zen_tom

Are you seriously so worried about these "terrorists" that you think they pose a direct threat to you, and the world in general? I might have misunderstood something about the level of fear some of you guys are experiencing - it would make many of your knee-jerk reactions make a lot more sense.

On a personal note, the actions of the "terrorists" don't make me afraid for my life, or my family, or anything - I see them as a very small, fringe group, no different from the very small fringe groups that have existed for as long as large-centrist groups have existed.

You are still more likely to be hurt by a drunk driver, or trip on a paving stone than you are to experience a terrorist attack. I am not about to suggest we decpitate drunk-drivers, or amputate the limbs of those who lay uneven paving stones, but it would probably have more effect improving people's lives, than some of the suggestions being offered against the "terrorists"

Do people *really* think we are at war?? I know that word was used by George Bush, but he is also at *war* on drugs, and as soon as anything else crops up, no doubt he will be at *war* with that too.

Yes, he has sent soldiers into combat missions, but weren't those missions primarily one of keeping the peace? The actual warfare part in both Afganistan and Iraq was pretty swift - now it's a matter of maintaining order. It isn't warefare, it is police work.

[edit] I've added a poll here, that I'd be interested to have other TFP Politics people vote on describing the level of threat they feel from the terrorists.