07-22-2004, 11:10 AM
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#24 (permalink)
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Tilted
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Quote:
Originally posted by Superbelt
Ok, to refute. Libya has been in talks with the US State Dept and victims groups to allocate restitution for their past deeds to the families. Libya has been on track to dismantle and open up since before 9/11. Big Q even made a statement of sorrow for our losses and condemned the killers after 9/11. Iraq did nothing to that. It was circumstance.
Except he never went a head with those plans merely lip service until after he saw Saddam fall. He also realized he was on the short list of trouble makers in the MId East. He really started opening up after we intercepted a ship with spare parts for his WMD program. Knowing the jig was up he ammended his ways.
SA is doing the same thing they have been doing for the past 30+ years. They make token gestures occasionally to appear to be our friend. But it's all superficial and that's all it will ever be while we continue to protect that corrupt dictatorship from its own people. Without us, SA would fall.
True but SA leadership was never really a target before, now they are. It was ok to make some statements condeming attacks because they needed our techs now they are being targeted as Western puppets. Their goal is hardly noble I won't debate that they merely want to keep their money flowing from the west. AQ is trying to stop that so they have to go.
Syria, it provides a safe haven for anti israeli groups, but has not supported or taken part in any terrorism itself since 1986. In their view these groups are exiled Palestinians trying to get their country back. Their stated goal is for an independent Palestinian State. Once that happens Syria will cease to be on any kind of Terrorism list. It's all dependent on Israel's feet dragging and land grabs.
I think many Lebanese would not have that same view. Several diffent groups view them as oppressors and have numerous members executed by them like the Christians etc.
http://www.lgic.org/en/help_syria_terrorism.php
Iraq War II showed Saddam had no intent and no weapons. We have found nothing militarially or terroristic significant.
Saddam did besides the minor amount of WMD to have several banned systems from SA2 motors to lab equipment. All of which is do out in a report in September.
Relying on spending money to defend our borders is a pipe dream? So we should not bother? The Coast Guard seems to think we could use a bit of money to upgrade our port defenses, but Bush gave them less than he gave the National Endowment for the Arts. It CAN prevent a determined attacker. Currently a nuclear device could be easily passed through in one of our ports. We don't have more than spot duty along our huge border with devices that can sniff those materials out. The proper level of funding means we can absolutely shut down every avenue Al Qaeda could use to smuggle a bomb in. We have the technology, It can be used to scan every container. Bush just chooses not to implement it.
I am all for securing the borders but that means stopping the inflow of illegal immigrants as well, something neither side wants to do for political reasons. Searching all containers for WMD would delay shipping and ruin the economy. Its easier to search for radiation but not for Sarin or VX or any other chemicals. Sniffing each container on a ship that has hundreds of them on board takes time and when you have 10 more ships waiting for that berth just in one day it adds up. The better scenerio is to stop them over seas.
Madrid and it's 2000 victims would beg to differ with you assessment of Al Qaeda's current strength.
There have been about a dozen major attacks by them since 9/11.
Spain was a soft target. First they had a organized Muslim terror group to help their activities. Second their screening was lax, try leaving back packs unattended in NY and see what happens. Thirdly it was closer to home, less expense and logistics.
I also think car bombs in markets and beheading truck drivers and soldiers is quite a bit scary and fits the definition of the daily activities of a terrorist organization that still has an active, effective leadership. Not every day can be their Madrid and NYC
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Scary yes it is. Training someone to fly an airplane versus training some thug how to make a crappy video tape and cut someones head off are vastly different. AQ is not that well organized anymore as it leadership has been decimated. It can be replaced at local levels but not with the same level of communication it had before. It simply doesn't have to many safe havens left to set up HQ's. Regionally they can but they are restricted to that region. Some of those may be better funded and will try and hit us again but their level of cooperation between them is greatly reduced. |
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