Do you believe that Bush has kept terrorists out of the U.S. since 9/11?

Question

For those who say, "Yes, Bush has kept terrorists out", I'll ask the question I've asked before. How is it that thousands of illegal immigrants can gain entry to the U.S. daily... if terrorists can't get in?

Answer 1

No, but it's excellent fodder for the GOP spin machine (just like they can get their followers to call a decorated war hero like Kerry a "commie" but blindly support draft dodgers like Bush and Cheney). I believe that we haven't been attacked on US soil because we have sent out people over there and they are much easier targets.

What people don't seem to understand was that 9/11 was a symbolic attack, it's specific purpose was not to kill as many people as possible. If the terrorists intent really was to kill, the would have waited 30 minutes longer and the death toll likely would have been over 20,000 instead of just over 3,000. The attack was on what the terrorists perceive "represents" America; the WTC (financial blackmail) and the Pentagon (American military intimidation).

Thwarting terrorism is and always will be an intelligence operation, not one fought by the military.

Answer 2

No. First of all, that statement is a 'negative proof', a logical fallacy. Following that same line of reasoning, one could credit the Bush adminstration with no earthquakes in Arizona since 9/11. I think that sets up a false sense of security, perhaps to justify taking away civil liberties. Some evidence to the dichotomy of that line of reasoning:

-- As others have mentioned, our borders are wide open
-- Invasion and occupation of Iraq has led to more terrorist activity
-- This summer, we finally got some legislation based on the 9/11 Commission recommendations. What took so long?
-- The relative ease in buying nuclear material (to potentially make 'dirty bombs') in our own country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/us/12nuke.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
-- The "no fly" list isn't effective either because it includes the names of dead people and excludes some of the most dangerous known terrorists because the personnel checking IDs at airports aren't cleared to know those names.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/05/60minutes/main2066624.shtml
-- What about that plan to outsource port security to a Saudi firm? That was a real winner!
-- At least we can feel safe because a toddler was booted from a flight for saying "bye bye airplane!".
http://www.insideedition.com/ourstories/inside_stories/story.aspx?storyid=850

OK, the last one is a cheap shot... but really, that's safety?

Answer 3

Not totally, but the very tactics Bush has attempted to employ to keep them out or apprehend them, have been legally challenged by libbies like you making task that much harder. To keep every illegal out is a downright impossible task. Its like owning an open air gorcery store and trying to keep every insect out. You can stop some, but not all. The number of illegals has fallen drastically in recent weeks due to increased security. But some terrorists will still get in inevitably.

Answer 4

I don't hear people saying that there isn't terrorists in the country but that we haven't had any terror attacks since 9/11. And there are an awful lot of people who deny there even are any terrorists sad to say.

Answer 5

Not really. I believe that he and the Dept. of Homeland Security have made great headway torward doing that, as I believe any administration would have done after the harsh lessons of 2001. But I doubt it's possible to keep out 100% of terrorists, especially since pockets of them were living here even before 9/11.

Answer 6

They are here. Some came after 9/11. Some have been caught, inside the company due to the digilence of private citizens reporting them to the FBI etc. Others have not yet surfaced.

Answer 7

No, I'm certain that some terrorists have entered since then. However, it's difficult to argue about the success against terrorist attacks within our borders.

Answer 8

Well, he has kept them out to a degree by giving them exactly what they were praying for, by ignoring the Saudi political issues behind the attacks, and uniting Shia and Sunni for the first time ever with a common hatred of America.

Answer 9

No. Not sure he could ever successfullly keep them out either.

We've had terrorist attacks since 9/11. Not to that scale but they have existed. Its a shame our media wants to pretend as though their religion had nothing to do with them shooting people up.

The DC Sniper for example. That's a terrorist.

The guy who attack the SLC mall.

etc.

Let's stop pretending they arent attacking and start fighting them.

Answer 10

Terrorist cells have never been a big issue here. We tend to have more educated, successful Muslims immigrating to our country, not the poorer ones who are more likely to be fanatics. Europe tends to have poorer Muslim immigrants and thus greater problems keeping out terrorists.