberty since our liberty was never threatened by Iraq. Our invading and occupying Iraq has increased terrorism, certainly in Iraq itself and throughout the world because it has turned otherwise neutral Moslems into pretty pissed off activists, ready to kill themselves as long as they can take out many other innocents.

BUT, turning the American military into border guards is really not the answer to defending American soil against terrorist actions. Remember, the 9/11 hijackers were in the U.S. completely and totally legally - they were granted visas. Smart terrorists won't trek across the Mexican desert to get in. I don't feel it's as big a concern as cargo coming into the U.S. unchecked and unguarded nuclear and chemical plants. A wall is a stupid idea - it doesn't even cover 100% of the terrority and the cost to taxpayers is exhorbitant. Spend the money on making our ports safer and I believe we'll be doing the best we can.

Answer 3

Most terrorists attack the country they live in, and enter the country perfectly legally (and are often even born there). Take Oklahoma City, the KKK, the London bombers or the punks in Iraq.

Even the 9/11 guys got in the USA legally.

Closing the borders would make no difference. Unless you're afraid of Canadians.

Answer 4

And to top that all off , when the guys watching the borders get arrested and sued for doing their job..it really makes you wonder .
Our government is improving and upgrading our national security in many other ways ; but the borders still remain a risk -so of course that is a big concern .

Answer 5

I think we are more prone to terrorist attacks now. Not because of the open border, but because of the fact that we are creating more terrorists now. America(ns) is more hated by rest of the world now than ever before. We just cannot go to other areas of the world and kill people and still expect that nothing will ever happen to us. Someday some one is going to take the revenge of his family being killed by our troops.

Answer 6

I have never been in fear of terrorists. I live in Kentucky-not exactly a hot place for a terrorist threat. When 9/11 happened,I never impacted me at all-New York is like a foreign country it's so removed from here. I'm sure New Yorkers never give a thought to how many Kentuckians live in poverty everyday.

Answer 7

i do worry about this a little since it is very easy to get across the Mexican border,,,however, the Mexicans know how easy it is,,therefore, i find it hard to believe if Julio and Mohamed are coming across together, that Julio wont run up to someone as soon as they arrive and say "he no speaka spany" --Carlos mencia...... we need to let the Mexicans guard the Mexican border,,,they wont let terrorists in,,they don't want o ruin their chances......

Answer 8

Yes. I do feel...check that, I KNOW we are being protected by our government against terrorism. Many, many plots have been foiled.....but yes, the Mexican border worries me greatly and I do wonder why past and present American administrations seem to not be so concerned about this gaping hole in our security. The border issue is a mysterious one. It surely has already been exploited by the muslims.

Answer 9

I don't feel safe from terrorists. I think we have more now than before 9-11

Answer 10

terrorists can hit anywhere anytime,they don't have to come into the country,a lot of them are home grown