[lugsoul]

What happened in '93? Well, they tried to blow up one tower, cause it to topple into the other, and release a cloud of cyanide gas in the process. And they succeeded only in blowing up part of the basement and starting a fire. And, in hindsight, it was a lucky break - without the lessons learned that day, many more would've died on 9/11. "That $1B is at it's most basic level, the first and foremost responsibility of the ferderal government. And that is to protect us."

Unless and until the government is willing to put its money where its mouth is and protect our borders and our ports, this rings pretty hollow.

[lugsoul]

Show me an Iraqi artillery battery in reach of Atlanta, and I'll worry about that. Or a helicopter with that range. Until then, you need to be clear that there is a distinction between what could possibly happen and what is at all likely to happen. Kim Jong Il could give a nuke to AQ. The Paks may have already.

[Broadside Joe]

"And they succeeded only in blowing up part of the basement and starting a fire. And, in hindsight, it was a lucky break"

Which is OUR lucky break. We never saw it coming. Which also disproves your earlier assertion that "But, with the exception of AQ's ability to pull off the 9/11 attacks, there is no history whatsoever of underestimating the attack capability of Islamicists."

"Unless and until the government is willing to put its money where its mouth is and protect our borders and our ports, this rings pretty hollow."

I'll agree that we have to close the boarders, but because you don't try to treat a cold is no reason not to treat a cancer.