POLL: Are you afraid of another terrorist attack?

[amnesiac]

With the increase of the threat level and all the articles citing intercepted communications of al-Qaeda, I've actually been somewhat worried about when, where, and if another attack takes place. It seems that the current intelligence reports cite an east coast target, with smaller targets nationwide. Personally, I'm divided - on one hand there's nothing confirmed; it could all be mass speculation and paranoia, but on the other hand there could be a very credible threat from unconventional weapons (i.e. dirty bombs) which probably wouldn't be too hard to plant in heavily populated areas.

I have faith that our homeland defense will reduce or minimize the threat, but I keep thinking of what-if scenarios. A biological or nuclear attack in any of our populated cities would have unthinkable consequences, and since I live in LA, I can think of dozens of targets here that would definitely cripple our economy and morale - downtown LA, LAX, San Pedro (ports), Wilmington (refinery), etc.

I'm sure most of you will berate me for being overly paranoid, but I want to know if any others share the concern.

 

[Mrfrog840]

people are to paranoid. They know if we found out who it was, we would kill them.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I learned many years ago that worrying about or being afraid of something accomplishes absolutely nothing. If you are anticipating the next attack then the terrorists are being successful without doing anything.

There will, eventually, be more terrorist attacks. It is not possible to stop all of them.

To be honest, I can't even think of any precautions the average person can take. Are you going to quit going to malls, movies or restaurants. Are you going to stay away from all high rise buildings? The more you change your lifestyle to accomodate the terrorists, the more powerful they become.

Right now I am more concerned with the rights our own government is taking away from us. We are headed towards becoming the very society the terrorists want to impose on us.

Don't worry, be happy.

 

[wnied]

Remember that it took years of planning to get the attacks of sept 11th moving. (In that regards I'm still not convinced that Al quaeda acted alone & that an unnamed enemy nation/state had given help in some way to them) So in that regards, I believe that with our nations increasing alertness for anything suspicious in terms of terroristic threats, that its increasingly frustrating for the terrorists to attack American interests on American soil. My belief is that if there are any attacks, they will come to American Allies or American interests abroad.

~wnied~

 

[Pliablemoose]

To be honest, I can't even think of any precautions the average person can take. Are you going to quit going to malls, movies or restaurants. Are you going to stay away from all high rise buildings? The more you change your lifestyle to accomodate the terrorists, the more powerful they become.

Not a bad idea to have some cash lying around & or some bartering material, and of course you should always exercise your constitutional rights by owning @ least one gun

I really don't plan on doing any of the above, but WTF... I didn't stock up for Y2K either & that worked out pretty well for me

 

[Wallydraigle]

No, I live in rural Ohio.

 

[UglyCasanova]

I am not worried, but I don't doubt there will be attacks within the next few months.

 

[911paramedic]

Living in Las Vegas, we may just be on some list. We stand for everything they hate, sex, gambling, strippers, it's not called "Sin City" for nothing. Not only that, we have NY NY here, with twin towers. :Q

 

[bolido2000]

Worrying about this is pointless. We have absolutely no control over it nor we are able to take any meaningful precaution that won't alter our lives.

 

[SnapIT]

Not worried at all...

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic
Living in Las Vegas, we may just be on some list. We stand for everything they hate, sex, gambling, strippers, it's not called "Sin City" for nothing. Not only that, we have NY NY here, with twin towers. :Q

Have they done anything to that by the way? With all of the movie delays and editted scenes in movies and TV...and maybe even printed material, I was just wondering if there was any contraversy over those mini-towers you guys got over there.

 

[Smolek]

Yes there will be another one eventually but there isnt much we personally can do so it isnt worth the stress.

 

[geno]

Worried? No. Do I think something will happen in the form of an "Attack" in the near future? Yes.

Is it worth getting my undies in a bunch over? No. If it happens it happens....

 

[Electrode]

What I'm afraid of is what's being done in the name of preventing a terrorist attack.

 

[Skel]

A while back it was nukes, now it terrorists.. could happen at anytime, but then again it may not happen... better just to live life.

 

[SherEPunjab]

no not at all, stop being paranoid.

 

[Moonbeam]

I'm looking forward to the day when everybody on earth has been killed and I can finally stop worrying. It's the only safe way. The terrorists could actually live next door.

 

[Whitecloak]

learn to live with it as have the citizens of so many other countries like india, israel etc. The moment you get intimidated by terrorists, they will have succeeded.

 

[Broohaha]

stop worrying; there might be attacks abroad like at that nightclub in bali but nothing nearly on the scale of the twin tower attacks.... the US is just too vigilant and aware of teh possibilities these days.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I'm looking forward to the day when everybody on earth has been killed and I can finally stop worrying. It's the only safe way. The terrorists could actually live next door.

At least your ramblings aren't getting into the pseudo-intellectual realm, lately.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I learned many years ago that worrying about or being afraid of something accomplishes absolutely nothing. If you are anticipating the next attack then the terrorists are being successful without doing anything.

There will, eventually, be more terrorist attacks. It is not possible to stop all of them.

To be honest, I can't even think of any precautions the average person can take. Are you going to quit going to malls, movies or restaurants. Are you going to stay away from all high rise buildings? The more you change your lifestyle to accomodate the terrorists, the more powerful they become.

Right now I am more concerned with the rights our own government is taking away from us. We are headed towards becoming the very society the terrorists want to impose on us.








Very well said...Thank You!

 

[Zebo]

I have to admit the thought of a nuke going off sacres me a little. Not only for the massive casulties which are very tragic, but the US will become a police state literally.

 

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: whitecloak
learn to live with it as have the citizens of so many other countries like india, israel etc. The moment you get intimidated by terrorists, they will have succeeded.

true dat.

 

[datalink7]

I'm not really afraid... I just expect it to happen at some point.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Electrode
What I'm afraid of is what's being done in the name of preventing a terrorist attack.

IMHO they have already gotten the effect they want. I have lived my entire life in the Washington DC metro area with the exception of my 4 years in the Navy and the changes wrought by the paranoia from terrorism make me ill. Pennsylvania avenue has been completely closed in front of the White House since the mid 90's with big ugly concrete planters blocking off the street at each end and what can only be described as paramiltary looking police swarming all around the area. The Washington Monument now has a ring of ugly jersey highway walls surrounding it. You can no longer walk down the stairs and view all the memorial marbles that line the inside walls of the Washington Monument. Virginia route 110 that runs past the Pentagon now has military humvees with machine guns pointed at the roadway along with Viriginia State police cars every 100 feet all with their blue flashers going 24x7. We are told that Independence Avenue will have major problems for the next 6 months as they begin to construct some type of concrete security walls around Capital Hill office buildings. Entrance to the Capital itself requires standing in line and being part of a "tour". I could go on but I think I made my point. Everyone of these places was open and accessable to the public as little as 10 years ago. We have lost much more than people can imagine all in the name of a marginal at best increase in safety.