Well the NYTimes will eat its words if something does happen. Seems like a pretty silly piece to me. No one can predict these things.
5
"But the United States doesn’t have this problem. Pretty much anyone coming to the United States from Middle Eastern war zones or the radical underground of Europe would need to come by plane, and, since 9/11, we have made it tough for such people to fly to the United States."
How can you write this with a straight face when we are planning on taking in tens of thousands of refugees from Syria and the Homeland Security Chairman has already said we have "gaping holes" in the vetting system? Not to mention the UN estimates that 65 percent of those fleeing the area are men. And you suggest it's tough to fly here from "the radical underground of Europe?" How so if they aren't on a no-fly list?
How can you write this with a straight face when we are planning on taking in tens of thousands of refugees from Syria and the Homeland Security Chairman has already said we have "gaping holes" in the vetting system? Not to mention the UN estimates that 65 percent of those fleeing the area are men. And you suggest it's tough to fly here from "the radical underground of Europe?" How so if they aren't on a no-fly list?
8
"And it helps that America’s two immediate neighbors, Mexico and Canada, have extremely cooperative security authorities, which prevents would-be terrorists from slipping across our land borders."
Because if there's one thing we're sure of, it's that Mexico and the United States have succeeded in preventing unauthorized border crossings.
Because if there's one thing we're sure of, it's that Mexico and the United States have succeeded in preventing unauthorized border crossings.
10
I can't understand the suggestion that it's not likely to happen here. We have about one mass murder per day in this country! Maybe those mass murders did not shout Islamic slogans first, but that seems like cold comfort to the families of the dead.
6
The authors state "European citizens happy to massacre their compatriots" as a difference from the U.S. but let's not forget Timothy McVeigh who was more than happy to massacre his compatriots. A rare occurrence yes, but it happened.
8
I think some of the comments here point out the number of people killed by 'lunatics' in mass shootings as comparable to what has happened in Paris. This is not a numbers game. We are up against a dreaded terrorist outfit ISIS which is foreign bred and cannot be tried or prosecuted by American judicial system. This is worse than Al Qaeeda, by all indications. Lets not let our guard down by any means.
3
It already has happened. What kind of question is this?
16
There is no question Paris could happen here. We can either fight Islamic terrorism on its home turf or they will bring the fight to us. Did the attack on the World Trade Center teach you nothing?
12
It is wrongheaded to think it can't happen here.
In today's world you do not have to be connected geographically. All you need is electronic social media and a small group of ISIS inspired and determined people who are already in the US who do not have to cross borders and that under the radar.
With our gun happy cultural and the ease of purchasing guns it would be a cinch to buy what is needed.
Yes, unfortunately, it can happen here, it has and probably will.
In today's world you do not have to be connected geographically. All you need is electronic social media and a small group of ISIS inspired and determined people who are already in the US who do not have to cross borders and that under the radar.
With our gun happy cultural and the ease of purchasing guns it would be a cinch to buy what is needed.
Yes, unfortunately, it can happen here, it has and probably will.
10
I couldn't stop laughing when I encountered the text about our cooperating neighbor Mexico, who prevents "would be terrorists from crossing our borders."
Yes sir, Mexico carefully vetted the 11 million undocumented illegals that have crossed our southern borders.
As we all know, no would be terrorist who seek to cross our air tight southern border. It would be far too risky.....
Yes sir, Mexico carefully vetted the 11 million undocumented illegals that have crossed our southern borders.
As we all know, no would be terrorist who seek to cross our air tight southern border. It would be far too risky.....
28
While we have some advantages over Europe, the internet knows no boundaries. It has become very easy for "home-grown" radicals to become indoctrinated by a far away group. Add to that the easy access to guns I'd say we're not as secure as Simon/Benjamin would believe.
4
The point is, if the refugees are not here or in the EU then we don't have to spend time and money to keep track of them. Stop them at the edge and work to get them back.
3
"Yes, some of the worst attacks of recent years here at home have been by deeply alienated Muslims, including Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, and the Tsarnaev brothers, perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombing. But the incidence of such malcontents is lower than in Europe, whose larger Muslim communities, social science data shows, are markedly less integrated."
This belief is becoming increasingly thread-worm. Many of these perpetrators were in no way losers or alienated; many in fact were doing well when they were won over to jihad.
It is time to recognize that the common thread among these jihadis is Islam itself. Obviously not all Muslims are potential terrorists, but clearly Islam carries the inspiration for religious war within its DNA, and this can find fulfillment seemingly in any type of person.
This belief is becoming increasingly thread-worm. Many of these perpetrators were in no way losers or alienated; many in fact were doing well when they were won over to jihad.
It is time to recognize that the common thread among these jihadis is Islam itself. Obviously not all Muslims are potential terrorists, but clearly Islam carries the inspiration for religious war within its DNA, and this can find fulfillment seemingly in any type of person.
6
I appreciate the authors' extensive experience in counterterrorism, however their argument's premise is fatally flawed. Strong border protection will do nothing to stop the so-called "home grown" terrorists, who have very easy access to military-style firearms.
5
I wish the authors are right about the future. To make it convincing, they need to consider incidents in the fairly recent past.
3
Of course it can happen here. Maybe not with Kalashnikovs--Uzis or AKs maybe. And it happens regularly on our campuses and against black churches. We also have 30K+ gun deaths a year!
3
Our nation is not completely safe from any attack. As Common Sense has already stated, look to 9/11 and there's your answer. The only way that we are going to be able to stop ISIS is to have every nation come together into a treaty of sorts, hunt every last one of them down and destroy them completely. This is also why we need to keep our gun rights intact, we need to be able to defend ourselves and our country if we are attacked from within from yet another terrorist threat.
This is yet another point in the long history of our Great Nation that we must come together as a whole and stand strong with one another. We all have the same common enemy, terrorism, why can't we unite under that cause and create a better world to live in? I think we owe it to the world to make a stand against this great evil that has befallen us.
This is yet another point in the long history of our Great Nation that we must come together as a whole and stand strong with one another. We all have the same common enemy, terrorism, why can't we unite under that cause and create a better world to live in? I think we owe it to the world to make a stand against this great evil that has befallen us.
Terror attacks are meant to trigger an overreaction in the West. They want our boots on the ground so the long awaited apocalyptic 'battle with Satan's forces' can begin. ISIS poses an existential threat to weak Middle Eastern countries only if it can expand its pool of warriors. At the moment, it struggles to maintain the territory it now controls.
2
The authors remind me of the Soldier with the Green Whiskers in the Wizard of Oz who tries to calm the city citizens down by telling them to go home, there is nothing to worry about. The citizens do as they are told and leave.
Meanwhile, the Wicked Witch of the West aka ISIS et al are still very displeased. So while the citizens of the world all panic and question what is to be done, the authors advocate that Europe (like Dorothy and her group) consult the Wizard aka the Great and Powerful United States of America because the 'Wizard will know what to do.' How about we start to define and correct why this violence is ongoing.
A bucket of water is not going to kill the witch this time boys!
Meanwhile, the Wicked Witch of the West aka ISIS et al are still very displeased. So while the citizens of the world all panic and question what is to be done, the authors advocate that Europe (like Dorothy and her group) consult the Wizard aka the Great and Powerful United States of America because the 'Wizard will know what to do.' How about we start to define and correct why this violence is ongoing.
A bucket of water is not going to kill the witch this time boys!
1
Yes it could. I have no doubt that ISIS could and probably will attack us here. We have been too lax about immigration. We have 11+ million illegal aliens in this country - we don't know who they are, make no effort to find out or arrest them. ISIS says it has sleeper agents in this country and I am sure they are correct.
Now Obama wants to admit 10,000+ Syrian Refugees. We don't know that much about and just as an ISIS member was among the refugees admitted to EUrope who then participated in the Paris attacks, it could happen here just as easily.
We really need to be careful admitting refugees from countries where terrorism is active. Everyone was shocked when the Czech minister said that they would only take Christian refugees. But he is smart, as he know that it is only the Muslims who join ISIS.
We really can't screen these incoming refugees properly. How do you screen someone from Syria who maybe has lived in a Refugee Camp or just escaped over the border to Turkey? The fact is that you can't. They can tell you anything that sounds plausible.
The best solution for Syrian refugees in the EU and US is to put them in POW like camps throughout the US and EU. Citizens' lives should not be put at risk so the US can demonstrate its virtue. Times have changed - the US must adopt and change with them.
Now Obama wants to admit 10,000+ Syrian Refugees. We don't know that much about and just as an ISIS member was among the refugees admitted to EUrope who then participated in the Paris attacks, it could happen here just as easily.
We really need to be careful admitting refugees from countries where terrorism is active. Everyone was shocked when the Czech minister said that they would only take Christian refugees. But he is smart, as he know that it is only the Muslims who join ISIS.
We really can't screen these incoming refugees properly. How do you screen someone from Syria who maybe has lived in a Refugee Camp or just escaped over the border to Turkey? The fact is that you can't. They can tell you anything that sounds plausible.
The best solution for Syrian refugees in the EU and US is to put them in POW like camps throughout the US and EU. Citizens' lives should not be put at risk so the US can demonstrate its virtue. Times have changed - the US must adopt and change with them.
4
From many, one. Would that these "scholars of security" understand the principle that underlies the security of us all.
We need a thorough crackdown on radical fundamentalists in this country, monitoring them and hounding them with hopes of arresting and elimination if possible. No one who supports these groups should be able to walk freely. We give fundamentalist religion of all kinds too much deference in this nation, and fundamentalists of various groups have conducted attacks in this country. We need to protect ourselves from violent stupidity.
2
The authors state that "---European citizens [are] happy to massacre their compatriots, ..." (!?) but the US does not really have such a problem. What about the presidential candidates who want to deport 11 million US residents--with no concern about the many of these who would face almost certain death if returned to their countries of origin? What about capital punishment in the US (outlawed in France in 1981)? It is true that in the US there have been no massacres of devout, peaceful Muslims----yet---just hatred and discrimination. The authors are clearly members of COI (the Coalition of Ignorance).
I' afraid these authors are promoting a delusion that the war on terror & dept. of homeland security will keep Americans safe from terror. That was a neocon myth.
The USA has spent 13 years & $trillions making itself the prime target for retaliation by Islamist Jihadist terrorists.
This particular misguided US militaristic invasion, occupation & slaughter, unlike that in Vietnam, is bound to come home to roost.
Cities in the USA are sitting ducks. If people choose to live in cities, there are many violent, systemic, epidemiological, etc. hazards of that lifestyle & density. Urbanites are clearly unafraid of these risks.
But American urbanites would be deluded to believe these authors to imagine that further terrorism, particularly Islamic retaliation for US wars, is not one of those serious risks of contemporary urban life.
The USA has spent 13 years & $trillions making itself the prime target for retaliation by Islamist Jihadist terrorists.
This particular misguided US militaristic invasion, occupation & slaughter, unlike that in Vietnam, is bound to come home to roost.
Cities in the USA are sitting ducks. If people choose to live in cities, there are many violent, systemic, epidemiological, etc. hazards of that lifestyle & density. Urbanites are clearly unafraid of these risks.
But American urbanites would be deluded to believe these authors to imagine that further terrorism, particularly Islamic retaliation for US wars, is not one of those serious risks of contemporary urban life.
3
J'accuse George W. Bush (aided and abetted by Tony Blair), who must bear some indirect responsibility for the Paris attacks. In the aftermath of 9/11, he cynically used the outrage over that atrocity to invade the wrong country, Iraq, which, for all the unpleasantness of its government, had nothing to do with 9/11. He broke America's treaty obligations to the UN (it was an illegal war under the UN Charter). He then failed to plan for how to fix the country he broke, and failed to foresee the chaos that would emerge. Out of that chaos came Isis and, eventually, these attacks on Paris.
Bush is not responsible for jihadism and there would be turmoil in the Middle East if he had never entered the White House, but without his dishonest invasion of Iraq, Isis would not exist. He abused the power of the most powerful office in the world to start an illegal and unnecessary war, and the world is reaping the bitter harvest.
None of this is to say that the West should shrink from confronting terrorism, with force if need be, but it must be righteous force, aimed at the wrongdoers and done lawfully and with due process. This is because the real battle is one of ideas between democracy and jihadism being fought in the minds of millions of people in the Middle East and in Muslim communities in the West.
Britain lost the American War of Independence not so much at Saratoga or Yorktown, but when a critical mass of colonial Americans decided they did not want to be British any more.
Bush is not responsible for jihadism and there would be turmoil in the Middle East if he had never entered the White House, but without his dishonest invasion of Iraq, Isis would not exist. He abused the power of the most powerful office in the world to start an illegal and unnecessary war, and the world is reaping the bitter harvest.
None of this is to say that the West should shrink from confronting terrorism, with force if need be, but it must be righteous force, aimed at the wrongdoers and done lawfully and with due process. This is because the real battle is one of ideas between democracy and jihadism being fought in the minds of millions of people in the Middle East and in Muslim communities in the West.
Britain lost the American War of Independence not so much at Saratoga or Yorktown, but when a critical mass of colonial Americans decided they did not want to be British any more.
2
Defense is needed, but you do not win on defense. The US needs to be on offense. The US must stop treating jihadist terrorism as a law enforcement issue. Muslim Jihad declared was on western civilization years ago and now the Jihadist have the ability to do great harm to Europe and the US. It is pass time for us to go on the offense.
Basic question. Why would the Times print such trite thinking?
We have already been attacked by radicals, homegrown and foreign. The pedantic chutzpah of the authors is condescending at best and inciting at worst.
We have already been attacked by radicals, homegrown and foreign. The pedantic chutzpah of the authors is condescending at best and inciting at worst.
6
There are thousands of narco terrorists already in the US and White House policy is to provide them safe haven. Oceans and of funds are the only things keeping other terrorists away and those two obstacles will quickly be overcome. The gun issue is a false one, the recent campus terror attack was carried out with a knife because the attacker was not able to procure a gun according to the New York Times articles which counters the popular claim that any kid with fifty cents can buy a gun at the local convenience store. While in France the attackers had bombs and true military hardware instead of "military style weapons". But hey, why let facts interfere with propaganda?
2
In the case of France, I'm not sure problem lays in military or intelligence budget issues. My guess is it's just about seriousness and professionalism.
Did you know last year a french djihadist coming back from Syria was missed by french police only because the plane he took in Istanbul did not land in Paris but in Marseille? The guy simply passed the border control and got back to his place!
Did you know the border was still wide open this weekend with Italy on the French riviera, even after President Hollande announced "border shutdown" on TV friday night?
Did you know the last IDed suicide bomber M. Amoumir was charged in a terrorism investigation in 2012 and was under legal supervision? He just didn't show up at the police station as he was supposed to do each month and could fly to Syria. He was subject of an international arrest warrant but was able to come back to France to commit the attacks.
Would only one of these three facts be even thinkable in the US?
Did you know last year a french djihadist coming back from Syria was missed by french police only because the plane he took in Istanbul did not land in Paris but in Marseille? The guy simply passed the border control and got back to his place!
Did you know the border was still wide open this weekend with Italy on the French riviera, even after President Hollande announced "border shutdown" on TV friday night?
Did you know the last IDed suicide bomber M. Amoumir was charged in a terrorism investigation in 2012 and was under legal supervision? He just didn't show up at the police station as he was supposed to do each month and could fly to Syria. He was subject of an international arrest warrant but was able to come back to France to commit the attacks.
Would only one of these three facts be even thinkable in the US?
1
"For many reasons, the United States is a significantly safer place". What??? How many kids did they gun down in France in the last 10 years? Even without the Newtown massacre, the US is far more dangerous than any place in Europe. 150 people easily die violently every weekend in the US. You can't even walk into a cinema without being sure that some nut is going to take you out with an AK-47 he just purchased. Here, terrorists can just order their guns online. The only security here is in breaking up the planning process of Islamist massacres because the FBI is probably paying half the Muslim population to tell on the other half, which is being bugged by 10 Mio people with security clearances and tech that allows them to find out everything they need to get anyone to do whatever they want. Oh well, if you don't feel secure you can call the cops, lest you are black, of course.
15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were of Saudi origin and up until that time, Saudi citizens got their visas with no checks whatsoever. They didn't even have to show up at the embassy to get a visa. We still have the no-visa policy with many Western European countries, Canada, Australia etc. As with the shoe bomber, checks are scant and a weakness in Western Europe could mean a weakness for the US. It is time for all free countries to take a second look at what free really entails. We have to be vigilant all the time. The terrorist has to be lucky only once.
1
Thank you Common Sense- must wonder if these co-authors are associated with the enemy! Was appalled when read this this morning. Insulting to all of us looking to defend Western Civilization and especially those that have died
These authors are ostriches. It will happen here and the Democratic party is doing everything in its power to ensure that it does happen and that the effects when it occurs are maximally effective for the terrorists.
