http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Tue, 21 Oct 2003 17:06:21 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/10/17/155509.php#comment-24473 Sadly, I think the problem lies more with the idiot American public wanting to "feel safe", which is why any of the types of acts I described would be met with the kind of reactionary, expensive, "feel good" measures I talked about. A third tactic for the radical Muslims among you: Six terrorists in six cities each with a van full of explosives. Pull up next to six school buses full of children ... 24473@blogcritics.org Tue, 21 Oct 2003 17:06:21 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/10/17/155509.php#comment-24142 Al, Agreed with your point about the risks of being called racist, but at the same time, if the IRA had committed the acts of September 11, I'd fully expect (and would probably receive) harsher scrutiny at airports than my non-Caucasian coutrymen. It amazes me that this is such a hard concept for some folks to grasp. 24142@blogcritics.org Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:56:13 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/10/17/155509.php#comment-23891 Right on target, Cap'n. It's much more expensive to combat terrorist tactics than to commit them, even if we were acting smart. Doing this dumb stuff, however, exponentially increases the financial and other costs to us. On the other hand, using the kinds of obvious selective filtering you imply risks you being called a RACIST XENOPHOBE, etc. Only a few of us seem at this point to be willing to take the brunt of such abuse. However, I suspect that one or two incidents such as you envision would overwhelm many people's minor emotional sensitivities. I just hope that the emotional stuff doesn't swing too far the other way, and cause us to overcompensate. A lot of this, however, may be avoided if we take the fight to them, as we did in Iraq. 23891@blogcritics.org Fri, 17 Oct 2003 17:58:23 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/10/17/155509.php#comment-23859 And, of course, now the feds are talking about how not everybody gets screened (gasp!) and that we're really not safe (double gasp!!!) ... so they can get more money. http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAH3L85WLD.html 23859@blogcritics.org Fri, 17 Oct 2003 16:07:51 EDT