You said -- "Al Qaeda would be caught long before they can get one through."
Well..., so you say. I just don't happen to believe it -- that's all. I don't think a lot of other people believe it either.
The "math" we're talking about is not a literal equation here, of course. What we're talking about is that the U.S. has to be *perfect* -- 100% of the time. That can't be done.
And then, al-Qaida just has to succeed once, while failing miserably all of the other instances of various things it tries. In fact, the government released information to the effect that they had stopped somewhere around 22 or 23 major terrorist attacks (can't remember the number exactly, though). They were indicating that the government *had been stopping* terrorist attacks -- as opposed to them not happening at all. They just couldn't tell us much in the way of details.
And so, the government has been stopping them. You notice that we haven't been talking very much about all those that we've stopped. The government cannot talk very much about them. They don't get in the news. We just don't hear very much about them.
But, let's say that they stop another 22 and another 22 and another 22. We still won't hear a lot about them.
HOWEVER, the one that *happens* we will hear so much about that and so many people will be killed that it will go down in the history books.
*THAT* is the so-called "math" that I'm talking about. It *only* takes one. We've already stopped countless attacks -- but it only takes one to "make their day" (al-Qaida, that is...).
So, I really don't understand why you don't see the *lopsided* nature of that -- al-Qaida to what the U.S. has to do all the time. It's *inherent* in these types of attacks by terrorists. That's why they're so successful.
Name all of the ones that have failed (i.e., "government successes"). Most people would be hard pressed to name even one over the last decade. Name all the ones that have succeeded. Most people would be able to rattle off three or four without too much problem.
You still don't get it? I don't understand that -- for sure.
As far as the "fear factor" -- well, it doesn't bother me too much. I'll just get "promoted" -- as one Christian put it. It's a promotion to be with Jesus Christ. So, that's not too worrisome to me.
But, I would hate to see all that problems that come with that kind of terrorist attack. And unless people get on board and do something about the evil and false religion of Islam -- this country is going to suffer from these terrorist attacks. Worse is coming and no one seems to want to do anything about the *source* of the problem. That's what I'm concerned about.
I'll keep saying it until it's my time to go. So, this won't be the end of me here on this board -- for a long while, hopefully.
Regards,
Star Traveler
"Well..., so you say. I just don't happen to believe it -- that's all." 
Of course you don't believe it, as you are personally and emotionally invested in pedalling fear...facts be hung.
You think that a nuclear war is imminent; you are wrong. You want to charge people up with adrenaline from reading your posts; this is wrong-headed.
You want to ignore our nuclear detection network, our successes in Libya and Iraq, and our boarding and surveillence of North Korea.
You think that the U.S. must engage in global genocide in order to survive. You think that diplomacy or sanctions or conventional military action against Iran will fail.
On all of these points you ignore reality, history, and American technological, economic, political, and military might. On all of these points you are mistaken.
For you, it's time to hit the bunkers. You probably had this same craven instinct as Y2K approached.
None of your suggestions are rational. None of your fear is justified.
If someone needs smashing, then that nation or people will get smashed. We have the power and the will to so do...but no such situation presents itself today...certainly not while we are doing so well in the war on terror (e.g. no new 9/11 attacks here, Taliban hiding in caves, Hussein in jail, Libya's WMD program surrendered to us, etc.) and so well with our economy (e.g. 4.8% GDP growth this last Quarter).