2
Remember Dubya's Global War on Terror, the one he told us to support by going shopping? The terrorists are still there, and more organized than ever. Clearly, the billions spent on this alleged war didn't do much good for We the People - although I'm sure Dick Cheney's pals made out like bandits.
Terrorist attacks on the scale of Paris or the London bombings can happen here, and almost undoubtedly will. To say otherwise is to be ignorant of the realities of the modern world. Let's just hope that we can do better than to stand around pointing fingers while attempting to assign blame after they do, which is how America seems react to almost any tragedy these days.
And while I might be alarmed about what happened in Paris on Friday evening, I am not terrorized. I live in a city that could very well be considered one of the prime terror targets on American soil, but I have a life to get on with to assure my own day-to-day survival. Wringing my hands and knitting my brow with worry about what might happen here isn't going to do any good whatsoever.
Congress should take this moment to stop arguing among themselves and join together enough to act on the practical inevitability of such attacks occurring in our country. But that's not going to happen - there are members of these bodies who might even welcome terror visiting upon our shores for the political advantage they might gain from it. We're a sick county these days.
Terrorist attacks on the scale of Paris or the London bombings can happen here, and almost undoubtedly will. To say otherwise is to be ignorant of the realities of the modern world. Let's just hope that we can do better than to stand around pointing fingers while attempting to assign blame after they do, which is how America seems react to almost any tragedy these days.
And while I might be alarmed about what happened in Paris on Friday evening, I am not terrorized. I live in a city that could very well be considered one of the prime terror targets on American soil, but I have a life to get on with to assure my own day-to-day survival. Wringing my hands and knitting my brow with worry about what might happen here isn't going to do any good whatsoever.
Congress should take this moment to stop arguing among themselves and join together enough to act on the practical inevitability of such attacks occurring in our country. But that's not going to happen - there are members of these bodies who might even welcome terror visiting upon our shores for the political advantage they might gain from it. We're a sick county these days.
2
U.S. gun-nut terrorism is just as scary as Islamo-extremist terrorism. If the U.S. doesn't much of the latter (and it does have some, bear in mind), it certainly has plenty of the former. There are also terrorists of the Tim McVeigh school. Who can do anything about them, if they fly under the radar?
This article ignores the forest for the trees.
This article ignores the forest for the trees.
2
The authors may be "scholars" but this article is not scholarly.
1
The article is simply a call for more spying on us. The Western ruling classes have used AQ and now Daesh to justify the most extesive erosion of our rights and liberties.
All the data collection in the world guarantees nothing if the AQ and D revert to primitive forms of communication when planning attacks; the simplest and most secure form is by messenger.
In my oopinion, the entire Western "war effort" is just a sham to keep this thing going for a very long time.
All the data collection in the world guarantees nothing if the AQ and D revert to primitive forms of communication when planning attacks; the simplest and most secure form is by messenger.
In my oopinion, the entire Western "war effort" is just a sham to keep this thing going for a very long time.
When a disenchanted, disturbed young man with no hope for his future starts shooting innocents in a school, college campus, movie theater, or army base, is that not terrorism? I'm tired of people equating terrorism with nothing but Islam. The mass shootings that we deal with here in America several times a year are also terrorism - an act that causes terror and destroys the lives of innocent people.
4
The title of this piece makes me ask what are the French whining about, we have massacres all the time here and we certainly don't ever see Republicans getting upset about it! Their answer, buy more guns, in fact they, say we don't have nearly enough.
Now the Republicans are all lining up to mount a big offensive again in the middle east, of course, it's not going to be their sons and daughters doing anything other then advancing their careers here at home.
Psychopathic hypocrisy mixed with false patriotism. Time to start buying defense stocks again!
Now the Republicans are all lining up to mount a big offensive again in the middle east, of course, it's not going to be their sons and daughters doing anything other then advancing their careers here at home.
Psychopathic hypocrisy mixed with false patriotism. Time to start buying defense stocks again!
Are we just talking about scale? Otherwise "Paris" happens here on a fairly routine basis. Fort Hood, Boston, and the recent shooting spree at the Recruitmemt Center Army Base. In each case, casualties could have been much higher.
1
"Could Paris Happen Here?"
Look downtown; notice anything different in the skyline from, say, only a decade or so ago?
Look downtown; notice anything different in the skyline from, say, only a decade or so ago?
3
Evil permeates the earth, so an attack that serves the cause of evil is possible anywhere. Prayer and penance for our sins defeats evil. Men are not ready for such truth, so expect more evil. Empty churches almost guarantees it. France's churches have long been empty. God said, " Thou Shalt Not Kill " , and all who love killing are not 'of God'. War, Terrorism, Abortion, Suicide, Euthanasia, which form of killing do you love most ?
1
Agree with the geographical advantage the USA enjoys.... but. Many parts of our country are the equivalent of the old action movie meme wide open 3rd world weapons bazaars and gun runners. See also Virginia where they seem to have "gun shows" every other week. Whatever you need and as much as you need, no questions asked. That and some burner cell phones and the bad guys are in business. And Virginia is proximal to the nation's capital and many prime soft targets. So it will happen here. The only surprise to me is that it didn't happen 10 years ago.
1
Allowing thousands of potential terrorists into our country will only make it more likely that another Boston Marathon attack will happen. Common sense needs to control our government's policy whose number one concern shoud be to protect us from horrific events like we have had in the past. It's really not that complicated.
3
We did have 9/11, although that is not quite the same as Paris or Mumbai or Nairobi. Nevertheless, we have had "Paris" here, in the form of attacks on police officers by men wielding axes and knives, or the attack on Pam Geller's hate rally in Texas, which the Daesh did claim as one of their operations. Let us not also forget the Boston Marathon bombing. We are certainly at risk of it happening again, even if not on the scale seen in other places.
1
Where would you rather live, in a society with weekly mass shootings in schools and movie theaters by alienated young male citizens, tens of thousands who commit suicide with guns, teenagers shooting other teenagers regularly in stupid adolescent revenge, cops gunning down 12-year-olds in public parks, women are shot and killed almost daily by their husbands or boyfriends, and toddlers and schoolchildren who seem to constantly be killing their siblings, parents, or themselves with the family handgun -- or a place where ALL of these things are vanishingly rare but where you have to worry about once-yearly (or less) acts of Islamic terrorism? It's FAR more likely you will be killed by a gun in the United States, or have someone in your family or circle of friends be killed. There is no comparison.
3
Paris has already happened in the US. Not slaughter by Muslim zealots but slaughter by demented young men with easy access to guns (thanks to the hegemony of NRA and gun lobbyists) - take a look at the toll of slaughter of innocents in the US by guns - in schools, in movie theatres, in church, in every public venue imaginable. These demented young people are terrorists of another kind. And until there is some control over the buying and selling of guns and ammunition, there will be no peace here. It is beyond comprehension that American columnists (like Gingrich and Coulter) could Tweet their vile message that if Parisians carried guns, they would have shot the Jihadi terrorists dead in Paris last Friday the Thirteenth. Face it, America is no safer than Europe today!
This article is completely absurd.
9/11 DID happen here. Consider the Boston Marathon bombing, which for the record, also happened here.
Getting access to weapons would be trivial here.
The only reason America is less at risk than France is that there aren't millions of disaffected muslim youth here who have been systematically excluded from benefitting from the economy. Our freedom and welcomeness is what keeps us safer, and any weak-minded temptations to engage in repression of any group out of fear is the only thing that can put us at greater risk.
9/11 DID happen here. Consider the Boston Marathon bombing, which for the record, also happened here.
Getting access to weapons would be trivial here.
The only reason America is less at risk than France is that there aren't millions of disaffected muslim youth here who have been systematically excluded from benefitting from the economy. Our freedom and welcomeness is what keeps us safer, and any weak-minded temptations to engage in repression of any group out of fear is the only thing that can put us at greater risk.
2
Here is the best description of the enemy that I could find online in a short period of time. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wan...
While U.S. foreign policy most likely contributed and still does to the rise of Islamic terrorism, understanding the enemy's motivation would be more to the point of helping defeat them. Cultural outreach and attempts to democratize nations is not going to matter one whit. Of a group who view their role as bringing on the apocalypse, we should be very frightened indeed.
While U.S. foreign policy most likely contributed and still does to the rise of Islamic terrorism, understanding the enemy's motivation would be more to the point of helping defeat them. Cultural outreach and attempts to democratize nations is not going to matter one whit. Of a group who view their role as bringing on the apocalypse, we should be very frightened indeed.
1
In Minneapolis we have had approximately a dozen young, Muslim, men go to the Middle East to join the Islamic State. I would not be surprised if some decide to stay here instead, and commit terrorist acts. Hopefully, I am wrong.
2
The comments are surprising. Yes, we have thousands of people killed each year by their neighbors using weapons of choice, but usually they are not ideologically driven: many times it is some snotty kid who wouldn't know a jihadist from a gamer.
1
Not only can an attack happen here ( it already has on more than one occasion) but it most certainly will.
The only question is when and where.
It only takes one determined soul who is willing to die for the cause of Islam and the vision of Daesh ( ISIS).
The US is a very big country with countless unprotected public targets.
It is like shooting fish in a barrel.
Daesh has already announced their plans to attack America following Paris. If anyone brushes this off as propaganda then they may have to reconsider when America is attacked. Daesh said they would attack Washington but this is only one of thousands of possible targets.
If you believe that our intelligence and police community knows what is going on locally, think again.
Consider that the French authorities had stopped Salah Abdeslam, one of the attackers, near the Belgian border, after he fled the attack. They examined his ID and let him go.
Another such attacker, local, had been on their terrorist watch list for 5 years.
They consistently messed up.
And don't for one second believe that such bungling and incompetence is limited to the French.
The only question is when and where.
It only takes one determined soul who is willing to die for the cause of Islam and the vision of Daesh ( ISIS).
The US is a very big country with countless unprotected public targets.
It is like shooting fish in a barrel.
Daesh has already announced their plans to attack America following Paris. If anyone brushes this off as propaganda then they may have to reconsider when America is attacked. Daesh said they would attack Washington but this is only one of thousands of possible targets.
If you believe that our intelligence and police community knows what is going on locally, think again.
Consider that the French authorities had stopped Salah Abdeslam, one of the attackers, near the Belgian border, after he fled the attack. They examined his ID and let him go.
Another such attacker, local, had been on their terrorist watch list for 5 years.
They consistently messed up.
And don't for one second believe that such bungling and incompetence is limited to the French.
3
Yes, the US is maybe marginally safer from Muslim extremists than Europe. For now. Other than that this article is based on wishful and delusional thinking.
My son in college just called me to tell me that a dozen assault rifles were stolen from a Worcester armory. He is frightened. Rightfully.
We have a zillion soft points. Not only do we have home grown terrorists and home grown nut cases, we have plenty of potential Islamist extremists. We've had Islamic terrorist attacks already. Motive, means and plenty of opportunity.
If we change nothing, it's only a matter of time.
My son in college just called me to tell me that a dozen assault rifles were stolen from a Worcester armory. He is frightened. Rightfully.
We have a zillion soft points. Not only do we have home grown terrorists and home grown nut cases, we have plenty of potential Islamist extremists. We've had Islamic terrorist attacks already. Motive, means and plenty of opportunity.
If we change nothing, it's only a matter of time.
31
I've read so much inanity in the NYT over the years, but this time it's over the top.
"Could Paris happen here?" Does the sun rise in the (Mid) East?
"Could Paris happen here?" Does the sun rise in the (Mid) East?
7
Sandy Hook.
1
Did the NY Times seriously publish this? We already have mass shootings. They aren't coordinated, but we have a lot of them.
8
Could Paris happen here?
Where have you been Mr. Simon and Benjamin?
It already has - 9/11, Fort Hood and the Boston Marathon.
Sadly, we should not lull ourselves into a false sense of security that it won't happen here again.
Where have you been Mr. Simon and Benjamin?
It already has - 9/11, Fort Hood and the Boston Marathon.
Sadly, we should not lull ourselves into a false sense of security that it won't happen here again.
7
To answer the headline's question.... YES, Paris could happen here. Obama is simultaneously hamstringing law enforcement agencies within the country while bringing in potential terrorists (aka - supposed refugees) and allowing other criminals to freely cross our borders.
10
Of course it could happen here. Thanks to the NRA and Congress we don't even bar people on terrorist watch lists from being able to buy guns.
45
Of course it can. Terror attacks can happen anywhere.
2
Can't even take time to read the article....later.. Of course it can happen here. i live in Boston...it did happen here. Terrorists do not have to breech the border..there are plenty of disenchanted and/or unstable young men happy to oblige. We have to do a better job with our society in treating mental illness and middle east policies. We have to watch our homegrown, I mean we have shootings every day! That is terrorism too.
Really? How naive can you be? This kind of terrorism can happen anywhere. We have a lot easier access to guns. We have a generation of kids desensitized to violence and prone to radicalization for many reasons. Please don't kid yourself and try to soothe us with this pablum.
2
Of course it can happen here. We already have massacres on a regular basis that are not even politically motivated. "Well, it is Monday so I think that I will shoot up a school." Terrorists won't even have to ship in weapons to the U.S.A., just buy them here. And, it will be just like Paris, home grown, U.S. citizens doing the killing. Remember Nidal Hasan who killed and wounded so many of his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, TX. He is a U.S. citizen. Likewise, iIt wasn't even necessary in Paris to import terrorists. There were French citizens ready to do the killing. Remember the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995? What were those foreign terrorists names, McVeigh, Nichols? Foreign only in the sense that their anger and logic was foreign to most sane people. The real wonder is that "Paris" did not happen here first because the ingredients are so readily at hand, guns and nuts.
5
Before Paris I might have agreed with this article. But the disturbing news coming out of the Paris investigations is how much the perpetrators of the of the tragedy relied on a level of online communications called " dark" – The deep web.
This unnerving news, the fact that our normal monitoring capabilities are no longer able to detect imminent attacks, is very disturbing. Thus I would not be so sanguine about the probability of terrorism inside our borders. That said, of course I know we have a much better anti-terror apparatus in place then Europe.
The most dangerous thing America can do is let down its guard. Complacency is simply an open invitation for evil to seize the opportunity and strike anywhere, even here.
This unnerving news, the fact that our normal monitoring capabilities are no longer able to detect imminent attacks, is very disturbing. Thus I would not be so sanguine about the probability of terrorism inside our borders. That said, of course I know we have a much better anti-terror apparatus in place then Europe.
The most dangerous thing America can do is let down its guard. Complacency is simply an open invitation for evil to seize the opportunity and strike anywhere, even here.
4
As long as we continue to see our defense and protection as supersonic titanium jet airplanes, aircraft carriers and other types of hardware we will continue to be vulnerable to attacks by terrorists of whatever religious or political stripe. What is needed is on the ground old fashioned espionage. Spies that can tell us what ISIS is planning to do rather than more satellites that only tell us what they did.
Several of the Sept. 11 terrorists were living in Florida and enjoying their flying lessons, although they didn't seem much interested in learning how to land.
And we have had plenty of low-level, "disenchanted" young men who have turned around and murdered our policemen and soldiers.
Of course, our gun laws allow those on terrorist watch lists to purchase firearms and ammo. I guess that's so we don't prevent white-supremacist sociopaths from getting hold of what they need.
When incidents do happen, too, our cops aren't going to wait around for orders while a hundred of us are being murdered one by one. They're trained to act, and I am glad.
Maybe some people think that our police officers aren't friendly enough, but it's their business to keep us safe, not cozy.
And we have had plenty of low-level, "disenchanted" young men who have turned around and murdered our policemen and soldiers.
Of course, our gun laws allow those on terrorist watch lists to purchase firearms and ammo. I guess that's so we don't prevent white-supremacist sociopaths from getting hold of what they need.
When incidents do happen, too, our cops aren't going to wait around for orders while a hundred of us are being murdered one by one. They're trained to act, and I am glad.
Maybe some people think that our police officers aren't friendly enough, but it's their business to keep us safe, not cozy.
2
It is not safer here in the United States than it was in Paris on Friday the Thirteenth 2015. We may not have suicidal Muslim Jihadists blowing themselves up and slaughtering innocents, but remember the horrific toll of life taken by gun-bearing Americans, racists and zealots who shoot children, teachers, crowds in front of a market, in a movie theatre, in a prayer-meeting in a church,and wherever their anger leads them to kill. Europe may be disadvantaged by geography, but America is disadvantaged by lack of gun control, the hegemony of the NRA, and the easy and inexpensive availability of weapons sold to demented young men. Paris has already happened here. That such Americans as Newt Gingrich, Ann Coulter and their ilk have the hubris to tweet that if the Parisians were armed as Americans are (thanks to the Second Amendment and the gun lobby and NRA), the terrorists would have been shot and killed. They remind us of the poison and terrorism afoot among us, just different from the Muslim Jihadis' zealotry and madness in France.
