Doesn't the mass murder at Virginia Tech today show that we are in no way "safe from terrorists?'

Question

To several of you respondents...if a man that murders 31 innocent students isn't a "terrorist" then I need a very clear explanation of what a "terrorist" is. So, "terrorists" aren't "Psychos?" "Terrorists" aren't "mentally disturbed?"

I just realized that this "Asian" person could be Middle Eastern. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Asia.

Answer 1

We're not safe...period.

Given what we saw after Katrina...?

Bush has made it too easy for terrorists to come and attack America again--just so he can reclaim his lost "9-11 glory".

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I drove across three states this past weekend. It allowed me some time to think about the latest news on Iraqi Shiites. Much like the majority of Americans and other people of earth, Shiites are calling for the US to get out of Iraq. And as usual, President Dunderhead isn’t listening. In a twist on the old John Lennon song, Bush is asking Shiites to “give war a chance.”

For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out why Bush wouldn’t heed the calls of three quarters of the world to get our sorry *** out of there. But I figured it out just after finishing lunch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Bush wants America to be attacked again.

Now, I’m no paranoid conspiracy theorist but frankly, it’s the only possible explanation. The only thing the Bush administration has to hang its hat on is the 9/11 attacks of 2001. Because of these attacks, they were able to rush all kinds of anti-constitutional legislation by Congress. Bush’s favorability and job ratings topped the ninetieth percentile, and security became the watch word for Americans over the economy. No matter how ridiculous Bush sounded when making a speech, people cheered him because he was their leader during a time of crisis.

But now he’s lost all of that. His administration is riddled with corruption. The so-called war on terrorism is a disaster. Iraq has fallen into anarchy, Al Qaida is growing throughout Europe; the Taliban is making huge gains in Afghanistan, Pakistan has washed its hands of American interventionism. Iran is continuing with its nuclear plans despite Bush’s saber rattling, and Nancy Pelosi is making foreign policy exchanges between Israel and Syria. Bush knows he’s quickly becoming an asterisk in presidential history, and he wants desperately to gain back the power and prestige his ego is so desperately in need of. And the only way he can get that is with another attack on America by a foreign power. I’m sure Bush feels Iraq or Iran would fit the bill nicely.

I know what you’re thinking. “It’s the oil, stupid.” Well yes, I think gaining control of Iraqi oil and energy supply routes through the country is certainly a large part of our mission there. But I think Bush wants a lot more than that. He dreams of being thought of as a combination of Ronald Reagan and John Wayne in his presidency, but he’s coming off more as “Gilligan” from TV island fame. That’s no way for a man of Bush’s fragile ego to be remembered. Another attack on America would make him appear undeservedly strong again, strutting across the deck of aircraft carriers complete with Ken doll flight suit. When it comes right down to it, his whole presidency has been about nothing but appearing certain ways- tough on democrats, strong on defense, compassionate for the families of military men who’ve died in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the policy he creates has never matched the images he portrays. Without a prop like another terrorist attack in the States, he can’t make the political theatre he creates work very well.

As long as Bush keeps mucking about in Iraq, chances are good that somebody from the Near East, Europe, or anywhere in the world will carry off another attack against the US and give George Bush what he so eagerly desires-a place in history as a strong leader. That a few more thousand or even hundreds of thousands may die in the process is of no consequence to him. He stopped noticing the blood on his hands long ago.

Answer 2

Safety Check......Run for your lives!!!!! There is no safety anymore that is an imaginary concept. We can hope not everyone is a stressed out, Asian, engineering student with mental problems. The only thing we can hope is not everyone wants to go berserk and kill, because they had a bad day. It's called personal accountability. Something that is not taught in schools anymore. We do not need terrorists anymore we have road rage, drunk drivers, gang violence, overworked underpaid workers that are too stressed out because they have to pay for gas and their work only pays minimum wage. So the chances are higher dying because of someone else reckless, thoughtless, decisions than dying from a terrorist attack, but should we add personal accountability to the terrorist list? Well how much freedom would you like to give up for that? We have given up a lot as it is and you and I know we really don't have any freedom anymore in fact the terrorists have more rights to legal counsel. Have you tried protesting in front of the white house lately. I don't think so. Would you even be willing to try? Just something to think about.

Answer 3

The term "terrorist" implies the violent act for a political gain? We don't know right now if this individual had a political agenda or not. Right now its a violent crime not a terrorist act.

