I need help in understanding several of the arguments repeatedly made by people who posted comments here in response to my essay about the nature of terrorism. Before I lay out my questions I should note that those who believe that the CIA or the Israeli Mossad were behind 9/11 need not read on. The same holds for those believe that name-calling is a form of argument. I do not believe that I can come to understand their way of thinking, although a good therapist might help them.
1. The implications of the causes of terrorism. Let's assume, as some people imply, that terrorism and other forms of violence are caused only by abuses the US inflicted on people in the Middle East and elsewhere. That the beheading of innocent civilians, the stoning of gay people, the so-called "honor killings," as well as attacks on US ships, airplanes, and embassies are all the result of US actions. WHAT FOLLOWS? Should we now sit back and remove TSA agents and security screening from airports? Stop checking the background of those who seek to travel to the US? Cease to examine the containers that arrive in US ports? In short, invite the terrorists to hit us until they are even, and then they will let us be?
2. Fear-mongering. There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that the Bush Administration used the fear of terrorist attacks to try to justify its horribly wrong policies in Iraq and its violations of the US constitution. But WHAT FOLLOWS? That therefore we have nothing to fear, that all the talk about terrorists merely reflect the White House's manipulations or--that although the threats we face are exaggerated and used for ill purpose--we do face some real threats? Am I wrong in holding that just as paranoiacs can have some real enemies, those whose fears are pumped up and manipulated nevertheless face things that go bump at night and pose very real danger?
3. Weapons of Mass Destruction. If you grant that there are weapons of mass destruction out there, and many of them are not well guarded (especially in Russia), and there are at least several tens of thousands of people who hate our guts --should we undertake special efforts to try to prevent them from laying waste to our cities and cities overseas? Can this achieved by suing them--or hauling them to court-- after they commit suicide in the course of their attack? Or do we need to find some ways to stop them before we are hit?
I would truly like to hear the answers.