[SatinDoll]

The U.S. population has in general an attitude towards national defense that is literally just that - a half-dozen U.S. cities have to become smoking craters with millions of casualties before they become enraged enough to realize the nation is under attack.

Since 1993 there have been a number of terrorist attacks within the homeland but Presidents Clinton and Bush have played them down in importance. The attacks of 9/11 were too devastating to ignore, but people are forgetting even that horrorible day.

[KDD]

Perhaps you are too young to remember “duck and cover” and covering under your desk practices at your school during the Cold War in the 60’s and 70’s. That was a time when the threat of a nuclear weapon was a threat to every major city in the U.S. with just one Soviet strike. The danger of a nuclear suitcase coming over the border from Canada was a distinct possibility. These were real dangers but our politicians did not demagogue them or fear monger the population for political gain and increased State police power...Where are the missiles and planes to deploy them on us going to come from? The Navy that will transport this Islamic Army to our shores? The landing craft needed to storm Malibu Beach? The tanks and APC’s needed to subdue our population. There are none. China on the other hand...

We are fighting a war against a concept.

In relative terms of loss of life in war 911 was insignificant.

In terms of loss of American civil liberties the loss was significant indeed.

The GOP has become the party of all fear all the time.

You guys need to man up a little.

[KDD]

[Mr. Ion]

Sending much of the military to the other side of the planet is not the best way to defend people here.