Greetings IKE: In these confusing times it is comforting to see you posting again here; your history of Islam piece was enlightening, and the origins of centuries old hatred of the West/Christianity since the Crusades/Inquisition was not much emphasized in the readings of Dark/Middle Ages history during my years at university.
With regard to ferreting out the terrorist fundamentalist cells; the Afgan based Ben Ladin camps will soon be approached, it appears, now that President Musharraf has agreed to assist, but what of Iraq, Syria, Libya, and the Gaza/West bank? Are we to risk a true World War by going after these "host countries". Is there not some way to arrange for cutting off money through cooperation of the world financial community to terrorist supporters/harborers?
If oil and oil money is the fuel for terrorist attacks, then I suppose we must fully accept the risk for an economic
Dark Ages as a cost of ridding the world of this terrorist plague.
BTW: my thinking is that, since the major airlines are already, due to the pre-attack recessionary trends, flying aircraft with 200-300 seat capacity with 60 or 70 passengers, and now passenger loads will fall off considerably for safety concerns, why not ground 3/4 of the aircraft and go ahead with a retrofit to secure the control cabin, so that no terrorist can gain access, period. Then man the remaining flights with Air Marshalls, so we have a chance to provide some measure of security to passengers and the rest of us, on the ground, until all commercial aircraft are properly secured from take over.
Those airlines that can provide a flight with a guarantee that no terrorist can gain access to the control cabin will be the first and only choice of any sane traveler, IMHO.
Take care, Ike, and best to your family.
James |