3
At every step in this article I kept asking myself "are these guys for real?" and "what am I missing?" We will, I am convinced, have another devastating attack in this country. It's merely a matter of time. The statistics they quote are irrevelent. It just takes a few demented individuals with ready access to automatic weapons ( and we, obviously, have both) to perpetrate this madness right here at home. It's dispiriting to accept that inevitability.
2
A very absurd question. The Oklahoma Murrah building bombing, World Trade Center twin towers and endless mass murders. Congress and the Supreme Court inexcusably allow and encourage assault rifles, hundred round magazines, and an endless supply of weapons sufficient to wage a domestic war! The number of violent gun related deaths of innocent people each year in this country exceeds the body count in most war zones in the world today.
1
The US also doesn't have internal controls on the movement of the people.
People who have entered our country illegally disappear everyday in our nations and the Government either can't find them or is lying and has no wish to find them.
Reports have been coming out for years about Korans and papers in middle eastern languages being found along our southern border.
Sounds to me like these reporters are engaging in wishful thinking
People who have entered our country illegally disappear everyday in our nations and the Government either can't find them or is lying and has no wish to find them.
Reports have been coming out for years about Korans and papers in middle eastern languages being found along our southern border.
Sounds to me like these reporters are engaging in wishful thinking
4
With a naive president in charge yes.
4
While we may not be as vulnerable to well planned coordinated attacks with sophisticated weapons, we are vulnerable to "lone wolf" attacks. An individual can wreak havoc with a car as we have recently witnessed or a pressure cooker as the Tsarnaev brothers did. Politicians and their election year rhetoric will not spare us from this threat. We need to take the threat seriously and remain vigilant because it is not "will it happen" but "when it will happen".
4
I dont know whether to laugh or cry about this article. According to the authors, American people can rest assured that they are safer than their European counterparts from ISIS attacks. Well I will take the dangers in Europe any day. The US is orders of magnitude more dangerous than Europe in terms of deaths by mass shootings. Thousands of Americans are kill each other with firearms every year. What difference does it make if the bullet that kills you is fired by an ISIS bad guy or a local one? The best thing America could do for the security of its citizens is approve tighter gun control legislation and forget about attacking other countries.
4
What utter nonsense.
3
The really scary thing about this article is that these 2 writers are now 'scholars', authors but were :
" the senior director for the Middle East and North Africa at the National Security Council from 2011 to 2012 and ..... the coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department from 2009 to 2012."
As so many many commentors point out, any thinking person can see that of course the US and Canada have been and are targets for terrorism.
If ordinary people can see this, can interpret recent history correctly, can understand that it isn't Europeans of European culture that attacked Paris but Islamic terrorist agents who live to kill and destroy the civilization of the western world, it is truly frightening that these 2 writers, people who were partly responsible for securing the US from terrorism, can be so blind to and/or ignorant of the truth.
Personally I'm relieved these guys are out of government.
" the senior director for the Middle East and North Africa at the National Security Council from 2011 to 2012 and ..... the coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department from 2009 to 2012."
As so many many commentors point out, any thinking person can see that of course the US and Canada have been and are targets for terrorism.
If ordinary people can see this, can interpret recent history correctly, can understand that it isn't Europeans of European culture that attacked Paris but Islamic terrorist agents who live to kill and destroy the civilization of the western world, it is truly frightening that these 2 writers, people who were partly responsible for securing the US from terrorism, can be so blind to and/or ignorant of the truth.
Personally I'm relieved these guys are out of government.
6
"it helps that America’s two immediate neighbors, Mexico and Canada, have extremely cooperative security authorities, which prevents would-be terrorists from slipping across our land borders." Really?
Every junior drug smuggler has managed to get his "product" from across the border. The tens of thousands of people illegally entering the US each year do not use Customs and Immigration checkpoints to enter. The evade the legal access points and still manage to get in. In the tens of thousands.
Another point - when testers attempted to get material through TSA - they did so successfully 97% of the time. That is because although the TSA *spends* lots of money - it also *wastes* lots of money.
We've been vigilant - but we've also been lucky.
Every junior drug smuggler has managed to get his "product" from across the border. The tens of thousands of people illegally entering the US each year do not use Customs and Immigration checkpoints to enter. The evade the legal access points and still manage to get in. In the tens of thousands.
Another point - when testers attempted to get material through TSA - they did so successfully 97% of the time. That is because although the TSA *spends* lots of money - it also *wastes* lots of money.
We've been vigilant - but we've also been lucky.
1
Not "if" but "when" and "where."
5
Of course, Paris could happen here.
What a load of drivel to think that it won't.
What a load of drivel to think that it won't.
5
When I was young, I could - and often did - just hop in my car and drive. I carried a little bit of cash, often left my driver's license at home for day trips. Now and then, I'd take off for a few days, drive into Canada, aimlessly going wherever I felt like going. Now, not just because I'm older, I always carry identification; I can no longer feel as free and easy as before. Our borders are hemmed in; we've made a prison of our country in the interests of keeping others out, we keep ourselves in. I can see that either we will take freedom from ourselves in the name of security, false security; or it will be taken from us by those who resent us. I postulate that it's fruitless to try to maintain the status quo, and it's crazy to think we are entitled to all we have just because we have it. Let's spend less money on security, and more money on families and health, and helping the world, so maybe they don't hate us quite so much as they do.
32
I don't understand how European citizens can be happy to massacre their compatriots? And how it can be the solid reason for the slaughter in France?
Secure? In this year's undercover team testing TSA screeners they were able
to get explosives and weapons past them 67 out of 70 tests conducted across the nation. You'd think in Homeland Security's $650 billion dollar budget they could put a few dollars toward "smart" agents like El Al started way before 9/11.
to get explosives and weapons past them 67 out of 70 tests conducted across the nation. You'd think in Homeland Security's $650 billion dollar budget they could put a few dollars toward "smart" agents like El Al started way before 9/11.
1
Could Paris happen here? The slaughter of their fellow citizens by Muslim jihadists?
It’s very possible given that there were only seven or eight perpetrators and in the killing of four American marines in Kentucky earlier this year, only one Muslim gunman was involved. Easy access to pro-jihadist propaganda is not that difficult either, wherever one lives.
One factor that may diminish the risk is the lower percentage of Muslims living in the US. France has a Muslim population of 4.7 million; 7.5% of the total population and their presence is deep rooted, starting when France wound down its colonial activities half a century ago. The percentage of Muslims living in the US is also smaller, although as Pew Research notes, “immigration will cause the population of U.S. Muslims to more than double over the next two decades—from 2.6 million in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2030.”
Another factor is the relative absence of no go areas in the US. Melenkoort in Belgium (across the border from France) is a Muslim enclave that was apparently treated as a no go area by the Belgian authorities. Certainly it has been found to have played a huge role in the Paris bombings.
It’s very possible given that there were only seven or eight perpetrators and in the killing of four American marines in Kentucky earlier this year, only one Muslim gunman was involved. Easy access to pro-jihadist propaganda is not that difficult either, wherever one lives.
One factor that may diminish the risk is the lower percentage of Muslims living in the US. France has a Muslim population of 4.7 million; 7.5% of the total population and their presence is deep rooted, starting when France wound down its colonial activities half a century ago. The percentage of Muslims living in the US is also smaller, although as Pew Research notes, “immigration will cause the population of U.S. Muslims to more than double over the next two decades—from 2.6 million in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2030.”
Another factor is the relative absence of no go areas in the US. Melenkoort in Belgium (across the border from France) is a Muslim enclave that was apparently treated as a no go area by the Belgian authorities. Certainly it has been found to have played a huge role in the Paris bombings.
But how can this be done "non-Islamophobically?!"
1
I would like the authors to address the near unanimous concerns raised in the comments section of this article.
3
I am troubled that I find myself sounding as if I am in agreement with the NRA on this point, but as anyone who has gone out on a Friday night in Dallas knows, all those women you see carrying handbags with heavy bulges when heading out on a Friday night out have not taken along their favorite hard-cover novels. There is enough weaponry disbursed among concert-goers and diners to make for vigorous counter-fire. And that raises a completely different set of potential problems.
We should put up signs reading "Terrorist Free Zone" like the "Gun Free Zone" signs. That will work.
2
Could?
No, the question isn't "could" an attack happen.
The question is "where" and "when."
No, the question isn't "could" an attack happen.
The question is "where" and "when."
1
Less likely, but still probable.
The 185,000 refugees that Obama has committed to accepting through 2017 will greatly increase the chances of an attack on the homeland, don't you think?
3
This article seems to be written to soothe those who cannot fathom that their lives will be -- or should be -- challenged by the hard realities of a world in disruption. I would like to believe the words in this article but simply can't find the naïveté to do so.
22
I we are to believe that Daesh, as outlined in an article in the Atlantic, is establishing its caliphate in order to return Islam to a six century ideal, and wants to engage the globe in a war to vanquish all but the pure, then yes, we can expect more terror, some of it here in the US.
The attacks in Paris have been described as sophisticated, but they are really not. Eight guys with weapons. Getting foreigners into the country, training them to fly planes, training them to hijack the planes and pulling off four simultaneous attacks was sophisticated. Paris, not so much. It was barbaric, brutal, criminal, heartless, evil - but not sophisticated.
So I would conclude that the US should be on alert. If Daesh wants war, then they will attack if we intervene. And they will attack if we don't. They really only need eight guys with guns, something that is not all than hard to do here in the US.
The attacks in Paris have been described as sophisticated, but they are really not. Eight guys with weapons. Getting foreigners into the country, training them to fly planes, training them to hijack the planes and pulling off four simultaneous attacks was sophisticated. Paris, not so much. It was barbaric, brutal, criminal, heartless, evil - but not sophisticated.
So I would conclude that the US should be on alert. If Daesh wants war, then they will attack if we intervene. And they will attack if we don't. They really only need eight guys with guns, something that is not all than hard to do here in the US.
2
Could Paris Happen here? Most definitely yes, but the actors would probably not be the nihilistic, psychopathic, followers of radical Islam.
As the author states, this country is awash in guns.
There are plenty of radicals here all ready, the radical right, that is. They just are labelled neo-confederates, followers of posse comitatus, ad nauseum. They have already staged "lone-wolf" attacks on government buildings, police stations (and the police themselves) and, of course, churches and have been doing so for years.
How long before these groups decide to emulate ISIS in Paris?
As the author states, this country is awash in guns.
There are plenty of radicals here all ready, the radical right, that is. They just are labelled neo-confederates, followers of posse comitatus, ad nauseum. They have already staged "lone-wolf" attacks on government buildings, police stations (and the police themselves) and, of course, churches and have been doing so for years.
How long before these groups decide to emulate ISIS in Paris?
1
People are truly delusional if they think it won't happen here. It will happen when we least expect it - at a college football game, in a shopping mall, at a restaurant on a Saturday afternoon, just as it happened in Paris. These people hate us and they will gladly die for their cause. If you aren't nervous, you should be.
2
While this piece presents interesting and important points, it does so in an almost too-balanced manner. And the title is actually offensive.
An article like this really smokes out low-information folks --
the ones who have posted comments deriding it as
"irresponsible," "nonsense," etc. C'mon, you guys/gals. The
article was about probabilities, not possibilities. It was about
the threat from Islamic radicals, not homegrown psychotics.
I agree, though, the phrase "European citizens happy to massacre
their compatriots" needs some clarification.
the ones who have posted comments deriding it as
"irresponsible," "nonsense," etc. C'mon, you guys/gals. The
article was about probabilities, not possibilities. It was about
the threat from Islamic radicals, not homegrown psychotics.
I agree, though, the phrase "European citizens happy to massacre
their compatriots" needs some clarification.
1
I am more than willing to chance being killed by an act of terrorism from unknown, radicalized extremists. I am NOT willing to become a victim of my government's paranoia and willingness to record every phone call, email, blog, tweet and every aspect of personal and virtual life in order assuage the misplaced fears of others. I hope we can resist the urge to become even more of a police state, as the terrorists win. There are those who would gladly sacrifice the liberties and opportunities to live a civic life we have won for ourselves here in order to FEEL safe from these 'others'. Turning American's into a caged, microscopically surveilled populace of sheep may make some of us feel 'safer' but it would be a capitulation and repudiation of western thought and civil rights that are the bedrock of our democracy. We cannot fight barbarism by becoming less human. The apt response to tyranny is MORE life, love and joy, for this is the extremists truly hate.
1
The biggest threat to the US is our own homegrown terrorist, and always has been. Yes, one foreign attack did take place, but that is nothing compared to what we as US citizens have done to our own.
This piece misses something very important: yes, Paris _could_ easily happen here, but not at the hands of Muslim extremists.
Ask any police department in the US, especially in the Bible Belt regions, and you'll find their biggest terrorist threat is from meth-addled, right-wing-extremist fundamentalist Christians. The Timothy McVeighs of our world. The people who bomb Black churches, and Jewish synagogues.
We have plenty of sources of terrorism, right here at home; we don't need to worry about Syrians or Mexicans or Canadians crossing our borders.
Cracking down on that terrorism should, yes, be a very high priority.
We should also crack down on politicians, which includes most of the GOP, who encourage such terrorism in our country. They are, essentially, accomplices to this terrorism. Some of them are even running for President.
Ask any police department in the US, especially in the Bible Belt regions, and you'll find their biggest terrorist threat is from meth-addled, right-wing-extremist fundamentalist Christians. The Timothy McVeighs of our world. The people who bomb Black churches, and Jewish synagogues.
We have plenty of sources of terrorism, right here at home; we don't need to worry about Syrians or Mexicans or Canadians crossing our borders.
Cracking down on that terrorism should, yes, be a very high priority.
We should also crack down on politicians, which includes most of the GOP, who encourage such terrorism in our country. They are, essentially, accomplices to this terrorism. Some of them are even running for President.
"And it helps that America’s two immediate neighbors, Mexico and Canada, have extremely cooperative security authorities, which prevents would-be terrorists from slipping across our land borders."
Just think how many illegals we would have here if it weren't for strong border security brought about by our neighbors to the north and south. It's so heartening to know that terrorists are prevented from slipping across our borders and that only peace-loving friendly folks are allowed to walk across the borders at-will 24 hours a day.
Just think how many illegals we would have here if it weren't for strong border security brought about by our neighbors to the north and south. It's so heartening to know that terrorists are prevented from slipping across our borders and that only peace-loving friendly folks are allowed to walk across the borders at-will 24 hours a day.
1
The authors are delusional to think the US is safer than Europe and not likely to be attacked. In fact the US is the "Great Satan"and is considered to be the ultimate target of radical Muslim terrorists. Numerous attempts have luckily been thwarted, including those convicted for the NYC subway plot, the nearly successful Times Square bombing, and the ill fated shoe bomber.
The authors claim our borders are more secure than Europe but apparently have never visited the Mexican border which is quite pourous. They also forgot about the terror plot which was thwarted in the Northwest where the terrorists came in through Canada. There are plenty of ISIS sympethizers already in this Country along with well known Muslim training camps; the closest to NYC being outside Hancock, NY.
It's unwise to think that the US is not a major target of Islamic terrorists and we should remain extremely vigilant
The authors claim our borders are more secure than Europe but apparently have never visited the Mexican border which is quite pourous. They also forgot about the terror plot which was thwarted in the Northwest where the terrorists came in through Canada. There are plenty of ISIS sympethizers already in this Country along with well known Muslim training camps; the closest to NYC being outside Hancock, NY.
It's unwise to think that the US is not a major target of Islamic terrorists and we should remain extremely vigilant
2
With massive lines at airport "security" checkpoints as well as at stadium "security" checkpoints, we have set it up to happen here. All it takes is some quiet planning on the part of a handful of people. Five people wearing suicide vests/belts appear at five different airport checkpoint lines over the holidays and blow themselves up.
The perpetrators in the Paris attacks were smart and QUIET on the internet either not using it at all or communicating through encrypted media.
The "plots" the FBI claims to have derailed were either entrapment of gullible individuals or groups of just plain stupid people.
We will see it here and our government will be proven to have been a contributor.
The perpetrators in the Paris attacks were smart and QUIET on the internet either not using it at all or communicating through encrypted media.
The "plots" the FBI claims to have derailed were either entrapment of gullible individuals or groups of just plain stupid people.
We will see it here and our government will be proven to have been a contributor.
1
This is an absolute absurdity.
6
How could you leave the newly arriving Syrian refugees out of the discussion. Didn't fit the thesis?
