In the aftermath of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, the U.S. government has seen fit to usurp many powers and limit many freedoms of the American population (and of human beings in general), in the alleged task of preventing terrorist harm to its citizens. I would submit that in the very first instance, that of preventing an identical attack, there was absolutely no need to do anything. By the time the fourth airplane was brought to a fiery but unsuccessful crash landing in a field, we knew. We knew, that hijacking no longer meant a two week trip to Cuba, a bit of time off, and memories and small fame to last a lifetime. It no longer meant simply roughing it and hoping the hijackers would feed us well, or allow us blankets to sleep under. Hijacking is no longer tolerated by passengers - since it may very well mean their deaths and the deaths of unsuspecting people on the ground. So we will no longer allow it to happen. We proved this on 9/11! There was no need for one dollar to be spent - after the fact. The would-be future attackers know this! They know that this tactic is now doomed to failure, adn thus they will at worst pursue other avenues if they seek to harm us. Ironically, since this was not promoted as a concept of American heroism and victory (we lost three battles, and one the last one - that is victory!), the terror has been vastly magnified, by its continued emphasis by our government. The news became full of panicky responses, searches and seizures, crackdowns on presumably potential threatening persons, and a general chilling of civil rights and personal freedom. Thus, we still live in a state of terror. Orange Alert, they call it. Of course, this suits those who hold the reins of power quite well. It enables them to dodge constitutional issues in pursuing various aspects of their political agendas, some of which include the aforementioned infringements on human rights here in the U.S., and others which they are quietly promoting by using the support and power handed over by the people due to our "being at war." Americans really don't have too much trouble staying free and safe on their own. The United States is blessed with history's most easily defended borders. The population is heavily armed - with large numbers of light firearms, with a traditional burden of democracy and freedom, and the fervent desire to defend it. It seems those who would defend us from "threats" they define themselves would do so by attacking the very fundamentals that make this nation worth defending. 4/8/03 
© Huw Powell
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