Comments on: How exactly did the system fail? http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/05/05/how-exactly-did-the-system-fail/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-exactly-did-the-system-fail Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:09:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Barak http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/05/05/how-exactly-did-the-system-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-874 Barak Sun, 09 May 2010 20:51:56 +0000 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/?p=2032#comment-874 I agree fully. A strong policy of terrorism prevention cannot exist in a democracy. A society that is 100% free of terrorism (if that could exist) would also be 100% free of civil liberties. I agree fully. A strong policy of terrorism prevention cannot exist in a democracy. A society that is 100% free of terrorism (if that could exist) would also be 100% free of civil liberties.

]]> By: Josh http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/05/05/how-exactly-did-the-system-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-871 Josh Sun, 09 May 2010 05:33:31 +0000 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/?p=2032#comment-871 What system of prevention failed that would stop a guy from buying a car, three canisters of propane, a pack of fireworks 1/13th the power of a quarter stick of dynamite, bags of fertilizer that don't even contain ammonium nitrate, and driving it into Times Square? That "bomb" wasn't nearly as dangerous as the _legally purchased_ Kel-Tec Sub 2000 9mm firearm he left in his car at the airport. What system failed that would stop a naturalized American citizen with no prior criminal history from purchasing a firearm? What system of prevention failed that would stop a guy from buying a car, three canisters of propane, a pack of fireworks 1/13th the power of a quarter stick of dynamite, bags of fertilizer that don’t even contain ammonium nitrate, and driving it into Times Square? That “bomb” wasn’t nearly as dangerous as the _legally purchased_ Kel-Tec Sub 2000 9mm firearm he left in his car at the airport. What system failed that would stop a naturalized American citizen with no prior criminal history from purchasing a firearm?

]]> By: Barak http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/05/05/how-exactly-did-the-system-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-867 Barak Sat, 08 May 2010 20:59:58 +0000 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/?p=2032#comment-867 The system of prevention failed? I am not sure I know what to make of that. How do we prevent terrorism without massive intrusions on civil liberties (and I doubt that would even work). A free society needs to make tradeoffs and live with uncertainty, something few politicians have the courage to say. On your other point, you are correct, it could be that we are just lucky. However, I think one of the under-reported stories on the war on terror is how good of a job the USG is doing keeping potentially dangerous people out of the country. The system of prevention failed? I am not sure I know what to make of that. How do we prevent terrorism without massive intrusions on civil liberties (and I doubt that would even work). A free society needs to make tradeoffs and live with uncertainty, something few politicians have the courage to say.

On your other point, you are correct, it could be that we are just lucky. However, I think one of the under-reported stories on the war on terror is how good of a job the USG is doing keeping potentially dangerous people out of the country.

]]> By: Austan Mogharabi http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/05/05/how-exactly-did-the-system-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-865 Austan Mogharabi Sat, 08 May 2010 05:47:30 +0000 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/?p=2032#comment-865 I think that what you're missing is the fact that it was through no skill or action of the FBI/CBP/Police/anyone in the Federal Government that the bomb didn't explode. As Jon Stewart says in his recent clip, "What is the U.S. going to do when they attack us with people who aren't like the Home Alone robbers." Basically, the system of PREVENTION failed while the system of APPREHENSION worked...and those are two different systems. Also, to claim that because this guy was an idiot that we've done a good job is probably a bit non-sensical. The Taliban/al Qaeda will throw whatever at us since it's not really a loss for them in this instance...at worst the idiot gets caught and at best he blows up Times Square... I think that what you’re missing is the fact that it was through no skill or action of the FBI/CBP/Police/anyone in the Federal Government that the bomb didn’t explode. As Jon Stewart says in his recent clip, “What is the U.S. going to do when they attack us with people who aren’t like the Home Alone robbers.” Basically, the system of PREVENTION failed while the system of APPREHENSION worked…and those are two different systems.

Also, to claim that because this guy was an idiot that we’ve done a good job is probably a bit non-sensical. The Taliban/al Qaeda will throw whatever at us since it’s not really a loss for them in this instance…at worst the idiot gets caught and at best he blows up Times Square…

]]> By: Barak http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/05/05/how-exactly-did-the-system-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-858 Barak Fri, 07 May 2010 00:15:37 +0000 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/?p=2032#comment-858 I agree with your first point. As to your second point, if the best the Taliban can throw at us is an absent-minded incompetent terrorist, it suggests that the US is doing a pretty good job of fighting terrorism overseas as well. I agree with your first point. As to your second point, if the best the Taliban can throw at us is an absent-minded incompetent terrorist, it suggests that the US is doing a pretty good job of fighting terrorism overseas as well.

]]> By: Josh http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/2010/05/05/how-exactly-did-the-system-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-856 Josh Thu, 06 May 2010 05:56:17 +0000 http://www.democracyandsociety.com/blog/?p=2032#comment-856 I agree. It's probably just a better news story to emphasize how things might have gone better. In addition, the entire episode doesn't reflect well on the competence of whatever terrorist training program Mr. Shahzad may or may not have attended in Pakistan. I agree. It’s probably just a better news story to emphasize how things might have gone better. In addition, the entire episode doesn’t reflect well on the competence of whatever terrorist training program Mr. Shahzad may or may not have attended in Pakistan.

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