Is the threat of terrorism a farce?

Question

When USSR collapsed, I recalled the words in book 1984 "The State always needs an enemy". So I pondered who would be the next enemy, thinking 'it's too soon for China'.... and could not find an answer.

Then when Bush was elected I noticed that his inner circle was a bunch of old Nixon guys who were all into war and oil, but didn't realize its significance. Until suddenly all the news is about war and oil.

We've found the perfect enemy: True believers not tied to any particular State; allegedly among us, and now McCain says if we have to stay in Iraq for the next 100 years, so be it.

And yet, if the threat is so real, why aren't our shopping malls and buses being blown up? Where's the terror?

Meanwhile, the FedGov budget is over $3TRILLION with about a third of it spent on military stuff and "rebuilding". That's a lot of money.

For $1Trillion I could have had Starship Enterprise NCC 1701.

What's wrong with this picture?

Additional Details

headybre: "In fact, you are far more likely to decide to kill yourself than to be killed by a terrorist." I'm laughing so hard I can barely type! thanks.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

The threat of terrorism is very real. No matter who you're fighting, or not fighting in some cases, there is always a threat of terrorism.

The threat of terrorism is real, probably not as immediate as the movies make you think, but it is real. But you have to be logical. If you live in middle-of-nowhere'sville suburbia, I don't think it would be very likely for your neighbour to be a sleeper agent.

Also, Al-Qa'idah doesn't have monopoly over all terrorist activities. So, even if you believe that the Bush administration orchestrated 9/11, the threat of terrorism is real, if not from Al-Qa'idah or any other religious group, it could from anyone who has an agenda and believes that violence is the only way to get the message through.

You must be able to recognise who the terrorists are they could be revolutionaries, extremist groups, street gangs and even, the ever friendly tree-huggers.

But again, the answer is kind of no and yes.... No the threat of terrorism is not farce, it's real, but it's not as immediate or as extreme as the media, and unfortunately the government, makes it out to be, you have more of a chance of being part of a bank robbery.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Well said.
"Do not go to the Elves for advice for they say both yes and no." -Tolkein-
BTW, in 70s as a teenager, I was in a bank when it got robed. 2 white guys. In the San Fernando valley, CA, the very bastion of pristine suburbia. The FBI was very impressive.

Answer 2

"Be careful for what you wish for."

Answer 3

We are in Turkey, Germany, Japan, England just to name a few and have been there for several years. I don't see anyone screaming get us out of there! I lived in Germany for 3 years with my family because my husband was in the Air Force. It was against the law in Germany to leave our cars unlocked because of car seat bombs. Terrorism is real, it's just that up to this point Americans have been willing to do what it takes to keep it out of this country. If you read or listen to much of the news you will find out there have been several attempts that have been stopped.

Apathy may be Americas biggest enemy.

Answer 4

I'll go out on a long limb and assume you don't believe bush orchestrated 9/11. Given that assumption, obviously terrorists did it.
Terrorists bombed the WTC in 1993 as well, not to mention countless, countless attacks world wide since the early 70's. Remember the plane hijackings from the 70s? Same group of slugs.


From your question it seems you won't be satisfied until we start experiencing the same terrorism that is occurring on foreign soils, ie, blowing up bus stops, cafes, markets, malls, etc. But when that starts happening, people like you will be complaining that we should have spent more to protect us from those tragedies.

It's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and say what should have been done, based on hindsight. But it is quite a different story to be dealing with these situations in real time, trying to foresee and trying to prevent future tragedy.

Answer 5

Sure we are in danger, everyone in the world is in danger. What i don't understand is why americans are soo scared, we have had one terrorist attack in the last 10 years, 1. Terrorism is out there, but id rather live my life to its fullest, not be worried about terrorists all the time.

Answer 6

I have always said that the next attack will come from within the USA, homegrown terrorism. It is an ideology

Answer 7

It is not a Farce ask any one from England who had to fear the IRA trying to blow them up for years. I was on the tube the day the Bomb went off in London. So along with all the New Yorkers, Lord Mountbatten Alan Ross Mcwhrter, the People killed by Terrorists would say this is NO FARCE.

I find your question very offensive, but you have the right to think this as you have not been a victim to a Terrorist. Now you have one that has answered you, maybe you will be wiser and see there Is No Farce.

Answer 8

It's neither farce...nor as serious as the fearmongers would have us believe.

It's telling that the Bush administration would make such a big deal about going after terrorists and supporters of terrorists...yet maintains such a friendship with Saudi Arabia, easily one of the biggest supporters of radical Islamic groups, AQ included.

Yes, empires needs enemies. Following the very legitimate threat of Nazi Germany in the 1940s, the USSR (and communism generally) was a natural target. No sooner had the communism fallen than America involved itself in creating another enemy...Islam in general and former friend (and customer) Saddam Hussein in particular.

Answer 9

Your facts for one. I could go through your whole rant, point by point but we both know that it won't make any difference.

Answer 10

No farce...but the USA government is the reason why the American people and the people of the world will suffer for their behaviors.

Answer 11

I guess people like you believe in the tooth fairy as will.
Were you not watching the news for months or what. you need to have Mr. Spark beam you up because you sure where not here when every thing was going on. Terrorism has been going on with high jacking by muslims for over 50 yrs.

