Stop making sense! I used to be a safety and training guy on offshore oil rigs, and I am currently involved with oilfield emergency response (Fire/Gas leak/Medical/etc).
You are absolutely correct about the uselessness of surplus "gas masks" from Ranger Joe's Army Surplus Store. Respiratory protection is a complex and demanding field- correct mask fitting, training, and maintenance of the equipment takes many, many hours, and is extremely expensive. It has to be done right- anything less is worse than useless (because of the false sense of security that folks may develop). And prophylactic use of Ciprofloxacin (at roughly $3.00 per tablet) is unworkable. There is no possible way that 270 million Americans are going to get CIPRO, and it's effectiveness is very doubtful, anyway. The only answer I can see is to roll up these terrorist networks, hold military trials, and summarily execute them (this will prevent hostage-taking and other actions to free the terrorists who are in custody).
I love civil liberties, but they will need to be severely curtailed for the duration of this war. (Reality- what a drag!)
Agreed. Which is why this war needs to be declared... so that when it's over, the "curtailment" can be lifted.
Make no mistake, I want the terrorists to become extinct. But I'm wary of handing over blanket exemptions to the Constitution, trusting that someday they'll expire.