15
Of course it can happen here. And it will happen here.
We have imported millions of Muslims since 9/11. We have 30 million illegals since the 1990s, mostly from our porous southern border. 40% of the illegals have overstayed their visas...and we don't deport them.
Muslim truckers have increased exponentially for the past 7 years. Muslim truckers who can transport weapons and explosives quite easily across state lines. Suicide bombers and bodies can easily be smuggled too.
Thank God, however, we have the 2nd Amendment. That is the difference maker.
We have imported millions of Muslims since 9/11. We have 30 million illegals since the 1990s, mostly from our porous southern border. 40% of the illegals have overstayed their visas...and we don't deport them.
Muslim truckers have increased exponentially for the past 7 years. Muslim truckers who can transport weapons and explosives quite easily across state lines. Suicide bombers and bodies can easily be smuggled too.
Thank God, however, we have the 2nd Amendment. That is the difference maker.
1
Steven Simon and Daniel Benjamin write, "such anxiety is unwarranted." They could not be more wrong. The truth is that "Paris" happens here on a nearly daily basis, in the form of school shootings, movie theater shootings, violent incidents at military bases, and the frequent murder of black Americans by the agents of the state. Simon and Benjamin would probably object, "But that's not FOREIGN terrorism." It is still Americans dying in violent ways at unpredictable times and places. For myself, I care more about their lives than about who is taking them. It is time for our leaders to get real about guns, about mental health care, and about the real terror that stalks our streets. Daesh does not need to do it to us. We are doing it to ourselves.
Steven and Daniel,
Let me remind you. It happened here first.
And our borders are secure? Check the number of people, children yet, that penetrate our southern border every year.
And our northern border is just as easy to penetrate.
Can it happen here? Of course it can. It's just a matter of time. However there other things to be more afraid of.
Our gun laws, or lack of for example.
Our poor eating habits and lack of exercise.
Need I go on?
Death happens
Let me remind you. It happened here first.
And our borders are secure? Check the number of people, children yet, that penetrate our southern border every year.
And our northern border is just as easy to penetrate.
Can it happen here? Of course it can. It's just a matter of time. However there other things to be more afraid of.
Our gun laws, or lack of for example.
Our poor eating habits and lack of exercise.
Need I go on?
Death happens
Could Paris happen here?
Is this satire? Far worse has already happened. Here in NYC.
Mrs Clinton stated quite clearly during the debate that Mr Obama's plan to immigrate Syrians within the US is insufficient to meet the need. Whose need? Certainly not the need for Americans to be safe in their homes and places of employment. Could Paris happen here? How hopelessly naive.
Is this satire? Far worse has already happened. Here in NYC.
Mrs Clinton stated quite clearly during the debate that Mr Obama's plan to immigrate Syrians within the US is insufficient to meet the need. Whose need? Certainly not the need for Americans to be safe in their homes and places of employment. Could Paris happen here? How hopelessly naive.
The United States can't do it alone nor can NATO. The fight against terrorism need help from Asia, Africa and Europe.
To call for us to go it alone is irresponsible, Republicans in the US Conservatives in Israel, Russia, Turkey are part of the problem and they are only making it worse.
To call for us to go it alone is irresponsible, Republicans in the US Conservatives in Israel, Russia, Turkey are part of the problem and they are only making it worse.
This op-ed reads like a middle school essay to justify the proposition that Paris attacks are not likely to happen here. Beyond all the simplistic unsupported declarative statements-conclusions of the article, it seems pretty plain that: our borders are basically wide open; and that if a mass shooter can get weapons and enter a school, movie theater, or other crowded public place to do carnage, so can a terrorist, foreign or domestic. It's obvious to anyone who remembers the WTC bombing and 9/11, Boston Marathon, shoe bomber, Timothy McVeigh or any of the mass shootings, that this article is complete and utter bunk. (The authors' bios are very short on experience, by the way.)
2
The authors' thesis is full of holes. On their 4 points: 1) Easy access--once inside the US, anyone can go anywhere. 2) Americans have been making a ghastly game of who can massacre the most innocents before committing suicide. Yes, only 2 incidents have been by Muslims, but the weekly school shootings show the opportunity is there. 3) The Newtown shooter used an AR-15 "Bushmaster", as easy as going to your local hunting and fishing store. There's no need for a "Jihadist" infrastructure. Our lack of intelligent gun control sees to that. 4) Only in the security structure is the US in better shape than Europe, but the porosity of the Mexican border, while a major political point, does provide an option for a determined ISIS to get people here.
While it's true that our American Muslim community is far more integrated and welcome in the US, and the rate of radicalization of young Muslims seems to be far less than the rate of radicalization of non-Muslim "beta males" to become mall and school terrorists, those killers have shown there is a path to terror in the US.
Panicking, some Americans are over-reacting. The Governors of Michigan and Alabama have said they won't allow Syrian refugees because ONE of the Paris killers slipped into Europe with the hundreds of thousands of people legitimately fleeing the medieval civil war there. Of course, this is EXACTLY what ISIS wants.
While it's true that our American Muslim community is far more integrated and welcome in the US, and the rate of radicalization of young Muslims seems to be far less than the rate of radicalization of non-Muslim "beta males" to become mall and school terrorists, those killers have shown there is a path to terror in the US.
Panicking, some Americans are over-reacting. The Governors of Michigan and Alabama have said they won't allow Syrian refugees because ONE of the Paris killers slipped into Europe with the hundreds of thousands of people legitimately fleeing the medieval civil war there. Of course, this is EXACTLY what ISIS wants.
1
Could Paris Happen Here is a stupid question. More than 10 times the number of people died in 9-11 than in Paris.
Unless we want to stop gathering together to eat, go to the theatre, or watch sporting events, delusional people with guns or bombs have an opportunity to kill a bunch of us.
Here in the U.S., our problem is that we both allow easy access to automatic weapons and spend far too little resources on mental illness.
The real question is what should we do about ISIL and what the international community needs to do about regimes and ideologies that breed terrorism.
Unless we want to stop gathering together to eat, go to the theatre, or watch sporting events, delusional people with guns or bombs have an opportunity to kill a bunch of us.
Here in the U.S., our problem is that we both allow easy access to automatic weapons and spend far too little resources on mental illness.
The real question is what should we do about ISIL and what the international community needs to do about regimes and ideologies that breed terrorism.
1
Let's assume you had a group of like minded friends that were all willing to kill people and die for a 'cause.' Could you - over the course of two years say - plan an undetected attack in which scores of people are killed? Even if you never were trained in military tactics?
Sadly, most people would answer in the affirmative.
Access to high powered guns: check .
Public spaces filled with people: check.
Methods of encrypted communication: check.
The only thing missing, I hope, is the people here willing to do this right now. If radicalized fanatics are willing to die, it is very difficult to completely prevent.
Sadly, most people would answer in the affirmative.
Access to high powered guns: check .
Public spaces filled with people: check.
Methods of encrypted communication: check.
The only thing missing, I hope, is the people here willing to do this right now. If radicalized fanatics are willing to die, it is very difficult to completely prevent.
Those hapless Europeans. We are very superior. The authors should stick to teaching.
3
I am incredulous, first that anyone would write this drivel and second, that the Times would publish it. These theorists will likely be proven wrong sooner or later and what would we have learned from these two academes?
2
Please do not associate this with Donald Trump's nonsensical positions, but we do have this long, poorly controlled border with Mexico, through which drug smugglers enter all too frequently. This ISIS attack highlights again the obvious need to control our southern border. Not to build walls, not to deport good, hard-working albeit illegal residents, but the need for super electronic surveillance and a stronger Border Patrol, beefed up with military assistance is all too obvious. Let's not find ourselves grieving over this and asking ourselves why we didn't invest more now, before it proves itself to be the real terrorism/security threat that it is.
And while we're at it, how about a trade boycott with whatever country that is ruled by bestial Sharia law? We put pressure on South Africa for their institutional racism and helped them face the inevitable need to change during apartheid. We should not trade (buy crude oil from) countries that debase women and brutalize their people, regardless of their "religulous" justifications.
And while we're at it, how about a trade boycott with whatever country that is ruled by bestial Sharia law? We put pressure on South Africa for their institutional racism and helped them face the inevitable need to change during apartheid. We should not trade (buy crude oil from) countries that debase women and brutalize their people, regardless of their "religulous" justifications.
23
Another major difference is that American leadership didn't willingly open the flood gates for the barbarians as our treasonous leader has done and even now vows to continue doing, against all reason and the will of the people. Merkel just brazenly claims that borders cannot be enforced anyway, which is ludicrous.
European muslims are much less integrated because they never felt any pressure to integrate. They were left to build their parallel societies out of misplaced respect for their culture and, in Germany, the inferiority complex of the natives. Europe looks more and more like a hollowed-out husk ready for the storm. We have nothing to counter the fervent determination of the Islamic State.
European muslims are much less integrated because they never felt any pressure to integrate. They were left to build their parallel societies out of misplaced respect for their culture and, in Germany, the inferiority complex of the natives. Europe looks more and more like a hollowed-out husk ready for the storm. We have nothing to counter the fervent determination of the Islamic State.
1
Every day in America, about 88 persons die as the result of gunfire so a "Paris" worth of people every day-and-a-half. On average, every day we have a mass shooting.
It already happens here but it's just good old home grown, gun manufacturer-profiting violence rather than Islamic terrorism so it doesn't rate much news coverage. But it's far more deadly.
It already happens here but it's just good old home grown, gun manufacturer-profiting violence rather than Islamic terrorism so it doesn't rate much news coverage. But it's far more deadly.
2
USA PREPARED, better than its European counterparts, in some cases. While we must remain vigilant, we must also look at ourselves as a society. Dangerous, as well as frightening, is the easy access to military arms in the US. Obama would do very well in his role as the US Commander in Chief to proclaim a heightened level of alert and use whatever executive orders are required to increase gun safety.
Put plainly, our security may well depend on whether there are strong sanctions against fake purchases, where the purchaser buys significant quantities of weapons and ammunition with the objective of selling it to criminal groups that may be planning terrorist attacks.
75% of NRA members support increasing gun safety. So the country will have to put the 25% of NRA members who disrupt gun safety, for reasons of national security. The 25% may disagree with government security strategies. They have the same right as any other citizens to stand for office. The test of their acceptance will be in elections won. Very few I think.
PS I hope Ann Coulter has her open carry permit. Since she's hosing down her audience, she needs to open carry her huge water pistols and fire hoses.
Put plainly, our security may well depend on whether there are strong sanctions against fake purchases, where the purchaser buys significant quantities of weapons and ammunition with the objective of selling it to criminal groups that may be planning terrorist attacks.
75% of NRA members support increasing gun safety. So the country will have to put the 25% of NRA members who disrupt gun safety, for reasons of national security. The 25% may disagree with government security strategies. They have the same right as any other citizens to stand for office. The test of their acceptance will be in elections won. Very few I think.
PS I hope Ann Coulter has her open carry permit. Since she's hosing down her audience, she needs to open carry her huge water pistols and fire hoses.
Seems these folks in Hanover, New Hampshire, feel relatively secure in their comfortable, little rural cocoon. But, really, what a lot of happy talk hogwash to suggest that something as hostile - or far worse - as Paris has relatively little chance of occurring in the United States. Hard for a reasonable man to fathom such innocence.
Ingredients for a terrorist attack in the US by anyone in the world.
Easy access to weapons in the United States.
Check
Easy illegal access to United States
Check
Easy access to weapons in the United States.
Check
Easy illegal access to United States
Check
1
You realize, is assume, that you are insane?
We have thousands of aliens pouring across our borders and you believe that it would be impossible for eight of them to be terrorists?
Two deranged teeny boppers killed 15 students in Columbine.
Image what eight trained gunmen with an assortment of over the counter weapons could have done in the same school.
In one local high school with two stairways leading to the second floor classrooms, a couple of shooters guarding those stairs to prevent escape would leave six gunmen free to wipe out twenty classrooms, one by one.
That's obvious to me and I am not a professional killer.
Yes, Paris could happen here tomorrow.
And worse.
We have thousands of aliens pouring across our borders and you believe that it would be impossible for eight of them to be terrorists?
Two deranged teeny boppers killed 15 students in Columbine.
Image what eight trained gunmen with an assortment of over the counter weapons could have done in the same school.
In one local high school with two stairways leading to the second floor classrooms, a couple of shooters guarding those stairs to prevent escape would leave six gunmen free to wipe out twenty classrooms, one by one.
That's obvious to me and I am not a professional killer.
Yes, Paris could happen here tomorrow.
And worse.
3
Of course it could happen here. It happens here all the time! Do you remember Charleston? Have your forgotten Sandy Hook? What about the shootings at the movie theater in Colorado a couple of years back. Good grief, do you really thing it matters to the dead people whether they were shot by crazy Islamist or crazy racists or just plan crazy folk?
3
What is this piece? An advertisement for putting more guns in the hands of citizens? "Many of the guns are from government stocks in places like Libya and Syria, which has changed the equation in formerly gun-free Europe."
Geography is the single most important reason that America has been relatively safe.
Armed terrorists are very unlikely to cross the Atlantic on a commercial flight or an ocean liner!
That's why Homeland Security is such an overblown, over-rated exercise. They should be protecting Americans from fellow-Americans -- who are themselves armed and dangerous.
Armed terrorists are very unlikely to cross the Atlantic on a commercial flight or an ocean liner!
That's why Homeland Security is such an overblown, over-rated exercise. They should be protecting Americans from fellow-Americans -- who are themselves armed and dangerous.
From a friend returning on a humanitarian mission, American embassies are on high alert. This is the way it should be until further notice. Our young ones not to wander the streets in our capital city states across the borders and for those of you who care, a little music of 'Midnight in Paris' courtesy of Woody Allen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3ExqFAO85o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3ExqFAO85o
1
Lat week 10,000 Syrian refugees arrived in New Orleans, the majority of them 21-45 year old males. 10,000. Baton down the hatches. We could be in trouble.
3
ISIS isn't going to stop until all the infidels are dead. They are and will continue to recruit Americans right under our noses and when they are ready to orchestrate their move on the US, it will happen just like it did in Paris.
2
We have our own home-grown terrorists right here. The fact that they function independently does not impede their ability to shoot up a school or a movie theater.
The Schengen agreement should be scraped right now. Europe is a Union ( U) and not a utopia ( U). There are so many bad guys out there to kill is that this border free concept is a misguided Franco German legacy.
I don't understand why a free trade zone should be without borders? The recent trade agreement between the US and the pacific is an example that the EU leaders can learn from.
Having said all these, I am not so sure about the authors that the US is safer than the EU. Integration of the US Muslims is as lousy in the US as in the EU. Again, question come time and again, there are nationals from 100 different countries in the US legally or illegally. But it is only the Muslims we are fearful of. Why???? Why are we not afraid of the Asian Indians, Indonesians, New Zealanders, Papua New Guineans but only we are fearful of the ME Muslims? The EU and the US MUST talk to the Arab world about this. Guns, fighters, drones, and intelligence are not enough. There are very serious issues that need to be addressed to prevent recurrent massacres as it happened in Paris last Friday.
Muslim scholars, Muslim priests and Muslim moderates, Muslim Scientists, Muslim intellectuals are the only people that can solve some daunting problems. Basically it is a fight between a section of Muslim population versus the rest of the humanity. If we no not understand this simple fact, we are doomed to fail.
I don't understand why a free trade zone should be without borders? The recent trade agreement between the US and the pacific is an example that the EU leaders can learn from.
Having said all these, I am not so sure about the authors that the US is safer than the EU. Integration of the US Muslims is as lousy in the US as in the EU. Again, question come time and again, there are nationals from 100 different countries in the US legally or illegally. But it is only the Muslims we are fearful of. Why???? Why are we not afraid of the Asian Indians, Indonesians, New Zealanders, Papua New Guineans but only we are fearful of the ME Muslims? The EU and the US MUST talk to the Arab world about this. Guns, fighters, drones, and intelligence are not enough. There are very serious issues that need to be addressed to prevent recurrent massacres as it happened in Paris last Friday.
Muslim scholars, Muslim priests and Muslim moderates, Muslim Scientists, Muslim intellectuals are the only people that can solve some daunting problems. Basically it is a fight between a section of Muslim population versus the rest of the humanity. If we no not understand this simple fact, we are doomed to fail.
Whistling past the graveyard. I would feel a lot better if rather than this, Polly Annish analysis, we could get to root causes. Start with eliminating the conditions that feed ISIS like the stateless mess of Syria and Iraq. It turns out that nation building is exactly what was needed in the aftermath of shock and awe in Iraq. Build nation states that have the infrastructure for protecting citizens through rule of law and problems like ISIS don't have a place to take root. Ultimately no matter how many bombing campaigns we fly or how many advisors we send, we will need to engage in nation building. We ought to get started.
