if terrorists used a mini-nuke, biological or chemical agents in a city..

[flaminbats]

According to a Washington Post poll 23% of Americans consider Terrorism "the single most important issue" in determining their vote for President this year. But what defines this terrorism issue?

Is it about obtaining revenge for 9/11? Is it stopping every terrorist attack at the price of our freedom? Is it about controlling the oil fields in Iraq? Or is it how the Commander in Chief and the Federal Government would render assistance to the population of a region or city that has been devastated by such an attack?

IMO there are two central objectives to achieve in fighting a war on terrorism. The first is to stop terrorist attacks in our country without sacrificing of any Constitutional liberties. The second is to develop an intelligent, but not secretive response for providing assistance to areas isolated because of terrorist attacks. If polled on both objectives, IMO the overwhelming majority would trust John Kerry more to be Commander in Chief.

If large amounts of Anthrax were released over a major city, clearly this city would have to be placed under martial law. But who would act more quickly in providing disaster relief to the millions effected by such an attack? Which candidate would work to insure that survivors of an attack would be treated with the necessary antibiotics? Those with other serious medical problems would need access to food and medicine just to survive. Rationing of limited supplies is always necessary in such disasters, but Bush's taxcuts and federal deficits would turn this rationing of relief into an even greater blight!

Regarding the defense of our liberties, what else makes life worth fighting for? Kerry put his life on the line in Vietnam when fighting for liberty, who else would be better suited at defending our liberty from terrorists or others determined to seize absolute control?

[dogtag]

1. We should just change the name of this country

to Wussland. Instead of being 'Muricans we can be called Wussies. I live close enough to the Port of Los Angeles to be taken out by one of the dirty bombs the doomsayers love to blather about.

We should get rid of that Home of the Brave line at the end of the National Anthem too while we're at it. I've never heard so much mealy mouthed crap in my entire life.

Listen up, Security Moms and all you other yellow bellied sapsuckers, worry about the weird kid down the street who might bring daddy's gun to school. Worry about drunk drivers like Bush and Cheney who might take you out when you least except it. Worry about something more likely than a terrorist attack, like getting hit by lightening, for instance.

We lost .00001% of our population on 9/11 and hundreds of them were actually foreign nationals. 58,000 of us die in traffic accidents every year and we won't even mention the murder rate. Get real, America.

We have nothing to fear but fear itself, a real president once told us. Are our memories really that short or have we just gotten that mushy and soft?

[GainesT1958]

2. Kerry would respond to that city's plight..

With equal amounts compassion--in aid: medical, food/shelter/relief, and economic recovery, as well as in haz-mat, other emergency responders, and law-enforcement needs. He would also initiate a combination multi-national, multi-lateral law-emforcement, covert/overt intelligence, and military campaign to hunt down and eliminate the perpetrators. You know...the way a REAL leader would react to a disaster.

Dub would just declare martial law and have Tom Ridge and Ashcroft put the city in "lock-down", like a prison (see the 1981 Curt Russell movie "Escape From New York"). Then he'd run around the country telling us how he was "Gonna get those terra-ists", while of course continuing his PNAC/Oil wars.x(

THAT'S the difference between a man ready to lead and one who must be constantly propped up in order not to constantly fail.:eyes:

B-)

[flaminbats]

3. what good is a warning?

yellow or red alert, what is the plan when we are attacked?

Instead of testing new nuclear weapons and attacking Afghanistan or Iraq, isn't it better to stockpile the necessary supplies so there will be something to ration during a disaster? Instead of passing never ending taxcuts, isn't it wiser to be using this revenue to provide the best training available to those first responders providing relief and stability?

Fear is a very effective weapon, but not an effective tool.

[DulceDecorum]

4. They tell the story

of a king who asked his astrologer when he was to die.

The astrologer was reluctant to speak but the king was adamant.
The astrologer pleaded, saying that once the day was named, it would be set in stone.
The king offered to have the man flogged and so, with a strange light in his eye, the astrologer named the day upon which the king would die.
The king became more and more paranoid as the day drew near.
On the eve of the day of his death, the king retreated into a hidden closet and walled himself inside it with a stash of bricks he had secretly transported there.
He did a good job. The space he created was airtight, and, since no air could enter or escape, he soon suffocated.

America,
listen carefully,
your fear will be be the death of you.
You can live, unafraid of the morrow,
or die, consumed by terror of the morn.
Choose wisely,
and soon.

[flaminbats]

5. But colors can stop terrorists!