"If It Ain't Broke"

"Postcards from Israel - Postcards from America" ^ | 07/14/2009 | norma Zager

[Ari Bussel]

If It Ain’t Broke… By Norma Zager

“God bless America, our soldiers and spies. They risk their lives so ours may be safe.” Norma Zager

“Be not intimidated...nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice.” John Adams

What is Terror?

Few hear ba bum ba bum, the opening notes from Jaws and fail to think of a fin cruising through the water on a hunt for human munchies.

Everyone understands the terror of Jimmy Stewart as he watches Grace Kelly creep closer to Raymond Burr’s murderous clutches in Rear Window. His lack of control to save her strikes a note of instant terror into every viewer’s heart.

Hitchcock the master and Spielberg the genius understood only too well how to create terror. Removing control, and at times replacing music with dialogue or lack of visuals to allow the audience to explore the depths of their own imagination create real fear.

Whether in film or reality these elements work well and human nature dictates they always will. Islamic terrorists understand this better than anyone.

Removing the control of human beings renders them helpless and vulnerable. Our enemies have accomplished this easily, and now, unfortunately, our own government is enabling their efforts.

The World Trade Center bombings brought the greatest feeling of helplessness to America since Pearl Harbor. Even more. Never before had an enemy combatant touched our mainland in recent history. No, I do not refer to anything in the nineteenth century or before.

We were suddenly sitting ducks adrift in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and instant shark bait. We did not care for the feeling. To continue our lives we needed to replace our sense of control. Our ability to fend off madmen, crazies with bombs, and all insanity intent on our destruction became paramount.

How had we done so in the past?

Many safeguards are employed daily to protect our country and its people.

Intelligence gathering has been an enormous hindrance to attack and murder.

Whatever anyone believes about the FBI and CIA, and their petty issues with one another, they are heroes. J. Edgar and his dresses aside, these brave men have kept us safe, and until 9/11 prevented the crazies from getting too close.

I have met FBI, Israeli Mossad and U.S. Secret Service agents. I am not certain if I’ve ever met CIA. Of course, I may have and not known. I hope I wouldn’t, for if I spot them, so could our enemies.

Point of fact, I don’t want to know much about them. They are not like us.

They live by a different code and I could never be a James Bond. The ability to kill so easily, live life with a target on one’s back and hold the future of the world in one’s hands, takes a certain type of personality most of us do not possess.

That’s why we are so lucky they do. They travel secretly through the most dangerous places on earth, constantly at odds with the enemy. They can’t sleep without one eye open and one hand on a weapon or eat with an appetite unhindered by the fear of poison.

They risk their lives so ours may be safe. In my mind, although I cannot hope to understand how they do what they do, they are heroes.

They protect those I love, and my fellow Americans whom I have no desire to see in harm’s way. They do this with little adulation, kudos or acknowledgement. It’s simply their job.

The fact we are still here speaks to the success of their mission. So, why give people a job, one proven to be effective, and not allow them the equipment or ability to function?

I am quite confused about recent attempts to marginalize and disrupt our intelligence operation. This safeguard is imperative for a feeling of control Americans require as they go through their days, unharmed by insane terrorists.

If it isn’t broken... Governments need strong intelligence networks to communicate dangers between borders. The prevention of the recent terrorist threat in England that saved thousands of lives speaks to the unheralded benefits of these operations. It allows us all to sleep at night under their diligent watch.

Do I know how they do their job? No. Is it my business? No. Do they go to our workplace and tell us how to work? So why shouldn’t we likewise respect their privacy? Would I, or most Americans, be capable of behaving as they do, would we agree with all their methods? Perhaps not, but the methods are time tested and work. If they effectively function in their jobs, why is this my business?

My part is gratitude someone is guarding the gates and no one slips in to hurt or kill my loved ones. I truly believe most Americans feel this same way. I don’t understand brain surgery, but am I ecstatic neurosurgeons can? You bet I am. Would I interfere as a physician was stitching up a patient’s head to correct how neatly he was sewing? I don’t think so. Would you? I doubt most would.

However, this is only half our safety equation, the other being equally vital. Our military. I don’t know about our readers, but when I see pictures of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard marching in formation like ants crossing a mountain, I shudder. Shots of North Korea’s army goose stepping along under the proud eye of their fearless leader gives me the willies, and recalls visions of scary Nazis.

Do I care if our military makes a few missteps along the way? Who amongst us is perfect and free from errors? If I had one dollar for every mistake or bad choice I’ve made, I’d be right up there with Warren Buffet.

Here is what I, and I believe most Americans, care about.

I don’t want to know how spies function as long as they get the information to stop the insanity.

If the military wants to pour some water over someone’s head to prevent the murder of thousands of Americans I say, I’ll hold the darn hose. Any parent that claims they wouldn’t if their child or loved one were the target is either a liar or a nutcase.

Had the Allies believed the nonsensical liberal rhetoric espoused today, we would all be speaking German.

Americans are lucky to have people doing these jobs. Because they do, we can sleep at night, we can enter a pizza parlor without a homicide bomber blowing us to bits and we can remain the powerful, humane country we have always been, and will forever be.

God bless America, our soldiers and spies. As long as they are here, we shall be as well.

### In the series “Postcards from Israel – Postcards from Home,” Ari Bussel and Norma Zager invite readers throughout the world to join them as they present reports about Israel, homeland of the Jewish People, as seen by two sets of eyes. This “point - counter-point” presentation has, since 2008, become part of our lives. It can be found in numerous websites around the world as well as in print in the USA.

© Postcards from Home, July, 2009 Contact: aribussel@gmail.com

[geologist]

“... Removing the control of human beings renders them helpless and vulnerable. Our enemies have accomplished this easily, and now, unfortunately, our own government is enabling their efforts. ...”
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bump for a good article. Thanks.

[DieHard the Hunter]

Read of the Week! Thanks for posting!

Star, Cindy, MkJessup — PING

[mkjessup]

EXCELLENT article Diehard!

Thanks for the ping!

I just got back today, great timing FRiend!

Hope all is well with you?

Best,

MKJ

[Cindy]

Thank you Aroi Bussel for posting this commentary and thanks Diehard the Hunter for the ping.

This is a good afternoon uplifting piece.