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To: John Vosilla who wrote (43014)	12/19/2005 11:02:49 AM
From: Tommaso	Respond to of 116555

>>>The fact that since there have been no terrorist attacks here since 9/11 is that luck or brilliance? <<< The security checks, the placing of armed marshals, and cockpit security mean that a 9/11 type of attack is much less likely. These are intelligent measures, though it's a shame we have to put up with them. I don't know how effective scanners of various kinds are yet at detecting plastic explosives, but while those would bring a plane down, they couldn't turn it into a guided missile. Incidentally, as some friends of mine recently found out, security x-raying of luggage for cruise ships has stopped passengers bringing their own booze on board. They confiscate the booze and return it when the cruise is over; if it's wine they may let you pay a corkage fee and keep it.

To: John Vosilla who wrote (43014)	12/19/2005 11:03:27 AM
From: LLCF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116555

I agree completely... that said, it IS very big and important question... ie. to distinguish whether there is a real terrorist threat to begin with, or if it's a made up tool of the administration. I've always been a fan of the viewpoint that much of our defense budget has been one big misdirected (towards conventional warfare) waste for decades. It is also obvious to anyone that the administration put out all sorts of "spin" to get support for the war... remember the use of the "abused and mutilated arab women" issue before Afgan and Iraq... as if there aren't all sorts of worse offenders if the horrific (by some Western understanding) practice of female circumcision was the real issue. I found that particularly blatant and offensive. However the real issue there is being hashed out in Congress now. DAK