The question you raise though is valuable and warrants discussion. We are not ready to thrawrt a violent criminal what if this had been a "cell" of well armed Islamic Extremist? The death toll would be far worse. Perhaps it is time to look at the laws that "ban" guns from campuses when a well armed teacher \ professor might have stopped this well before so many died.

Answer 4

He is a citizen of the United States. He can say anything he wants as long as he does not promote the overthrow of our government. Some could argue that he is making a suggestion close to it but only he would know that. Also, even with God whispering in his ear (soul) others could site that even predicting a major terrorist attack, such as after September, could be construed as a lead up to a terrorist attack on his part. If we are all God's children, I'm not sure you and I got that same information. I know I sure didn't. I just don't want him to place himself in such a light that others would consider him as a domestic enemy of the state by spreading pandemonium. Anything is possible no matter who says it. If you or I could have also said it on national TV on the same day as he did, wouldn't we have just as much of a chance of getting it right (or wrong) as he is going too, if we are all equal under the law. Ed

Answer 5

Time will tell...We don't know enough yet, but if the guy that did this is purely a homicidal nut job, then yeah, nothing can protect us from the insane. Terrorists, however, are not insane and have more structure. Consequently, there actions can be anticipated and defeated.

Edit: NO!!! Terrorists aren't psychos!!...That's way too easy an explanation. Psychos don't need a rational reason to kill. Terrorists have a reason...whether it is to support their religion or their political affiliation...It is rational NOT ONLY to them, but their brothers in arms. "Crazy people" don't have friends supporting their actions. People in Western society would LOVE to make all terrorists out to be just crazy guys with bombs. That way you don't have to try to analyze why they do what they do. It makes it much easier on the rest of us to just pass their acts off as those of a crazy person. Unfortunately, true terrorism goes much deeper than that.

Answer 6

A Free people can never be totally safe. I don't suppose anyone anywhere can be perfectly safe, for that matter.
As awful as this shooting was, it was NOT terrorism, or at least in the strictest sense. The goal of the shooter was to kill people, not terrorize. Unless he turns out to be a Muslim, he was just a deranged sick person. I don't believe his goal was to make people afraid to attend VA Tech or to make people afraid to get an education. That is the kind of thing the Taliban does.
So, yes, this is proof that we are NOT safe from terrorism, because it could just as easily been done by a terrorist. However, Al Qaeda generated terrorism is being isolated and kept out of the country, for the most part. It requires a constant vigil to protect our country. Without George W. Bush at the helm, there is no telling how many attacks we would have had. God Bless our President.

Answer 7

Of course it doesn't. Random acts of violence are just that - random.

You can take away all of our rights, herd us like sheep, keep us locked in bomb-proof rooms. Then we might be "safe from terrorists." But it's no way to live.

We'll be safe from terrorists when we treat everyone in the world with dignity, are willing to talk to them - for as long as it takes and then some - and are willing to die at their hands to keep the dialogue moving forward.

Life ain't fun, but that's the way it goes...stop worrying about terrorists killing us all, and start worrying about making the world a better place.

Answer 8

There is no indication that the shooter was a terrorist... probably just a mentally challenged or very depressed person.. it will be interesting to hear the theories as to why he did it.

i certainly hope this does not bring about a great hue and cry and racial feeling for Asian Americans now or any Asians. By the way if it does.. can we expect Sharpton and jackson to be there at the forefront defending them? Hmm?

Answer 9

The only way we will be safe is when we have very tall fences around everything and armed guards that check ID every 10 minutes of so everywher one goes. Even then, if one of those guards has intensions of doing something like that it will be done.

Answer 10

This has nothing to do with politics. I hate that people are trying to make this into some sort of issue about terrorism. In general we are safe from acts like this. It is a random act that unfortuanatly happens like having a car accident or a plane crash. Yes sometimes these things can be avoided or prevented but you can not curl yourselves up into a little ball and hide for something that in reality has a very minimal chance of happening to you.

Answer 11

well, we know that we arent safe, and stuff like this cant be stopped, but with some effort and planning we will be safer from terrorists that want to bring bombs onto planes, blow up buildings, and stuff like that. What bothers me, among other things, is that the article i read included the criminal among the body count, and when listing the other school shootings in the past gave the names of the criminals who were responsible. No mention of them should ever be made in the history books, or news, that is what they want, they should be referred to as the sicko losers instead.