It has happened here and it can again. Yes, contrary to what the author states, there are ISIS sympathizers here and they can be engaged. ISIS has been exemplary in using social media and other functions of the Internet to recruit and brainwash young, disenfranchised people in the U.S. What will prevent them from using the same methods to conduct a Paris like attack? No country is immune to these attacks, they have become something we must all be aware of.
I am, and have been, a legal alien in the US for the past 40 years. I loved how safe I used to feel everywhere here. Since 9/11, that feeling is gone. I don't know where the authors have been the past 20 years to say what they are saying. Things are never going to be the same and Paris can happen anytime and anywhere in the US, how naive can they be?
21
Some points are well taken, but we have much to be wary of from within. The Fox Facebook page, a little-censored free-for-all (they finally cleaned up the porn-images from yesterday) is a litany of blaming Obama, liberals, and hatred in general. A common thread is, "Who can tell the good apart from the bad?" We've tackled that one before with internment camps.
We can't let all sensitivities stand in the way of our response, but we can't overreact either. The astonishing thing about NYC and Boston is how people kept their cool; some joined to fight overseas, but no one gave their Muslim neighbors any reason to feel less secure. Other parts of the country will say, bring 'em on; 'can't happen in our yard, and if it does, we'll shoot 'em anyway. Well, if their guns start claiming innocent Muslim Americans, whether in Texas or Detroit, it's going to be a whole other matter.
We can't let all sensitivities stand in the way of our response, but we can't overreact either. The astonishing thing about NYC and Boston is how people kept their cool; some joined to fight overseas, but no one gave their Muslim neighbors any reason to feel less secure. Other parts of the country will say, bring 'em on; 'can't happen in our yard, and if it does, we'll shoot 'em anyway. Well, if their guns start claiming innocent Muslim Americans, whether in Texas or Detroit, it's going to be a whole other matter.
The same cartels that bring tons of drugs, and millions of people into the U.S. could easily be enlisted to bring in agents, a dirty bomb, and the means to deliver it. It's not like they have any morals
I'm only surprised it hasn't been done yet.
Perhaps Carnival Barker Trump is right about that wall.
I'm only surprised it hasn't been done yet.
Perhaps Carnival Barker Trump is right about that wall.
2
There was an Al Qaeda video a while ago on how easy it is to buy guns in the US http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/11/politics/al-qaeda-video/index.html , so the terrorist infrastructure is already in place
If by here you mean earth, our common home, it already has.
Lest God, or Allah, or the Great Spirit or whomever you call it watcheth this earth, the intelligence community watcheth but in vain.
"Could Paris Happen Here?"
9/11 was far worse than the attacks in Paris. So was the previous attempt against the World Trade Center.
Not only could it happen here, it did happen here. Twice. Rest assured that as long as Mr. Obama agonizes over the appropriate response, ISIS and other terrorist groups will continue to plot and plan against the United States.
America is not protected by two oceans. Our Northern and Southern borders are sieves. Our H-1B visa programs and others like it are also less than perfect allowing non-vetted immigrant workers to come to the U.S.
When ISIS finds the right opportunity it will strike. It will come suddenly, without warning and at great cost of life in America. ISIS is probing. America is playing defense. The JV team is practicing in Europe.
Paris will happen here. Until ISIS is totally destroyed the risk to the U.S. continues.
9/11 was far worse than the attacks in Paris. So was the previous attempt against the World Trade Center.
Not only could it happen here, it did happen here. Twice. Rest assured that as long as Mr. Obama agonizes over the appropriate response, ISIS and other terrorist groups will continue to plot and plan against the United States.
America is not protected by two oceans. Our Northern and Southern borders are sieves. Our H-1B visa programs and others like it are also less than perfect allowing non-vetted immigrant workers to come to the U.S.
When ISIS finds the right opportunity it will strike. It will come suddenly, without warning and at great cost of life in America. ISIS is probing. America is playing defense. The JV team is practicing in Europe.
Paris will happen here. Until ISIS is totally destroyed the risk to the U.S. continues.
"America’s two immediate neighbors, Mexico and Canada, have extremely cooperative security authorities, which prevents would-be terrorists from slipping across our land borders."
This is laughable. Trump's lunacy notwithstanding, if Central American children can cross as easily into the US from Mexico as they did in the summer of 2014, I can't imagine that determined terrorists would have much of a problem.
This is laughable. Trump's lunacy notwithstanding, if Central American children can cross as easily into the US from Mexico as they did in the summer of 2014, I can't imagine that determined terrorists would have much of a problem.
1
You don't think a bunch of human traffickers in Mexico will not accept payment from Islam terrorists to ferry them to the United States?
Save the high five alright.
Save the high five alright.
1
The Western world described is living in one large security prison. Travel is restricted, communications monitored. How different is it than if the Nazis or the Soviets prevailed? Al Qaeda and ISIS may not be existential threats to the United States or even any European country. This can be, however, the way to live forever.
The authors are too optimistic. Paris could happen here, and it would be no surprise. Extremists would not even have to smuggle in weapons. The friendly neighborhood gun shop has everything they need for a devastating assault. As we saw at Sandy Hook and Columbine, even a 16 year old could do a Paris in New York or almost anywhere else.
Some Americans have joined ISIS's fighters, and others have tried. What's to stop ISIS from telling the next would be recruits to conduct their jihad here? Our best defense may be loyal Muslim Americans. We have seen would-be terrorists stopped before they could act, often by sting operations that have identified individuals considering violence and testing them to see if they would carry out attacks. How are these dangerous people identified? I have no inside information, but I expect often it is an American Muslim that has alerted authorities to the potential danger. This is why I shudder every time I hear a Republican Presidential candidate or conservative news personality equate Islam with terrorism (You too Bill Maher). Being stereotyped as violent could be the spark that leads one Muslim to consider Jihad at home, and another to decide not to go to the authorities despite a suspicion that the person is dangerous. In the last Democratic debate, the candidates were pressed on why they would not speak of "Islamic terrorists." They had very good reason. So do Republicans, but one would not know it to hear them.
Some Americans have joined ISIS's fighters, and others have tried. What's to stop ISIS from telling the next would be recruits to conduct their jihad here? Our best defense may be loyal Muslim Americans. We have seen would-be terrorists stopped before they could act, often by sting operations that have identified individuals considering violence and testing them to see if they would carry out attacks. How are these dangerous people identified? I have no inside information, but I expect often it is an American Muslim that has alerted authorities to the potential danger. This is why I shudder every time I hear a Republican Presidential candidate or conservative news personality equate Islam with terrorism (You too Bill Maher). Being stereotyped as violent could be the spark that leads one Muslim to consider Jihad at home, and another to decide not to go to the authorities despite a suspicion that the person is dangerous. In the last Democratic debate, the candidates were pressed on why they would not speak of "Islamic terrorists." They had very good reason. So do Republicans, but one would not know it to hear them.
The name doesn't matter today it is ISIS, yesterday Al-something, we all lived in a dream land where a charming prince would kill one aging bearded old man and our problems would come to an end. There was a mythical demon who had a boon from each drop of his blood spilled on the ground would be born a clone of another. The root cause has to get a solution and hint it is not a land dispute. Atlantic no more a barrier, internet has shrunk the world into a ping pong ball. It's not just a twisted version or interpretation of the ideology that the US president over simplifies, i wish we don't end up like this again same old statements and just perpetrator with a different brand of the same wine. someone saying boots of their lands is not a solution either. They or their weekly sympathizers are everywhere ready to invoke the demon any time without regret. the french can take the lead in calling spade a spade and dealing with it.
1
This seems to have been a retaliatory attack. A reasonable response is warranted. Such a response needs to be targeted at ISiS leaders. Generalized attacks which harm many civilians violate the rules of law. Those who recommend such attacks forget that we are not them and do not act like then.
1
"...In fact, America has spent more than $650 billion since 9/11 on homeland security, or around $47 billion a year."
Good God. Say almost $48 billion a year, which is $4 billion a month, which then brings it to approx $133,000 million a day, about $5,000 an hours, which ultimately takes it down to $1.5 thousands per second.
Could we have put some of that money for a better use? Or is this good business for all the security businesses?
Good God. Say almost $48 billion a year, which is $4 billion a month, which then brings it to approx $133,000 million a day, about $5,000 an hours, which ultimately takes it down to $1.5 thousands per second.
Could we have put some of that money for a better use? Or is this good business for all the security businesses?
1
This writer is living in Utopia. They are suicide bombers and in fact terrorists, who are willing to die for a ridiculous cause. No amount of security and technology can help if such an eventuality takes place. America is a huge country. One can find soft targets anywhere. I am not creating any panic situation here but stating the facts. One has to be cautious since Muslim world hates Americans undoubtedly.
The writer's opinion appears as if there are no illegal immigrants there, who are in fact residing there in plenty. Of course majority of whom are Christians. There certainly must be some American Muslims, who sympathise with the terrorists and who can form local support, God forbid, in case of such an attack.
America already has faced two terrorist attacks since 9/11, One in New York and the other in Boston. There was a near miss in Manhattan, New York when a car bomb failed to explode few years back.
Americans should take all precautions within the country and also outside the country whenever they tour rest of the world.
The writer's opinion appears as if there are no illegal immigrants there, who are in fact residing there in plenty. Of course majority of whom are Christians. There certainly must be some American Muslims, who sympathise with the terrorists and who can form local support, God forbid, in case of such an attack.
America already has faced two terrorist attacks since 9/11, One in New York and the other in Boston. There was a near miss in Manhattan, New York when a car bomb failed to explode few years back.
Americans should take all precautions within the country and also outside the country whenever they tour rest of the world.
Considering the number of Americans who are murdered annually in this country with firearms--we already see the horrific results of domestic terrorism. It's just the frequency of such attacks seems to make them only news worthy in a transitory sense. Plus, thanks to the NRA and their pet politicians, such murders bring a thundering silence from our Congress and statehouses.
1
It is not a matter of if but when. Seven years of our current administration's "leading from behind" , coupled with an absolute lack of understanding of the real end game of jihadists has allowed groups like ISIS to flourish world wide. The FBI last week admitted they are tracking nearly 900 ISIS cases in all 50 states here. It takes a minimum of 50 federal agents to track 1 terrorist, the FBI doesn't have the man power to track just these 900 individuals.
We are at a point in the war on global terrorism reminiscent to pre 9-11. During the 1990's Bill Clinton in order to balance the budget gutted the military and our security forces around the world. Human intel overseas was sacrificed to save money and we became reliant on satellite intel gathering.
It was during this time that Osama Bin Laden birthed his terror organization, and Clinton though knowing of the growing threat also brushed it aside as irrelevant to US security. And so, eight months after leaving office we lived through 9-11, a lasting legacy of the complete bumbling of an administration who refused to listen to the warnings of military and intelligence experts.
So, now we have a president who is speeding up the process and increasing the influx of undocumented Syrian refugees into the US. If this isn't stopped immediately we are welcoming death to our shores in an unprecedented manner. When our Paris style attack occurs in some city here, it will be a living legacy of the current President.
We are at a point in the war on global terrorism reminiscent to pre 9-11. During the 1990's Bill Clinton in order to balance the budget gutted the military and our security forces around the world. Human intel overseas was sacrificed to save money and we became reliant on satellite intel gathering.
It was during this time that Osama Bin Laden birthed his terror organization, and Clinton though knowing of the growing threat also brushed it aside as irrelevant to US security. And so, eight months after leaving office we lived through 9-11, a lasting legacy of the complete bumbling of an administration who refused to listen to the warnings of military and intelligence experts.
So, now we have a president who is speeding up the process and increasing the influx of undocumented Syrian refugees into the US. If this isn't stopped immediately we are welcoming death to our shores in an unprecedented manner. When our Paris style attack occurs in some city here, it will be a living legacy of the current President.
Surprise! Two veterans of the national security anti-terrorism establishment tell us that "The American intelligence community is the indispensable hub of global counterterrorism efforts, but the large numbers and geographic spread of the Islamic State mean that the United States must commit even more resources. " How self-serving. At the same time they assure us that disasters similar to Paris' are unlikely here because of the strength of the anti-terrorist effort here. Self-serving coming and going. Neither of them appears to have spent any time recently in Muslim areas of Brooklyn, Queens, Detroit or Minneapolis. That's where the likelihood of future problems is best assessed. The outdated opinions of former officials count for little by comparison.
1
Your headline asks a simple question. Its answer is obvious. Yes. I base this answer on our near religious insistence on a strict, conservative reading of the second amendment of the Constitution.
It is ease and cheap to get high capacity, rapid firing weapons in America. They are everywhere being bought and sold. They can easily be in the hands of bad people. We don't know who has them, because governments have little control over their sale, exchange, or registration. Our Congress could act, but it won't. That is a shame.
It is ease and cheap to get high capacity, rapid firing weapons in America. They are everywhere being bought and sold. They can easily be in the hands of bad people. We don't know who has them, because governments have little control over their sale, exchange, or registration. Our Congress could act, but it won't. That is a shame.
1
I fear that the authors of this piece of optimism are whistlig in the wind. Of course we will be hit by a dose of extremist terror. We may be just out of reach for today but our future holds little assurance that we can be 100% effective in preventing a similar attack to the one in France. In fact, the odds of avoiding such terror is indeed small.
The horror the world just witnessed is a clash of extremism and statehood, of jihadi blindness and western values. The very values we stand for are the target of these anarchy-minded zealots. Yes, we are targeted and our safety nets are strong but they are not impenetrable.
We must take the war to those who perpetrate such horror. We must form a collaborative force comprised of Arab countries foremost and world powers of Asia, Europe and America. Ignoring this obvious need only emboldens the enemy. A good defense, such as we have, cannot be perfect and by thinking that we will somehow avoid the wrath of extremism just invites an offense to occur.
It is time to go on an orchestrated offensive and take the battle and consequences to those who seek to bring terror to our shores.
The horror the world just witnessed is a clash of extremism and statehood, of jihadi blindness and western values. The very values we stand for are the target of these anarchy-minded zealots. Yes, we are targeted and our safety nets are strong but they are not impenetrable.
We must take the war to those who perpetrate such horror. We must form a collaborative force comprised of Arab countries foremost and world powers of Asia, Europe and America. Ignoring this obvious need only emboldens the enemy. A good defense, such as we have, cannot be perfect and by thinking that we will somehow avoid the wrath of extremism just invites an offense to occur.
It is time to go on an orchestrated offensive and take the battle and consequences to those who seek to bring terror to our shores.
3
I am a bit confused. Is this an Op-Ed piece or satire? Are these academics or comedians? <br/>Should we live our lives in terror? No. Has this happened here already? Yes. Will we continue to suffer violent deaths at an alarming rate? Yes. Of the four things the Paris slaughter "depended" on the most terrifying, to Americans, should be "European citizens happy to massacre their compatriots." Has there ever been a nation, not involved in a civil war, where so many of its citizens are "happy to massacre their compatriots" as ours? 130 people were killed in Paris. We have had over 45,000 Americans killed or wounded in gun violence so far this year. Of those over 600 were under the age of 11. Should we be vigilant against Isis and other terrorist groups? Absolutely. But if safety of our citizenry is so important keep in mind that while we have suffered approximately 4,000 dead from terrorism in America since the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing our gun happy "compatriots" have killed over 500,000 of us in that same time frame. http://www.gunviolencearchive.org
2
How on earth could you leave the internet and social networking tools out of this article? Perhaps because it would belie the premise?
8
"European citizens happy to massacre their compatriots,"
If you look at murder rates, Europeans are relative peacefull people, especially compared with the OECD leader in murder and incarceration, the United States.
I see no difference for a victim, if he oder she is killed by a islamic or by a roman - catholic thug?
"America must be ready to help"
Of cause, you should take in your fair share of refugees from Syria or Irak, after inflicting a war in Irak on faked evidence (Weapons of mass destruction anyone?).
If you look at murder rates, Europeans are relative peacefull people, especially compared with the OECD leader in murder and incarceration, the United States.
I see no difference for a victim, if he oder she is killed by a islamic or by a roman - catholic thug?
"America must be ready to help"
Of cause, you should take in your fair share of refugees from Syria or Irak, after inflicting a war in Irak on faked evidence (Weapons of mass destruction anyone?).
This essay is overly-optimistic to the point of smugness. Al-qaeda is now staking out the moral high ground by saying they don't attack ordinary civilians like the Islamic State does, but isn't that what the Sept 11, 2001 attacks were? Could 9/11 happen here, again? I don't see why not. It probably won't be using airplanes as missiles, but any sort of large scale bombing(s) would be effective if done against a large building, or facility. With all due respect to the sufferings of the French in the past year, these latest attacks weren't particularly lethal, or well-executed by terrorist standards. The 1983 Beirut Barracks bombings, also involving the French, along with many U.S. marines, were more effective. It was carried out by Hezbollah with Iran's help.