Answer 12

It is absolutely a farce.

I dream of the day when we will wake up and smell the statistics. You are far more likely to be killed by one of your co-workers than by a terrorist. You are far more likely die from the common flu than from a terrorist attack. (32000/year from that alone.)

In fact, you are far more likely to decide to kill yourself than to be killed by a terrorist.

In the US, many times more people are killed each year by a loved one than were killed on 9/11/2001.

And don't even get me started about the usual cliches like "struck by lightning". Let's look at a few other things that kill more Americans than terrorism each year: Lymes' disease. Household accidents, Prescription drug interactions, Tobacco use,on-the-job accidents, Drunk Drivers, Boating accidents, Tornados...

And of course there's warfare. Bush's Iraq war (not counting afghanistan) has killed about 500 more people (so far) than every terrorist attack on North American soil in the entire history of terrorism. (including the 2500 killed on 9/11)


Terrorism is such a tiny threat that it's not even worth thinking about. And I mean that literally and sincerely.

Source(s):

http://mysticjelly.blogspot.com/2007/09/…

Answer 13

The way we're going about addressing the terrorism problem is moronic. The war in Iraq is definitely a farce. The book 1984 by Orwell is a good parallel to what this administration is doing. Perhaps they should learn to read so that they might come to understand neocon theory. Or, perhaps they do and the people who should read 1984 are the people who still support the war and suffer from the delusion that it can ever be won. Just the cost alone and the fact that this country is virtually bankrupt is good reason to bring home our troops and start taking care of this country.

Answer 14

Terrorism is both real and unavoidable, you need only to look to the UK for proof of this, however I am not certain why we spend tons and tons of money on "homeland security" and then outsource passport manufacturing to Thailand!.... Does that even make a bit of sense???

Answer 15

We have military bases all over the world. Close one and have one in Iraq if that will make you happy as far as cost. That is what is meant by 100 years. We are not at war with terrorists. We are at war with ANY government that aides, supports,or harbors terrorist organizations whom perform criminal acts of a grand scale. Without the amount of funds that only a government could provide the river of monies funnelled to terrorist organizations would be reduced to a trickle eliminating any "Real" threats to our economy....the real target of the baby killers.

Answer 16

yes it is,adding to your numbers,the USA gov. is giving millions of $ to the latin america countries to pass the" free trade agreements",because they do not want it,after some threats from the white house,commerce depart.,etc..if they do not pass it,it did not happens,and the USA gave an extension to the limit of time to pass it.latin america is the bigger consumer of the USA,but because of treat to the latinos in the USA,they are turning leftists(politically talking),china,the european union and lastly iran with the arabian league are catching the commerce in latin america,70% of the USA products are consumed in l. america,the USA gov. is desperated,giving millions,sending hundreds of USA companies etc...see the big picture,instead of to dissapear the terr.,they are coming closer to the USA,and will be the USA economically fine if they lost l. america?,will be the USA attacking l. america if the european union,china and the arabian have their investments or bussinesses in l. america?do you know the comments of the allied nations about the USA(lastly)?there is not wisdom concerning to the treatment of latino community in the USA,it is causing more support to the competition and enemies,which the future of the USA?

Source(s):

english news from l. america,countries that i know and people that i know.read inter. news.

Answer 17

Rumsfeld and VP Cheney have been together for a long time. They were key players in the halloween masacre in the Ford administration. Power players for decades.

The threat of terrorism is all too real and we may yet see buses and malls being blown-up, nothing is being done to secure our borders while we're off in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting "terrorists." In less than eight years this administration has managed to double the debt this country took over two hundred and twenty five years to accumulate and I don't feel one iota safer. In fact I feel less safe with our occupation of an arab country in the middle-east. We could have spent way less money securing our country and training our own troops in anti-terrorism tactics to protect our nation, not go overseas to invade another. Under this administration the dollars from us taxpayers just disappear. Mr. Bremmer alone is responsible for the disappearance of nine BILLION of our dollars. How many planes does it take to transport nine billion in cash? Yet not a single person in this administration can account for this money. It's just gone. Our government is responsible for killing our kids in the military. They played upon the anger in America after nine-eleven. They are responsible for the Iraq war, the rise in energy prices, the consolidation of power in the executive branch and they are certainly responsible for their own actions including the incredible secrecy surrounding their every action. They bully the telecommunications industry in cooperating with them to spy on Americans, they pass the patriot act, help business ship jobs overseas and allow the illegals to keep flooding into our country. I think America is and has been under attack from it's own elite for the past twenty five years starting with Reagan.

Answer 18

I ponder this too, at the core i dont think its a farce 9-11 happened. & that uranium in the FARK's hands was meant to be sold. pesonally I dont t hink the goverment agencies would let us know if small plots were interupted or if they even happened. they wouldent let us know the war failed to keep us safe. there have been a couple "gas leak explosions" one in febuary at a mall in Illinois, & one last week in LA.

Regardless terrorisim happens in the U.S. on a regular basis in the form of school shootings, just because its not a forgin threat dose'nt make it less terrifying. Not to mention all the drugs children can buy daily at the goverment run institutions! well personally I sometimes wonder what are we fighting for?