How big is the threat of Islamic terrorism?

[Syrinx]

I just cannot decide this to my satisfaction.

[hobbit709]

1. Not as great as the threat of bush terrorism.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. There isn't a good way to get sufficient objective information in order to assess the risk.

We know there is a threat in existence if not from pre-existing hostility toward this country and its military, then from our occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and influence in Pakistan. And that's not to mention this Administration's overt hostility toward Iran and Syria. That's gotta piss off at least one person somewhere in the world who has access to funding.

The other thing is after motivation is the means. The "terrorists" are not likely to use conventional weapons of war. They think outside of the box. No Marquis of Queensbury rules, here.

And there is precedent with 9-11, even if it may have been (theoretically) a "joint venture". That emboldens future acts.

But all in all, I wouldn't trust for a minute this Administration's assessment and advocation of Islamic threat.

[Juche]

3. Moderate

Considering how we fought WW2 and survived the cold war, the war on terror is not that frightening. The fact that a handful of people who don't like us enough to attack us can drive us into such fear is pathetic.

Honestly, as long as we maintain good relationships with other countries; actually listen to our intelligence agencies; listen to other countries intel agencies; maintain good relationships with neutral muslims on the ground;have a humane, intelligent foreign policy; stop WMD transfers and have a competent law enforcement & special forces units it shouldn't be a big deal to stop terror. We had tons of opportunities to stop 9/11 if we actually paid attention and/or wanted to.

That may sound 'librul' to not scream 'the sky is falling' over every threat under the sun but its true. Compared to other threats we've faced terrorism isn't a huge deal. Esp if we actually try to stop it.

Neocons with fascist leanings and their enablers are a far bigger threat to life and our freedoms than muslims who don't like us.

[Poiuyt]

4. The likelihood of being killed in a terrorist attack on US soil is about the same as

being killed by a bolt of lighting. You're at far greater risk of being killed by a drunken driver (about 50,000 Americans per year). Or we could go after big tobacco, which kills about 400,000 Americans a year.

We should keep things in perspective.

[BigDaddy44]

5. Thats in the United States

What about in the world? In Pakistan, they blew up the Danish embassy today and killed six because they didn't like.....cartoons.

[JCMach1]

11. They have been blowing stuff up since independence

not much new about that.

[Javaman]

6. It's only as big a threat as those in power want us to believe. nt

[Alcibiades]

7. Miniscule

But it's splashy, so it's a big deal to the media.

The Six Most Feared but Least Likely Causes of Death
by www.SixWise.com


Deepak Chopra, M.D., a pioneer of alternative medicine, once said that everything we fear has already happened. In other words, there's no need to fear most of what we spending time fearing.

Still, many Americans have intense fears of death by certain causes that are actually very unlikely to occur. On the contrary, the most likely causes of death are rarely sources of fear for most of us.

What follows is a list of some of those common, yet unfounded, causes of death that are most feared ... yet least likely to occur.

Then, at the end of the article take a look at the real most common causes of death, and see if your fears are justified.

Airplane crashes: Some 30 million Americans describe themselves as "anxious" flyers. What makes them anxious is the fear of dying in a plane crash. What's the actual risk of being involved in a fatal airline accident? According to Arnold Barnett, a statistical expert in the field of aviation safety, it's once every 19,000 years--and that is only provided the person flew on an airplane once a day for 19,000 years!



Being killed by a shark is a common fear, but one that's totally unfounded: Your odds of being attacked by a shark are just one in 11.5 million.

Shark attacks: Do you refuse to go near the movie Jaws for fear that you'll never go back in the water? You're not alone, as many Americans fear getting killed by a shark.

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), though, only 1,909 confirmed shark attacks have occurred around the world--between 1580 and 2003! Of these, 737 happened in the United States, and 38 people died as a result. That said, what are your real odds of being attacked by a shark? One in 11.5 million, says the ISAF. Being killed by a shark? Zero in 264.1 million.

Being murdered: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one person is murdered about every 60 seconds worldwide, and in 2000, an estimated 520,000 people were murdered in the world. Although this sounds like a lot, let us put things into perspective: In 2000, over 6 million people died of cancer.

Falling to death: In 2001, more than 11,600 people aged 65 and older died from fall-related injuries, representing a very real concern. Children are also at risk of falling if they're not being properly supervised. But the type of fall we're talking about here is the kind that occurs from a height and to adults. While falling from a height is a leading cause of work-related death among construction workers, it kills only an estimated 80 people each year. And, the risk to the general population, who are exposed to heights less often, is likely to be lower than that.

Terrorist attack: With the recent London bombings and September 11th not too far behind, death by terrorist attack is fresh in many people's minds. A poll in Conde Nast Traveler in February 2003 found that one-third of respondents feared a terrorist attack. What are your real odds of dying this way? Historically speaking, it's a one in 9.3 million chance--which is a slightly greater risk than you have of dying in an avalanche.

Natural disaster: Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, floods, storms, heat, cold ... all of these are perceived as a threat looming overhead at any time. Your real lifetime odds of dying from a natural force like those listed above? One in 3,357, according to the science and technology Web site LiveScience.com. You're much more likely to be killed by a fire or by committing suicide.


from: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/07/13/the_six_most_feared_but_least_likely_causes_of_death.htm


Actual Leading Causes of Death

An unhealthy diet is actually a leading cause of death in the United States.

Biggest fears aside, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that uncovered the actual leading causes of death in the United States (in 2000). Overwhelmingly, these causes stem from our own, modifiable behaviors.

Tobacco (435,000 deaths, 18.1 percent of total U.S. deaths)

Poor diet and physical inactivity (400,000 deaths, 16.6 percent)

Alcohol consumption (85,000 deaths, 3.5 percent)

Microbial agents (75,000)

Toxic agents (55,000)

Motor vehicle crashes (43,000)

Incidents involving firearms (29,000)

Sexual behaviors (20,000)

Illicit use of drugs (17,000)

[JCMach1]

10. Even living in the Middle-East, I am in 1M times more danger

from car accidents (trust me, it's crazy here), bad food, pollution, and just continue with the list from there.

In some ways, I am MUCH safer than in the U.S. because of the extremely low crime rate overall.

So, the threat is very tiny. At least that's what my Wahabi and Pakistani friends tell me... lol

[Syrinx]

8. don't ya'll think Pakistan is the most dangerous place right now?

They have nukes and an unstable government. It's a dangerous situation.

[JCMach1]

9. Hardly, the military is/and has been in complete control

and will continue to be the ONLY power center in Pakistan. The street (and even the government itself) is just so much window-dressing for what is essentially a military state.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. If you're a Danish cartoonist, pretty big. n/t