U.S. law enforcement and government surveillance is worth something, but I don't think it will stop determined terrorists. We have too much freedom here, freedom that can be used against us. Look at what Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols accomplished 20 years ago in Oklahoma City, using a rented truck, and storage lockers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing
2
We have our share of mass shootings on a regular basis, so sure, it can and does happen here.
-On the day of 9/11 one of the hijackers on one of the planes placed a call
to a merchant in Fullerton, CA. Three pallets of laptop computers had been
shipped to the merchant recently who had used an address which indicated the shipment was for "Cal State Fullerton" at his shop's address.
-While interviewing a Palestinian pre-dental student for Medicaid, I thought we were having a nice chat. Out of the blue he said "We will get you."
I was a bit surprised He then said Palestinians learn to make Molotov
Cocktails by age five.
There are plenty of malevolent things happening.
to a merchant in Fullerton, CA. Three pallets of laptop computers had been
shipped to the merchant recently who had used an address which indicated the shipment was for "Cal State Fullerton" at his shop's address.
-While interviewing a Palestinian pre-dental student for Medicaid, I thought we were having a nice chat. Out of the blue he said "We will get you."
I was a bit surprised He then said Palestinians learn to make Molotov
Cocktails by age five.
There are plenty of malevolent things happening.
The attacks have been happening here. How many this year? From home grown true blooded Americans with easy access to military grade weapons. Our gun laws make it easier for the returning Jihadists to reap havoc here. Frightening really.
I agree with Prof. Sharma and some other writers below. There are no guarantees. We have some geographical protection, but nothing absolute. We may be less vulnerable than European countries, but that does not imply that we are impervious to another terrorism attack. Daesh is unfortunately very creative and capable.
Jane Taras Carlson
Jane Taras Carlson
The problem with the article is the overemphasis on the technical side of the security while the problem is with the principles that we are putting forward. At the surface our motto is anti-terrorism, while we ignore the banner that the Islamists are carrying. The core of their banner is anti-women and we hardly talk about it. In France they have banned face masks for Islamic women on the basis that it is un-French, contrary to French culture while face mask should be banned on the basis that it is the banner of the enemy and it would be banned until the freedom of choice of dress code for women is instituted all across the Islamic lands. The problem is that we do not have a banner, we rely on scaring ourselves with the banner of anti-terrorism. Our banner needs to be the women issue. Without suppression of women there will be no Islamists. If you are interested read my last three posts in my blog. http://www.siamakz.com
America has its own terrorists already. Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, D.C. Sniper etc. There is really very little that has been done in order to prevent more mass shootings from happening. Sandy Hook should have been the tipping point. Is it going to take somebody one-upping Sandy Hook for things to change? If things do not change, you could easily have ISIS operatives doing a Sandy Hook. Hope that it is not your children next time.
1
It will be naive to assume that that the US will be immune to Paris type attacks. We have seen that Isis and other jihadi groups have a support base in almost all the countries which has a large Muslim population. It through such base, attacks is executed. In Paris, the initial investigation reveals that 2-3 French Muslims were involved in the attack at Bataclan and the two restaurants located in the heart of Paris. However, effective a country's intelligence and security may be, it will be difficult to prevent surprise attacks.
in France, polices like banning of hijab and other conspicuous symbols followed by strict moral policing only resulted in alienation of Muslims. The various jihadi groups exploited all those people, who were not happy with the French governments dress code, as it was viewed as an affront to their religious belief and ideology, and indoctrinated them to take revenge by targeting innocent people.
The only sensiblel option now for the powers is to form a joint force to go for an all out atatck on Isis, and more importantly the governments need to respect the religious beliefs and sentiments of communities and should not put a blanket ban on hijab and other dresses, if their religion practices mandates wearing such dresses. With the growing attacks by Isis,and other fundamental groups, it will make sense to keep the local Muslim population on the side of the government, so that they are not brainwashed into joining such fundamental groups.
in France, polices like banning of hijab and other conspicuous symbols followed by strict moral policing only resulted in alienation of Muslims. The various jihadi groups exploited all those people, who were not happy with the French governments dress code, as it was viewed as an affront to their religious belief and ideology, and indoctrinated them to take revenge by targeting innocent people.
The only sensiblel option now for the powers is to form a joint force to go for an all out atatck on Isis, and more importantly the governments need to respect the religious beliefs and sentiments of communities and should not put a blanket ban on hijab and other dresses, if their religion practices mandates wearing such dresses. With the growing attacks by Isis,and other fundamental groups, it will make sense to keep the local Muslim population on the side of the government, so that they are not brainwashed into joining such fundamental groups.
1
Well, this article does come across a little patronising i must say. Thanks for all your helpful advice chaps.
Note to NYT editor: the level of thinking by your contributors is deficient in scholarly discipline. Please review the comments for this article.
America's dumbing down is reflected in your judgment calls. Please raise your standards by demanding better, well thought out, and logical writings from your writers.
America's dumbing down is reflected in your judgment calls. Please raise your standards by demanding better, well thought out, and logical writings from your writers.
2
American intelligence was in full operation mode prior to 9/11 when the Bush administration decided to ignore the warnings of Saudi nationals taking flying lessons. Indeed Bush campaigned on the notion of not over reacting to the Clinton Administration's warnings of the growing potency of Al Queda. You can have the best intelligence in the world but it comes down to competency and judgement and that is fleeting at best.
This is just naive. Our borders are demonstrably porous, automatic weapons are for sale on the open market, and there are plenty of would-be martyrs both within and without the U.S. Five guys with machine guns and grenades could kill hundreds of people in NYC in about ten minutes.
This is the most absurd assumption. Anything can happen anywhere. Did the authors forget 9/11? Yes, its more difficult to execute this plan, there is always a hole in any defense. Being alert and vigilant is our only chance.
This op-ed borders on pure negligence.
This op-ed borders on pure negligence.
America can relax in the knowledge that its daily massacres are home grown.
75
"The slaughter in France depended on four things: easy access to Paris, European citizens happy to massacre their compatriots, a Euro-jihadist infrastructure to supply weapons and security agencies that lacked resources to monitor the individuals involved. "
Authors forgot #5 : Disarmed Populace. Keep -that- in mind when you vote re: gun control in the US.
Authors forgot #5 : Disarmed Populace. Keep -that- in mind when you vote re: gun control in the US.
1
This article is nonsense - all it takes is one aimless, unemployed convert who spends all day reading ISIS propaganda online, to 'answer the call' and walk into a public park on a Sunday afternoon armed with a weapon from Walmart and slaughter scores of innocents. What makes the writers of this article so arrogant as to believe that that won't happen here? It already does, let's face it.
7
I don't see what the author thinks he is doing by criticizing France and Germany's financial commitments to fight terrorism with that of the U.S.
It's pretty obvious that both of those countries are tiny compared to the U.S. and the financial comparison is asinine. France is about the size of Texas and Germany is about the size of New Mexico.
It's pretty obvious that both of those countries are tiny compared to the U.S. and the financial comparison is asinine. France is about the size of Texas and Germany is about the size of New Mexico.
4
What ridiculous clap-trap.
We also have countrymen who have gone abroad (and the internet allows for armchair jihadism) and could come back.
There are two big differences: 1) we have not had the onslaught of human misery in the form of the refugees, and 2) access to guns.
We DO have people who shoot up theatres and churches. We also know how easy it is to get your hands on AK-47s and other high-power assault rifles.
I forgot, all the "good guys with guns" would have picked off these assailants and never harmed the poor innocents in the line of fire.
This may be the most ostrich-like editorial I have ever read in the NYTimes.
We also have countrymen who have gone abroad (and the internet allows for armchair jihadism) and could come back.
There are two big differences: 1) we have not had the onslaught of human misery in the form of the refugees, and 2) access to guns.
We DO have people who shoot up theatres and churches. We also know how easy it is to get your hands on AK-47s and other high-power assault rifles.
I forgot, all the "good guys with guns" would have picked off these assailants and never harmed the poor innocents in the line of fire.
This may be the most ostrich-like editorial I have ever read in the NYTimes.
6
Sorry, I don't feel reassured. I am very afraid of these people. I would say more specifically which people I am afraid of, but if I do, my experience is that the NYT will not publish this comment.
4
How are white men who go on rampaging murder sprees in schools and movie theaters any less terrorists then the Muslims who go on rampages in Europe? And given our government's insurmountable love of the NRA, events like this can happen even more easily than in Europe.
10
So we spend about $47 billion per year on 'homeland security' and that doesn't even include the expenditures of the FBI, CIA, NSA and other various and sundry efforts under the auspices of the Pentagon. The authors conclude that we need to "double down" on this $47 billion and we "must commit even more resources."
"Never let a good crisis go to waste." is a cynical political maxim but that is certainly what this article leads me to think of. Can I be the only one who reads this op-ed as a couple of military/intelligence figures using the Paris massacre as an occasion to stick their hands out for a few more billions for the security establishment?
"Never let a good crisis go to waste." is a cynical political maxim but that is certainly what this article leads me to think of. Can I be the only one who reads this op-ed as a couple of military/intelligence figures using the Paris massacre as an occasion to stick their hands out for a few more billions for the security establishment?
1
This article is absurd. For American gun violence is like a non-stop terrorist attack. Plus our borders are so porous they're a sieve. Anyone can enter from the north or south.
And if the Boston Marathon bombing is any example of how our FBI operates, why yes, Paris could most definitely happen here. Russian authorities gave us a big, fat, red flag warning about the Tsarnov brothers which they promptly ignored.
Can't we deport those on any watch list already? Get these guys off of our soil. All of them. Send them back to where ever they came from. There are so many more deserving people to have instead. And please slow up on the immigration from the ME for a spell.
Telling Europe to secure their borders is like the pot calling.....
Seriously we must start controlling our own country's borders and protecting ourselves or we're just asking for more of the same.
The future is not what it used to be.
And if the Boston Marathon bombing is any example of how our FBI operates, why yes, Paris could most definitely happen here. Russian authorities gave us a big, fat, red flag warning about the Tsarnov brothers which they promptly ignored.
Can't we deport those on any watch list already? Get these guys off of our soil. All of them. Send them back to where ever they came from. There are so many more deserving people to have instead. And please slow up on the immigration from the ME for a spell.
Telling Europe to secure their borders is like the pot calling.....
Seriously we must start controlling our own country's borders and protecting ourselves or we're just asking for more of the same.
The future is not what it used to be.
3
The US is spending $47 Billion a year and the authors call for "even greater resources"? Not enough that US taxpayers are on the hook for our armed forces, now we have to pay for the world's intelligence agencies. For the Hawks, it's never enough. On top of that, the smugness of this article is sickening. We don't need ISIS, we've got Adam Lanzas armed to the teeth gunning down our children. But these two 'scholars' say Americans shouldn't worry.
1
This was very well written--cue the drumroll--propaganda. Please tell the family of Kate Steinle about America's great security. And Kate's tragic murder by an illegal alien ( legal term, NYT) who had been deported multiple times from California only to return, is no isolated incident.
So the bottom line is we haven't the slightest idea who's living in this country.
And could an act as barbaric as the World Trade Center tragedy happen here again? Of course something on that scale could happen again. They could be home grown terrorists--think Timothy McVeigh--or terrorists from foreign lands. But, in either scenario, time is not on our side.
So the bottom line is we haven't the slightest idea who's living in this country.
And could an act as barbaric as the World Trade Center tragedy happen here again? Of course something on that scale could happen again. They could be home grown terrorists--think Timothy McVeigh--or terrorists from foreign lands. But, in either scenario, time is not on our side.
3
We might be safe from terrorists, but 30,000 people are killed by firearms each year in this country. More than 30 people are shot and murdered each day. So, who's the enemy?
4
if you want to forestall attacks on us, then make it clear
to the saudis and the iranis that they will be held responsible
for any further attacks.
to the saudis and the iranis that they will be held responsible
for any further attacks.
I'm fairly certain that most people are not foaming at the mouth in a state of abject fear but thank you so much for thinking of us. We're obviously quite vulnerable here in the States to being attacked by extremists who are ready and willing to die. Extremists don't need to fly to the States. They're already here, perhaps not yet radicalized at this moment. ISIS is infinitely more potent than Al Qaeda because their propaganda machine is influencing people all over the globe. It is rather foolish to believe that we're safer because Europe has a more daunting challenge than we do. All it takes is 5-10 lunatics with bombs and automatic weapons to kill a thousand in an hour's time in one of our major cities here. Then what will you write?
32
Unfortunately some naive comments like "What is the difference between the recent mass shootings in the US and the carnage in Paris?...both are same"...etc.
Paris incident is based upon a radical ideology targeted at particular "sect of people"/or one who are against that ideology. That's not a mental problem under any modern psychiatric/psychological definitions. Mass shootings are based upon mental problems. There is no discrimination in mass shootings based on race/skin color/religion.
People are easily comparing apples to oranges because both are fruits!( guns in this case as the common one).
Paris incident is based upon a radical ideology targeted at particular "sect of people"/or one who are against that ideology. That's not a mental problem under any modern psychiatric/psychological definitions. Mass shootings are based upon mental problems. There is no discrimination in mass shootings based on race/skin color/religion.
People are easily comparing apples to oranges because both are fruits!( guns in this case as the common one).
It can't happen here. In America, people under fire follow the Carson Rule: you out number the gunmen so we all turn and charge into the gunfire and overwhelm the shooter.
Second, all Americans, real Americans, carrying personal arms. Those that don't, you have to question their commitment to the US Constitution.
Third, given the intrusive surveillance in America, potential terrorists are left with only carrier pigeons, unless the information is sent to Hillary Clinton's server.
Fourth, if such an attack does occur, it is clearly Obama's fault.
Second, all Americans, real Americans, carrying personal arms. Those that don't, you have to question their commitment to the US Constitution.
Third, given the intrusive surveillance in America, potential terrorists are left with only carrier pigeons, unless the information is sent to Hillary Clinton's server.
Fourth, if such an attack does occur, it is clearly Obama's fault.
2
Boy....Do I feel a whole heck ova lot better after reading this article. For awhile there I was starting to worry about heading down to Times Square, or seeing a movie over the weekend. Now, I will blithley grab my coat and head right down to the 6 platform without a care in the world.
Well, maybe it could happen here but then again we don't have near the "degree" of problems that they have in Europe.
Have these authors ever gone Downtown? There happens to be quite a large reminder down there as to what could happen here..........cause it already has!
Well, maybe it could happen here but then again we don't have near the "degree" of problems that they have in Europe.
Have these authors ever gone Downtown? There happens to be quite a large reminder down there as to what could happen here..........cause it already has!
3
Could Paris Happen Here? Click-bait headline. Answer: No one knows for sure.
My problem with adding more security than what we have is where does it end? Where does our imagination end and where does reality begin? Most people around me here in the United States feel a sense of dread about foreign terrorism when the topic is brought to discussion but I don't. I have lived in places in Southeast Asia at a time when bombings were happening with some frequency and more people are concerned here in the United States now and since 9/11 than what I encountered in my travels. And why is that? Would you really accept soldiers and an even more inflated police state to protect you from something that you have 0.00000001 chance of being ever a victim of? FDR was right and is still right to this day. We're doing more than enough here, security-wise, already.
Guns abound, they're insanely committed to their cause and they plan meticulously. And like rodents, they're able to slip through even the smallest barriers that we may try to erect to contain them. Why would I not be apprehensive? Because two scholars with some familiarity with the issues tell me not to be? This is feel good stuff; it's nonsense.
2
This is one of the most ridiculous articles in the history of The New York Times. Of course it could happen here and it is very possible it may happen here in the future. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure this out.
On a related note, one of more interesting revelations to arise from the Paris terrorist attacks is that French authorities and other governments around the world are having increased difficulty monitoring terrorists and suspected terrorists because of encryption technology used by certain apps, including apparently WhatsApp. So that you Facebook, Google, Apple, Edward Snowden and others for marking it more difficult for governments to monitor these barbarians. As far as I am concerned, you have blood on your hands.
On a related note, one of more interesting revelations to arise from the Paris terrorist attacks is that French authorities and other governments around the world are having increased difficulty monitoring terrorists and suspected terrorists because of encryption technology used by certain apps, including apparently WhatsApp. So that you Facebook, Google, Apple, Edward Snowden and others for marking it more difficult for governments to monitor these barbarians. As far as I am concerned, you have blood on your hands.
