Are we any safer from Terrorist?

Is there more we could be doing?

Can we put the military Reserves and Reg military men & women at the US borders to protect us?

 The Customs Service plays a critical role in protecting the nation's security interests.

 However, recent incidents at such small ports, including crossings by individuals with possible links to suspected terrorist organizations overseas, highlight the risk in using remote inspections at these rural sites. The Committee encourages the U.S. Customs Service to examine the hours of operation of all rural border crossings and the effectiveness of the RVIS in sparsely populated locations. The RVIS should be used primarily in locations with adequate populations and commercial activity proximate to the border sufficient to provide an appropriate level for registrations and pre-screenings of frequent border travelers. Stations that do not fit this profile should be evaluated for operation on a 24 hours per day basis. A study of a station's hours of operation should also include an evaluation of any alternate crossing locations. Proximity to stations that are open 24 hours per day and the level of hardship caused by such routing should be considered as important factors. The Committee also encourages the Customs Service to undertake more timely and thorough efforts to warn potentially affected populations and frequent users before changing the alert status or hours of operation of any station. Such efforts should include notification of this Committee and those Members representing affected districts.

At the Otay Mesa border crossing (California entry) 2,000 to 2,500 trucks cross each day. Four to five times more than in 1990. Other than random spot checks and "block busts" of 12 to 15 trucks, forget inspection! Referring to the "inspection" process, Sam Longanecker, USDA Supervisor says it’s "like having dinner without reservations" and Joyce Henderson of U.S. Customs says "It’s not container by container. We can’t do container by container all day long."

Is there anything else that can be done to protect us that you may or may not know that is already being done?

Edited by welcome guest

We may be marginally safer now, but that has more to do with the spread of awareness than any other factor.

We have to rebuild our intelligence assets, for one thing.

They were gutted during the Clinton Administration.

Another problem is, there are, whether you wish to believe it or not, there are terrorist assets on American soil as we speak.

They must be flushed out and taken out of the game.

Also, America must get it through their heads that 9/11 was NOT an anomoly.

9/11 was the first real hit on America, but I am certain that it will NOT be the last.

When we mentally take ownership of these facts, then we will REALLY be ready to fight the enemy and make America a safer place.

If our safety requires measures like the patriot act, id rather take my chances. Better to get blown up by some crazy arab, then it is to lose our freedoms.

Of course its easy to convince the average idiot that isnt true. gg government.

hwayhzrd wrote: Another problem is, there are, whether you wish to believe it or not, there are terrorist assets on American soil as we speak.

I believe we are currently looking for these seven suspected terrorist.

Enos, this is not the same nation that the Founding Fathers created.

They never had any clue that things like Global Terrorism would become an everyday concern.

Many of the preconceptions that they held for this nation have been relegated to the idealogical scrapheap because of the realities of the age.

Believe me, I am all for personal freedom and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, however, before we can enjoy freedom and liberty, we have to do whatever is required to KEEP people alive to partake of those constitutional rights.

We are looking at the possibility of living like the Isrealis live, and frankly, that will simply not do.

I will give up whatever I have to to keep children wired up with bombs  fromturning up in the U.S. and blowing up people.

That's not a world I am prepared to live in.

Isn't a long line at the airport better then blowing up in mid air? We all enjoy a great many freedoms but we take them for granted and we assume, incorrectly, that others in this world place the same values on freedom & human life that we do. I'm sure every citizen of Isreal would like less security and more freedoms but they know that's a price they pay for trying to stay alive. Fact is we are spoiled rotten in many ways in the United States, all this whining about "loss of personal freedoms" yet honestly I cannot think of a single thing I cannot do today that I could do pre 9/11. Is it costing us more? Yes, very much so but all of us here in the states should shut our yaps cause I'll bet there are an awful lot of military men who'd gladly trade your troubles and inconviences for theirs. Are we safer? Yes most likely, we rarely hear about our intelligence successes because that can compromise methods but I know this we have made them pause and think. There is no country in the world who will publically support terrorist and if they do so behind the scenes they risk severe consequences if it becomes known, because we have shown without question we will handle the problem if you choose not to and if needed we'll "vote" you out of office.

Edited by Ajreaper

pballa j.r. wrote: Enos Shenk wrote: If our safety requires measures like the patriot act, id rather take my chances. Better to get blown up by some crazy arab, then it is to lose our freedoms. Of course its easy to convince the average idiot that isnt true. gg government. How does the CIA and FBI being able to share info take away your freedoms?  Im not trying to call you out or anything im seriously asking.

I think Enos might be referring to the part about the government having the ability to hold indefinately without a trial or reason, without having anyone else notified. Or maybe he's talking about the possible loss of privacy. In any case, I don't think he's referring to the CIA and FBI being able to share information.

pballa j.r How does the CIA and FBI being able to share info take away your freedoms?  Im not trying to call you out or anything im seriously asking. [/QUOTE wrote:   If you think thats all the patriot act does, your seriously mistaken. The patriot act has tons of stuff with no relation at all to terrorism, terrorism was just

 

If you think thats all the patriot act does, your seriously mistaken.

The patriot act has tons of stuff with no relation at all to terrorism, terrorism was just the excuse to pass the law, and strengthen computer crime laws to incredibly ricidulous proportions.

You should try reading this http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/Terrorism/20011031_e ff_usa_patriot_analysis.html

1 - Are we any more safer from Terrorist?

2 - Can we put the military Reserves and Reg military men & women at the US borders to protect us?

3 - Is there anything else that can be done to protect us that you may or may not know that is already being done?

 

DEAR LORD!
Safer, or more safe! You can't use both!