Instead of fighting foreign wars and tolerating invasive TSA searches at home, a more sensible solution to terrorism might be to simply stop granting visas to al-Qaeda operatives to come to America in the first place. All 19 of the 9/11 terrorists and the underwear bomber had government-issued visas. How would they have gotten here without them? Our east and west coasts are protected by vast oceans, and we can protect our north and south by bringing the troops home and stationing them on those borders.
Some concerns with this plan are:
1) How do we know who to refuse visas to? The answer is anyone that is an Arab Muslim. The moratorium on Arab Muslim visas can be lifted just as soon as the jihad is over.
2) If our troops secure the borders, how will nannies and gardeners from Mexico be able to come to America for a better life? They will have to enter the U.S. legally by filling out an immigration application.
3) What about terror cells already in the United States? Sending more troops to the Middle East won’t get rid of them. If Homeland Security does its job, we can eventually disband the TSA.
4) Americans want Osama bin Laden’s head; what about our revenge? Give it up. Bin Laden’s head isn’t worth the life of one more American soldier. Besides, the spread of Islam along with its militant faction is a numbers game we can’t win. We should cut our losses now and concentrate on protecting our homeland.
Michael Rhodanz, Mesa
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Dale Whiting posted at 10:26 am on Thu, Nov 25, 2010.
Michael,
I take you seriously. You have just profiled Muslim Arabs based upon a conclusion you have drawn that barring all of them for the acts of 19 somehow will defeat Terrorism. Just the opposite is true.
Terrorists use terrorism as a last resort. Terrorist organizations have no other resort because they are not nations who can wage conventional war. Think Northern Ireland here and just maybe you can begin to understand. And every act we take against those few who would act against us is seen as unreasonable by those few others who are rather easily recruited. And as has been shown, not all of those other potential recruits fit your profile of being Arabs.
Now if we stopped invating Muslim Countries and brought our troops home to guard those borders from the poor men and women who would enter our country illegally, just maybe those troops could also stop the flood of illegal arms head south of the border to arm the cartells what are fighting over the free enterprise right to sell us illegal drugs. After all Conservative Supply Side Economics does indicate that a focus on the supply side of a problem is better than a focus on demand. Our entire focus on illegal drugs has been and likely always be more of an emphasis on the dealers, not those who demand. Heck, we just legalized Marajuana! And since we are the ones demanding drugs, focusing on use is not especially politically acceptable.
And just who do you think should be focused on home grown terrorist cells that is not already focused there? Be more specific, if you can! Surely you are not referring to the TSA. After all the TSA was designed by those who also sent those troops to Iraq. And what was the focus on Iraq? Surely not al Qaeda! Al Qaeda in Iraq did not exist until we invaded it.
Now I am an American but I do not want Osoma bin Laden's head. And I do agree that getting it is not worth the effort. So regarding your fourth point, we agree. Let's come home and focus on our own faults and shortcomings. Some of those lead to the formation of al Qaeda in the first place. But I do not think you are able to perceive the faults and shortcomings I speak of.
miker5 posted at 12:27 pm on Mon, Nov 29, 2010.
The Oregon Christmas bomber that was recently thwarted is Muslim. Too bad the visa freeze wasn't in effect before he got here. America doesn't have a problem with terrorists from Northern Ireland, and there isn't an advantageous ocean separating the Catholics and Protestants. Jihad is being waged by Muslims against America (remember 9/11?). What does America have to lose by temporarily suspending giving visas to Arab Muslims other than offending your sense of political correctness?
But I do agree with your suggestion that troops on the border could help prevent the flow of arms from America to Mexico. The narcos will then have to do 100% of their arms purchases through China and Russia instead of just 90%.