2
Mr. Simon and Mr. Benjamin see, to have drunk of President Obama's "ISIS is contained" Kool-ade. Of course it could happen here it did on 9/11 and it did at the Boston marathon. The targets of the Paris attacks were vivid symbols of some of the liberties and joys of Western Civilization: Cafes where people enjoy wine and a free exchange of ideas, an international sporting event building camaraderie through competition, and a rock concert featuring freedom of expression through music. America must heighten its vigilance and join with our European allies to root out those both at home and abroad that would threaten our lives, liberties and our pursuit of happiness.
What rubbish! The statistics show that European citizens are a lot less happy to murder their compatriots than Americans. Guns and automatic weapons are far more easily obtained in the USA - and even easier if Mr. Trump and his kind have their way.
3
"Pretty much everyone...would come by plane." Do they need planes to walk across our Mexican or Canadian borders? This is fatuous rather than reassuring.
3
Surely you are not suggesting that our binge-spending on Homeland Security can protect us from anything. Spending a trillion dollars for security is almost as stupid as our spending several trillions creating the morass in which this terrorism has bred.
And TSA has always been inattentive and irresponsible. I'm always tempted to say something--like stop standing there discussing football and do your freakin' job--but then I fear that I would be put on a watch list.
And TSA has always been inattentive and irresponsible. I'm always tempted to say something--like stop standing there discussing football and do your freakin' job--but then I fear that I would be put on a watch list.
1
I sure hope that the current "Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the NSC" and the current "Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the State Department" do not share their predecessors complacency!
We have mass shootings on a weekly basis and gun violence daily.
Paris was not only shocking for its barbarity but also because it is a peaceful safe city where people do not hear of drive by shootings and daily gun deaths.
We Americans may have less statical risk of Islamic inspired murder but we gruesomely live under the daily threat of random violence.
Paris was not only shocking for its barbarity but also because it is a peaceful safe city where people do not hear of drive by shootings and daily gun deaths.
We Americans may have less statical risk of Islamic inspired murder but we gruesomely live under the daily threat of random violence.
3
36 people die of gun violence each day in the US. Paris happens twice a week here, in the aggregate, and we don't even care much. What's the difference whether it's a Christian disaffected youth or a Muslim one? We've already decided we don't care and won't do anything to stop it. You can't call out one type of terrorism and let another slide by. We need to figure out, as a country, whether we are ok with mass murder, or not. We have been ridiculously inconsistent so far.
5
The article overlooks a very central fact: ISIS jihadis see the US as THE prize target ideologically and from a strategic/propaganda perspective. Failure to attack the US would be an admission of a significant limitation of ISIS power and intent. Even a partly thwarted attack, on the other hand, demonstrates to potential recruits and supporters their capability and commitment.
American Muslims are not radicalized as a group, and mostly see radicals as a very big negative (recall the Times Square bomb plot was thwarted partly with information from Muslims who were aware of the threat). So a group of attackers is very likely to be a closed cadre operating without assistance from a wider community. But, as many commenters point out, they can get military-grade weapons very easily once here.
My take: Realistically, let's brace for such an event, and prepare our best counter action.
American Muslims are not radicalized as a group, and mostly see radicals as a very big negative (recall the Times Square bomb plot was thwarted partly with information from Muslims who were aware of the threat). So a group of attackers is very likely to be a closed cadre operating without assistance from a wider community. But, as many commenters point out, they can get military-grade weapons very easily once here.
My take: Realistically, let's brace for such an event, and prepare our best counter action.
31
Yes, We all hunger for a simpler time - when we could carry a bottle of wine home from France in our carry on luggage....but those days are long gone. The United States, its people and its values are a target for Muslim extremists...who in their right mind would sit back and not worry?
we have also had a formidable military presence in the area that is dwindling down to insignificance. Furthermore, it is likely that our pals, the Sunnis in Saudi Arabia, who are probably funding ISIS, would not like ISIS to bring the US into the picture. Follow the money.
with all due respect to the authors of this discourse, what are they talking about ? The United States is as vulnerable to terrorism as is any country in the world . By definition terrorism is surprise and fear on the unsuspecting . The authors may be in for both .....................
Val in Brooklyn, NY
So far I count 37 comments, with most people strongly disagreeing with you. They're right.
Submitted 11-16-15@2:29 a.m. EST
So far I count 37 comments, with most people strongly disagreeing with you. They're right.
Submitted 11-16-15@2:29 a.m. EST
The attacks on Paris were an attack on all of us, on our way of life, on liberty. It follows the documented strategy of ISIS and of other islamic extremist groups such as the Salafist and Al Qaida, to project terror and chaos to the western world in order to provoke a religious war between the muslim world and the "infidels'. Their targets are the 'crusaders' intervening against ISIS territory, including the U.S.; France is their stated primary target because of its large Muslim population which they hope will ignite the civil war. The Charlie Hebdo attack on cartoonists who were at the vanguard of defending our liberty was the precursor. A dozen other terrorist attacks in France have been stopped since, including one by Americans in the TGV from Belgium to Paris. The Paris attacks demonstrate to Isis what works. Teams working together with assault rifle one reloading while the others slaughters, unprotected soft targets, moving from one location to another to avoid getting caught. It is already being carried out in the US by homegrown terrorists on schools, churches, government building. Concealed weapons do not protect from this as demonstrated multiple times. Isis's recruiting machine supplies hundreds of suicide volunteers. Some will get caught, but some will get through in the US, like in Paris. Does the US want to wait for their Paris attack before committing the necessary ground forces to eradicate a few thousand Isis terrorists in Syria?
I am at a complete loss as to the point of this article. To make us feel better? A challenge .... ? Ugh
1
Call the NRA. They keep saying that good guys with guns will stop bad guys with guns.
I am not convinced that they are referring to the cops. I think they mean just ordinary folks who pack heat.
When ISIS shows up, where are all the good guys with guns going to be? I am waiting for the good guys with guns to save our bacon from ISIS.
I am not convinced that they are referring to the cops. I think they mean just ordinary folks who pack heat.
When ISIS shows up, where are all the good guys with guns going to be? I am waiting for the good guys with guns to save our bacon from ISIS.
An excerpt from Reader comment from Roger Cohen's recent column "To Save Paris, Defeat ISIS":
"We are fighting a violent and distorted religious myth. It's the Muslims themselves who need to fight the hardest, against their own inner demons."
"We are fighting a violent and distorted religious myth. It's the Muslims themselves who need to fight the hardest, against their own inner demons."
Oklahoma City... World Trade Center... any of several mass shootings, including (especially?) innocent students of any age... Attackers may or may not operate under the auspices of jihad,may or may not be born in the US, they are still terrorists and murderers.
Let's not get TOO complacent, now.
Let's not get TOO complacent, now.
"Could an attack happen here--on American soil?"
I guess the NYT had other priorities on September 11th 2001 and April 15th 2013. Believe it or not, things have been happening in the world while you have focused your funnel vision on Bruce Jenner's cosmetics. Your headlines: mascaras. The world: massacres.
I guess the NYT had other priorities on September 11th 2001 and April 15th 2013. Believe it or not, things have been happening in the world while you have focused your funnel vision on Bruce Jenner's cosmetics. Your headlines: mascaras. The world: massacres.
2
The NYT and most commenters moan that ISIL move like minnows in the ocean, making their destruction unthinkable. But the reality is that ISIL, Al Queda and the like do have a home base, Saudia Arabia. At some point we have to strong arm the Saudis. Namely, tell the Royal Family that they must round up and execute every Wahabi cleric or else we will wipe out the Royals, destroy their nation, and seize their oil fields. Not ask them. Tell them. Either they exterminate the Wahabi infrastructure, or they and their families will be wiped out. Same with the 'leaders' in Quatar and other Gulf states. There is no other solution.
2
How about we start by staying out of other people's civil wars. ISIS is artacking us because we are bombing them.
2
To the authors ;
If you're affraid by tyrannosaurus, saber tooth tiger and so on, I've sommething you'll appreciate : a magic powder I make. Here in France I use it, very usefull, Actually I have't seen yet any tyrannosaurus, etc. in my home. For you I sell it $10,000/lbs it's a bargain !
Since 2001 your $650 billion did help US to defeat how many terrorist attack? 1 ? 10 ? 100 ?
I wish US will never have an other attack
If you're affraid by tyrannosaurus, saber tooth tiger and so on, I've sommething you'll appreciate : a magic powder I make. Here in France I use it, very usefull, Actually I have't seen yet any tyrannosaurus, etc. in my home. For you I sell it $10,000/lbs it's a bargain !
Since 2001 your $650 billion did help US to defeat how many terrorist attack? 1 ? 10 ? 100 ?
I wish US will never have an other attack
As long as a Bush is running for President, you can expect more activity from ISIS. They are practically begging us for a rematch - let's not give it to them.
1
Add this op-ed to Obama's declarations that ISIS is a JV terrorist team, the war on terror is over, and the day before the Paris attacks that ISIS is contained.
Could Paris Happen Here? Yes, it may. 9/11 Part II.
1
Of course it can "happen here." The question is one of relevance. Can a mosquito bite an elephant? Of course. So what?
More people already die annually in the US from driving and texting than ISIS will ever claim. Meanwhile, we bomb them at will, use cruise missiles against them, and train troops to kill them on the ground. Think ISIS is asking itself "Can the US/France/England/NATO happen here?"
ISIS is only as significant as we allow it to be. Until its per-capita efficiency against a country of 300 million rises above the level of deaths by bee sting, I'm not impressed. And no one else should be either. More people have died in France from summer heat waves than from anything ISIS claimed "responsibility" for last Friday. If ISIS wants a war, we can certainly oblige them. Two can play this game, and the odds of ISIS writing the history are zero and none.
The biggest threat? Your government; the one which wants to tap your cellphones, read your e-mails and suspend your 4th Amendment rights, all to catch a few mosquitos. We all know the Benjamin Franklin observation about trading liberty for safety. Commit it to memory.
More people already die annually in the US from driving and texting than ISIS will ever claim. Meanwhile, we bomb them at will, use cruise missiles against them, and train troops to kill them on the ground. Think ISIS is asking itself "Can the US/France/England/NATO happen here?"
ISIS is only as significant as we allow it to be. Until its per-capita efficiency against a country of 300 million rises above the level of deaths by bee sting, I'm not impressed. And no one else should be either. More people have died in France from summer heat waves than from anything ISIS claimed "responsibility" for last Friday. If ISIS wants a war, we can certainly oblige them. Two can play this game, and the odds of ISIS writing the history are zero and none.
The biggest threat? Your government; the one which wants to tap your cellphones, read your e-mails and suspend your 4th Amendment rights, all to catch a few mosquitos. We all know the Benjamin Franklin observation about trading liberty for safety. Commit it to memory.
59
You've got to be kidding with a headline like this? I don't have to read the article to know that WE ARE LIVING IN A TERROR NATION ALREADY! Have you been keeping up with all the school shootings and random gunfire murdering innocent people IN AMERICA? What a joke. USA is one of the most violent country's out there and we seem to be proud of it. Okay so maybe we haven't seen any beheadings yet but there are plenty of violent atrocities happening daily. Stop dividing people, be kind to strangers and help the poor. Vote Bernie Sanders.
1
Could it? Sure. Will it? Unlikely. But even if not, it's not worth sacrificing ONE SHRED OF OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES without COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT legislative action.
1
Surely the Op_Ed writers jest - or have we forgotten 9/11 so soon! Oh that attack was by OBL and Al Qaeda not ISIS. The President won't say it - the Democrats won't say it - Islamic terrorists did 9/11 and Paris 11/13! Unlike the 'hand wringing' that takes place in Washington - Hollande started to extract retribution on 11/15 in a way ISIS will understand.
This essay is overly-optimistic to the point of smugness. Al-qaeda is now staking out the moral high ground by saying they don't attack ordinary civilians like the Islamic State does, but isn't that what the Sept 11, 2001 attacks were? Could 9/11 happen here, again? I don't see why not. It probably won't be using airplanes as missiles, but any sort of large scale bombing(s) would be effective if done against a large building, or facility. With all due respect to the sufferings of the French in the past year, these latest attacks weren't particularly lethal, or well-executed by terrorist standards. The 1983 Beirut Barracks bombings, also involving the French, along with many U.S. marines, were more effective. It was carried out by Hezbollah with Iran's help.
U.S. law enforcement and government surveillance is worth something, but I don't think it will stop determined terrorists. We have too much freedom here, freedom that can be used against us. Look at what Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols accomplished 20 years ago in Oklahoma City, using a rented truck, and storage lockers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing
2
A country that relies heavily on air travel in the absence of a modern railway system is indeed vulnerable to a Paris-scale attack. To say it isn't is to live in cloud cuckoo land. Two great oceans, unlike during World War Two, offer little protection against well-organized terrorist attacks from within the country. And it's not just the Islamic State contagion that the country needs to worry about. White supremacists can be, and have been, much more lethal in pursuing their sick ideology
Turkey must be held accountable. Not only do they tacitly support Daesh, they profit from stolen oil and artifacts, they allow Daesh free transit and worst of all they attack the must successful force fighting Daesh - the Kurds. They push the false liable of "terrorist" on the PKK and all who support Kurdish autonomy. Even FaceBook has succumbed to Turkish pressure.
Western nations need to unite in pressuring Turkey to stop supporting Daesh and start supporting Kurds.
Western nations need to unite in pressuring Turkey to stop supporting Daesh and start supporting Kurds.
1
Can this ridiculous column happen here?
Oh, sorry - I guess it already has.
Oh, sorry - I guess it already has.
5
i dont know, i thought it was already happening here, mass shootings in schools and movie theaters, or christian terrorists are not news worthy?
2
didnt it already ?
1
What a dumb-sounding headline!
Cities do not happen. Cities are not events.
The intended message is understandable enough and a good question.
But the headline sounds appallingly dumb!
Cities do not happen. Cities are not events.
The intended message is understandable enough and a good question.
But the headline sounds appallingly dumb!
2
Congratulations, NYT.
The Fort Hood shooting was not an act of workplace violence, as suggested by our president. The Paris attacks were not "overseas contingency operations."
To solve a problem, first you must identify and name the problem.
The Fort Hood shooting was not an act of workplace violence, as suggested by our president. The Paris attacks were not "overseas contingency operations."
To solve a problem, first you must identify and name the problem.
3
Canada and Mexico are "extremely cooperative" about the borders, which prevents terrorists from "slipping in."
In what world does that exist? You can simply walk through either border without being challenged.
In what world does that exist? You can simply walk through either border without being challenged.
2
Just tell the truth: "Muslim terrorists", NOT "deeply alienated Muslims"
Paris does happen here, in the form of mass school shootings - just not 129 persons all at once. It is irrelevant to me whether the killing is done by an ISIS affiliate or some misguided young adult who couldn't get a date, the victims are still dead.
51
I found this piece to be naive and overwrought. ISIS can easily strike here. We all know guns are plentiful and accessible, and there is nothing anyone can do about that. A loony bird with a gun shooting innocents is a uniquely American routine event. If the loony bird is inspired by Columbine or bullies or Caliphate or dancing unicorns, the net result is all the same. We have sanctioned gun violence in this country. We fetishize the God-given Constitutional right for any individual to arm themselves without limits. "Intelligence", running on top of an ocean of firearms, has statistically limited outcomes.
2
The hypocrisy is just too much. We, right here, control which URLs will be allowed up on the Internet throughout the world. We, right here, can stop Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets from hosting terrorists and racists. We, right here, can allow our police agencies to decrypt any message on the wire and in the air. Ask Barry, or your local congressperson why we do not. There should be no freedom to terrorize. They can check all of my correspondence, and will find nothing. Now, CHECK THE OTHERS!
3
Please don't blame the societies in which terrorists live as not being more accomadating to them, and therefore creating hostility! Most of the terrorists are middle class people who are lured in by the ideology of the Islamists. Put the blame where it should be- in the actions of IS.
1
Anyone who thinks we cannot be attacked it delusional, pure and simple, no matter how much money we spend or how vigilant we are.
5
650 billion spent to protect us in the United States sounds like an impressive sum BUT it's not the amount itself that's important but how it is spent! The authors of this article neglect to point out that large sums from the public purse have been spent to erect large edifices across Northern Virginia and elsewhere e.g. the HQ of DNI. Impressive buildings that satisfy the egos of the 2/3/4 star officers who transition seamlessly into these organizations with their pensions and new perks BUT do they keep us any safer?
Also, the article congratulates the US on lack of 'extremists' but we more than make up for that with the mentally ill who massacre African-Americans at bible study; our kids on college campuses; fellow workers in the workplace etc. Any chance some of the 650 billion could be directed to address this?
Also, the article congratulates the US on lack of 'extremists' but we more than make up for that with the mentally ill who massacre African-Americans at bible study; our kids on college campuses; fellow workers in the workplace etc. Any chance some of the 650 billion could be directed to address this?
