Folks, in a world where people put bombs in packages given to pregnant wifes/girlfriends, set to explode at altitude, there is just no playing around.
Training grounds? Camps where you can learn to make bombs? Yes and Yes...
I am personally in favor for all the profiling, evesdropping, counter espionage going on, as long as me and my grandkids can fly safely. Screw 'em...
HB
1. To be accused of terrorism isnt the same thing as having committed an act of terrorism. In the accusation which is all we have seen from the past 9 years the usual burden of proof is tossed to the wolves and the fear rationale is the only thing we are left to proceed with. There is more hype put into the notion that "a terrorist act was thwarted in the planning stages" instead of thinking that a lot of people are being bulllied my limitless government power and the desire to mid-level bureaucrats and prosecutors to make a name for themselves. Its been a long time since Eliot Ness, right?
2. We should be wary about these anti-terror campaigns because they a, have the undeclared ability to villify everyone who isnt determined to be a "normal advocate of the government's[any government] stance on whatever issue". Fear mongering at its best. Everyone is a suspicious and suspect everyone else. Oh no, those swarthy olive skin types, Dominicans, Brazilians, Morroccans, Filipinos, etc are to be viewed as those on the prowl to cause reckless mayhem and madness because they look like Iraqis, Arabs, and other middle eastern "angry" types. Makes you wonder who the good guy is? And if he is that good for real? The white guy with the white hat in the Cowboy movies who showed up on the white horse with the nickel plated 6 shooter to kill the Indians at will and then called them savages. There is more at hand than I think we want to understand.
and b. they tend to justify any and all countermeasures in defense of protecting ourselves from terrorism without discussing what are its causes. We are stuck thinking we are all good guys: "We were just sitting here in the public park reading the Bible and then these evil-doers just started throwing glass bottles at us."
3. And we should be very careful in our definition of terrorism and make sure its not actually revenge or more often Blowback, or a leveling of the playing field using rudimentary techniques and measures.
You cant shoot all those flaming arrows out into the world for your own gain and not expect to take a few in the ass in return.
The Universe doesnt work like that.