We confuse a gun for an enemy, while we consider the murderer simply as an extension of the gun.
We confuse a political agenda as an enemy, while we consider terrorists merely extensions of foreign agendas.
The Terrorists and murderers are the Direct Threat. They are building themselves into institutions bred within American society which chooses to aloofly remain unarmed an unalarmed. Even when a first wave is destroyed, even a self-chosen destruction implicit in suicide terror, the institutions will continue to flow more terror.
Which is more evil, the suicide bombers or the institutions melded into our social fabric which obscure their organization?
Consider the following predicament. 4-6 men of Middle eastern origin, exhibiting cultural patterns of new immigrant or visa status, flash money and buy land adjacent to US military bases, exhibiting fervid desire for a particular area where little competition exists. When reported to authorities, generally younger officers and intelligence networks, the report is met with mediocre acceptance. An attitude prevails in which the issue is immaterial because no crime is committed and even discussing the issue implies one must be either a bigot or needs to 'get over it'.
Now compare this rather common current sentiment with what one feels when they study about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Do most Americans today sincerely believe the radar operators and chain of command at lower echelons in Hawaii, that fateful day in Dec, 1941, were sincerely acting appropriately and justifiably so, when no alert was passed to the Fleet prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor?
There seems to be a tremendous irony here contradicting all common sense.
We need to continue to quantify and qualify the threat. We need to see more reporting from the government to the people as to the identity of the threat. Let the people decide how to lead events to protect ourselves. Too many people in positions of leadership simply have fallen to a lust of control rather than serving the public. They act with good intentions, but are creating an environment which actually promotes the flavor of terror without realizing their actions are encouraging the trend.
Well said and right on target. What should we as citizens be doing to protect ourselves and our families now (given the fact the government has not and will not)?