http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=3&u=/nm/20030730/ts_nm/bush_security_dcSo I'm sitting at work and I'm crying my eyes out (see the lounge for why) and I'm glancing over this article on the Yahoo News board about how Bush 'claims' there are new threats of terrorism and how he 'claims' that we'll 'thwart' them again.
"The threat is a real threat. ... We don't know when, where, what," Bush told a news conference when asked about new government warnings of possible al Qaeda attempts to hijack commercial airliners.
"We have got some data that indicates that they would like to use flights, international flights for example," he said. "I'm confident we will thwart the attempts." Reading this article reminded me of that old philosphical question:
If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? I'm reminded of that age old question when once again I'm reading about how there are threats of terrorist attacks and how our government vows that they will stop them. A few days or maybe a week or so passes and there are no attacks. Can the government claim another 'victory' on their belts? I mean, we haven't caught anyone actually committing an act of terrorism (which believe me, I don't want any acts to be committed), but how is the public to really know if acts of terrorism were every being committed? Just like that tree in the forest without people; I wonder, would there have been any real threat for terrorist attacks if Bush never said a word?
To be honest, I'm not sure what Bush is trying to solve with these statements. If there are acts of terrorism in the works, the terrorists will probably just postpone their plans until Bush says "The Coast is Clear - we've thwarted them again". Or maybe Bush could look to the Millineum for the real solution to how to deal with terrorism. Our country was on heightened alert, but only because we thought all the computers would crash leaving us in the 18th century thanks to a possible computer software glitch. But with little fanfare, plots of Terroristic acts on the US during the Millinium celebration were discovered and put to a stop. However, unlike Bush, there was no fanfare about the discovery nor was a big deal made in the paper the next day. Someone was doing their job, they did it and then they moved on to their next assignment. Let the people worry about busted elevators, ATM machines and other bizarre computer glitches instead.
I would hope that Homeland Security, the CIA and the FBI are out there doing their job and making sure that terrorists aren't out there committing horrible acts on our country (or other countries for that matter). But these political fanfares from Bush pointing out what simply is the everyday job for these three organizations serves no purpose. If Bush wants to thwart terrorism, then why not find the money to help pay for homeland security in our states. Don't make those job cuts with the Air Marshalls and most importantly stop making these stupid fanfare announcements to create havoc and fear in our country.
We live with enough fear in our life without Bush bringing more to us. Presidents, even those questionably elected, are there to bring us comfort and gives us hope when the world looks dark and terrible. This announcement is nothing more than another tree falling in the forest.
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