1
What nonsense! Won't happen here? I am an optimist--I have been one my entire life. What I am very pessimistic about is our quest to be the superpower that is oh-so-important to the Bushes and Cheneys of the world, that has led us down a path we cannot alter now.
What happened in Paris WILL happen here. Our quest for domination that knows no bounds, foments hate toward the US daily which will result in tragedy upon tragedy on our soil. Heartbreaking and terrifying; just what ISIS desires.
What happened in Paris WILL happen here. Our quest for domination that knows no bounds, foments hate toward the US daily which will result in tragedy upon tragedy on our soil. Heartbreaking and terrifying; just what ISIS desires.
6
"the formerly gun free Europe". Uh...really? Could I list a few - Badder-Meinhoff Gang, Basque Separatists, Red Brigade, Provisional Wing of the IRA, Red Army Faction... What's different is that a terrorist organization that was "over there" is now "over here". The use of firearms in the attacks is symptomatic of their ability to smuggle across the open borders of the EU and the ability of the perpetrators to get training in how to use them effectively from experienced fighters. It has happened before - remember the Olympics in 1972; heavily armed terrorist held the Israeli team hostage. While it's easy say it can't happen here (in the US), we have the same thing here with States that have lax to no gun laws and the ability to simply drive from a State like Mississippi or Alabama (or Vermont) and distribute what was legally purchased to a group bent on terrorizing a population.
2
This is a funny article – the reason we are more secure is because our boarders are “not as porous” – did these editors run this by their colleagues at the NYT – because does not the NYT editorial board strongly advocate “open borders ?” … Didn’t the editorial page of the NYT spend all summer –strongly shaming anyone in German government or any one in peripheral EU states who questioned the flood of migrants from the middle east … It would at least elicited an article on the respective nasty little “right wing politicians" .. or worse racists ? Am I missing something here ?
4
from the op-ed: "The United States has another advantage: an intelligence, law enforcement and border-control apparatus that has been vastly improved since the cataclysm of 9/11."
If that's so, how come there is so much illegal immigration? And how come we allow sanctuary cities? 121 murders have been committed since 2010 by illegal immigrants who would have been deported prior to committing those murders had they not been living in sanctuary cities.
If that's so, how come there is so much illegal immigration? And how come we allow sanctuary cities? 121 murders have been committed since 2010 by illegal immigrants who would have been deported prior to committing those murders had they not been living in sanctuary cities.
5
Yes, I must remember to be "thankful" next week for the "paucity of American extremists" when we celebrate Thanksgiving, that uniquely American holiday. That is, unless the few extremists we do have in our midst manage to take out a theater-full of innocent people by then. What kind of myopic thinking are they promulgating at Dartmouth?
33
As I read this article, and the other reports of the Paris massacre, my mind's eye could see the big push for more and more weaponry to find its way into American homes. There is a likelihood of some terrorist activity happening again on our shores, but there are other ways to deal with it. Many "more guns" proponents are also the ones who screamed loudest when it came to light that the NSA was collecting meta-data (which should have been no surprise since corporations have been doing it for years in a much more targeted manner to control your buying habits). So what do you want America....more guns (that even now kill more Americans - even inadvertently - than all our wars? Or the collecting and analyzing of electronic communication that can expose patterns of planned attacks (and they really don't care about your phone sex or sharing recipes with Aunt Sally)? I vote for the latter.
19
Uh excuse me but Paris already happened here--remember September 11 2001??? We experienced the same feelings of shock, disbelief, grief, rage and a need to do something to make those responsible pay for their crimes when a shadowy terrorist organization changed our lives forever. I'll never be a pacifist again. I know there are some people out there who just don't quite understand peace and never will. Swift and blinding violence is the only thing left that ISIS terrorists understand. The sooner everyone realizes that force works and stop this pointless handwringing rationalizing the motives of terrorists the better off we'll be.
4
Sure it could happen here. Put a few crazy gunslingers together with guns and they could shoot up a public gathering any time they feel like it. Only question is, would they walk away or get shot up in return? We've already had shootings at schools, churches, etc. It only takes one lunatic, and a small group of lunatics could do worse.
1
We should learn from Israel they have faced a serious terrorist war since the beginning of their nation. Their remedy is a well-armed civilian populace ready to react with deadly force immediately when the perpetrator acts. Like anything else its not one hundred percent effective but compared to the wishful thinking canard of “gun free zones” as being some kind of solution “good guys with guns” can and do stop or mitigate these tragedies in Israel on a regular basis.
Like it or not the real world is a dangerous place and Paris is just another example of the unfortunate crimes certain to become more common, and we need to meet this reality with a real world solution not wishful thinking.
Like it or not the real world is a dangerous place and Paris is just another example of the unfortunate crimes certain to become more common, and we need to meet this reality with a real world solution not wishful thinking.
6
Q: "Could Paris Happen Here?"
A: "Yes- That's WHY we have the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution."
A: "Yes- That's WHY we have the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution."
2
I guess the writers are of the mind that George Bush kept us safe after 9/11! We are not safe,will never be safe and to think so incredibly naive.
1
The US does need terror attacks it produces enpough of its own gun killings. What about 9/11?
This article is not correct as anyone can cross the border with Canada by car with little or on checking.
This article is not correct as anyone can cross the border with Canada by car with little or on checking.
1
Interesting how Bush and Cruz are shouting for ANOTHER 'War'........
It's even more interesting how neither of them ever served, and may in fact, dodged military service.
It's even more interesting how neither of them ever served, and may in fact, dodged military service.
1
9/11 - duh!
4
Excuse me but Paris "already happened here" on 9/11 and in Oklahoma City. As far as senseless, mass killings, "Paris" is happening in this country everyday. In our homes- in our churches- in our schools .. take your pick.
2
The first ingredient is a disenfranchised population – more prisoners than any other nation so we're working on that.
Another ingredient is easy access to assault weapons and huge loopholes in our background checks.
Next, releasing a disenfranchised population into the public with little or no planning. Having to check a criminal box on a job application is often an unnecessary scarlet letter. Excluding them from jobs programs and welfare eligibility can make a person feel hopeless. There's another essential ingredient, no hope.
So could it happen here, (again) Is perhaps a naïve question.
1
The second amendment keeps the armed responsible citizen as a deterrent. It is the armed citizen that may be the last stand against RADICAL ISLAM in our homeland..
Of course a Paris like attack could happen in the United States. A few committed men or women with ideological conviction can easily walk into a mall or school and create unimaginable havoc.
Do we need more evidence than the almost weekly atrocities which already occur in this country such as Columbine or Newton?
The reason Islamic terrorists are active in this country is because we inserted troops into 'sacred' territory after the 2001 war in Iraq. 'You break it , you own it." As long as we violate the borders of these territories we will incite terrorist response.This is a political not a military or religious problem.
We cannot, and could never, by force impose 'our' political solution on the middle east.Does anyone realistically believe that the United Sates is so wealthy, so immoral and so immune to the consequences of the loss of its military personnel and the damage to those countries that we can remain in the middle east long enough to nurture Islam to an enlightenment? The west has offered nothing to middle eastern countries but repression including the latest attempt to impose representative democracy by force. Now the people of the middle east are trying their own version of social and political accommodation through Islam. Misguided? We certainly think so, but they will have to learn for themselves.See things from their point of view. Who is the aggressor?
We should get out.
Do we need more evidence than the almost weekly atrocities which already occur in this country such as Columbine or Newton?
The reason Islamic terrorists are active in this country is because we inserted troops into 'sacred' territory after the 2001 war in Iraq. 'You break it , you own it." As long as we violate the borders of these territories we will incite terrorist response.This is a political not a military or religious problem.
We cannot, and could never, by force impose 'our' political solution on the middle east.Does anyone realistically believe that the United Sates is so wealthy, so immoral and so immune to the consequences of the loss of its military personnel and the damage to those countries that we can remain in the middle east long enough to nurture Islam to an enlightenment? The west has offered nothing to middle eastern countries but repression including the latest attempt to impose representative democracy by force. Now the people of the middle east are trying their own version of social and political accommodation through Islam. Misguided? We certainly think so, but they will have to learn for themselves.See things from their point of view. Who is the aggressor?
We should get out.
Had it not been for George W. Bush and his oedipal obsession with Saddam Hussein and Obama's continued escalations and involvement in Syria's holy/civil war after the successful assassination of Osama Bin Laden, "Paris" would not have happened, "Charlie Hebdo" would not have happened, the foiled attack on a Paris train would not have happened, London would not have happened, Ottawa and Quebec would not have happened, Sydney, Copenhagen, Benghazi, Boston, Garland, Woolwich, Beirut would not have happened.
Maybe it should..., more often.
Maybe it should..., more often.
Q: "Could Paris Happen Here?"
A: Yes- That's WHY we have the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution.
"Being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed"
A: Yes- That's WHY we have the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution.
"Being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed"
2
"The slaughter in France depended on four things: easy access to Paris, European citizens happy to massacre their compatriots, a Euro-jihadist infrastructure to supply weapons and security agencies that lacked resources to monitor the individuals involved."
ALSO necessary - a disarmed populace.
Thank God we have the constitutional RIGHT to keep and bear arms for personal protection in the United States of America.
ALSO necessary - a disarmed populace.
Thank God we have the constitutional RIGHT to keep and bear arms for personal protection in the United States of America.
I am not even going to read this article as the title is so naive. Could it happen here? Duh. Why even give space to anyone who thinks that determined individuals could not wreak havoc anywhere?
4
I am repeating what others have said but I have to say it: Public spaces in the U.S. are already terrifying due to the constant barrage of mass shootings. Schools, movies, malls, parks, bus stops, churches, even your own front porch--none feels safe anymore. Now this just adds another level of fear. But we are already beset by our own unique brand of domestic terrorism.
3
Yes it could happen here.
Reality hurts and sometimes it kills. Lessons have been learned form 9/11 but we still cling to the thought that it is politically INCORRECT to paint muslins with a single brush.
Muslim terrorists are well hidden in the US.
We are vulnerable.
Reality hurts and sometimes it kills. Lessons have been learned form 9/11 but we still cling to the thought that it is politically INCORRECT to paint muslins with a single brush.
Muslim terrorists are well hidden in the US.
We are vulnerable.
2
So we just have to worry about our own homegrown militias and terrorists legally armed to the teeth who hate their government -- a much larger, long-term threat we face than from jihadists
3
Beware.... there has been a lot of right wing congressional lobbying action lately about limiting the ability of our government to tap into telephone conversations and other encrypted sites.... lets rethink that... We are not after right wing antigovernment groups, we are after terrorists!
3
Asserting boldly that such horrific attacks are unlikely here seems to invite radicals to demonstrate that, yes, they can. We are foolish to believe that we are largely immune, but insane to put such a notion into print.
2
To state "The European citizens (would be) happy to massacre their compatriots" is totally disrespectful. The European model has been a good example for decades how people can live together in peace and mutual respect. This has led to one of the most livable and most prosperous regions throughout the entire world. Me (I am German) and I think I can speak for the majority of my European friends are totally tired of any kind of war after having experienced (though not personally) the disaster of two world wars.
I'm sorry. This "not to worry" message is simply not believable.
3
I am relieved to read that citizens of the nation most responsible for the rise of ISIS feel 'safe' because of their geographical advantage.
3
While the author's make some valid points, haven't attacks like Paris already happened here? The bombing in Boston had relatively few casualties, but that does not lessen the intent of the attackers. And what about Fort Hood? And Tennessee last summer? Just because attackers do not kill as many people does not mitigate their intent.
The more surprising aspect of this for the U.S. is that it has not happened more often. There are so many soft targets, such a free society with so much easy access to weaponry that it is stunning we do not have more of these.
The more surprising aspect of this for the U.S. is that it has not happened more often. There are so many soft targets, such a free society with so much easy access to weaponry that it is stunning we do not have more of these.
4
I think the authors underestimate the potential for homegrown terrorists. Jihadi John from England did not come from a poor family. He graduated from college with a degree. So far we have been lucky that most of our mass killings were by mentally ill people. But how long will that last?
We had a few incidents of people shooting at military recruitment centers and Fort Hood as mentioned in the article. Unlike Europe guns are easy to come by here. It was so easy for three men to kill 89 people at the concert with guns. I think the terrorists would go after soft targets and forget major landmark areas like Times Square where there are lots of police.
The Times Square bomber, even though he was not born here, he was living and working here on a H1B visa, doing a job that I am sure an American could have been doing. This H1B abuse was discussed in an article by the NYT just last week. He was not some poor downtrodden Muslim. He was a terrorist who tried to kill and maim people in Times Square.
Out in Minnesota we hear of young men who came here Somalia who become radicalized but the FBI was able to rein them in. I notice just about all the experts are saying that is unlikely to happen here. But I think they are saying that just to pacify us. The Boston marathon bombers who came here as refugees and practically grew up here had no problem being radicalized and killing and maiming innocent people with pressure cooker bombs.
We had a few incidents of people shooting at military recruitment centers and Fort Hood as mentioned in the article. Unlike Europe guns are easy to come by here. It was so easy for three men to kill 89 people at the concert with guns. I think the terrorists would go after soft targets and forget major landmark areas like Times Square where there are lots of police.
The Times Square bomber, even though he was not born here, he was living and working here on a H1B visa, doing a job that I am sure an American could have been doing. This H1B abuse was discussed in an article by the NYT just last week. He was not some poor downtrodden Muslim. He was a terrorist who tried to kill and maim people in Times Square.
Out in Minnesota we hear of young men who came here Somalia who become radicalized but the FBI was able to rein them in. I notice just about all the experts are saying that is unlikely to happen here. But I think they are saying that just to pacify us. The Boston marathon bombers who came here as refugees and practically grew up here had no problem being radicalized and killing and maiming innocent people with pressure cooker bombs.
4
I think we need to be wary, but let's not scare so easily. No amount of internal surveillance is going to stop small groups armed with vests and assault rifles. Let's concentrate on fissile material, bio agents, and the like. Let's stop having the FBI set up weak-minded losers, and concentrate on anti radicalization efforts and concentrate on plots cooked up by the conspirators rather than the informants.
And it's time to demand that the Saudis clean up the mess they've caused by exporting Wahabism throughout the region. It's time to apply some serious pressure on the wealthy Sunni states to step up.
And it's time to demand that the Saudis clean up the mess they've caused by exporting Wahabism throughout the region. It's time to apply some serious pressure on the wealthy Sunni states to step up.
3
With all due respect, the difference in the US is that you have your own citizens killing themselves. And well, the fact that geographically you have a conspicuous advantage.
Don't mock our intelligence services, when yours can't even figure out their citizens. You don't have allienated muslim citizens, but you certainly do have allienated american citizens.
Unless you pass STRICT gun control laws, and we, together - US and Europe - solve our Middle Eastern problems, nothing's gonna change.
Don't mock our intelligence services, when yours can't even figure out their citizens. You don't have allienated muslim citizens, but you certainly do have allienated american citizens.
Unless you pass STRICT gun control laws, and we, together - US and Europe - solve our Middle Eastern problems, nothing's gonna change.
5
"Gun control" is feel-good nonsense.
Sort of like expecting that a restraining order will prevent a battered woman from being killed.
Something effective needs to be done. Such as has not yet been developed.
Sort of like expecting that a restraining order will prevent a battered woman from being killed.
Something effective needs to be done. Such as has not yet been developed.
I appreciate the effort, but this essay seems like a compilation of wishful and, at times, magical thinking.
The US is vulnerable. Plenty of people flow illegally in and out of the US, it's just that one of our parties has chosen to lionize them.
On top of that, we're awash in firearms and, thanks to the other party, that's non-negotiable.
That something similar and at comparable scale has not happened yet in the US is only a testament to how monitored communication is.
However, add up the body counts of the lone wolf attacks of the last decade, and you see the trend.
Not if, when.
The US is vulnerable. Plenty of people flow illegally in and out of the US, it's just that one of our parties has chosen to lionize them.
On top of that, we're awash in firearms and, thanks to the other party, that's non-negotiable.
That something similar and at comparable scale has not happened yet in the US is only a testament to how monitored communication is.
However, add up the body counts of the lone wolf attacks of the last decade, and you see the trend.
Not if, when.
3
Such an attack could never happen in the US now that we have stopped the NSA from collecting telephone data which would lead to the identification of the people who would want to do such a thing. That and the fact that the US has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on homeland security while at the same time restricting how those resources are used so that reasonable, logical and effective profiling of likely terrorists is prohibited while blond Scandinavians women come under close scrutiny makes me feel much safer.
2
James,
You are naive if you think NSA data collection has stopped. The tools are still in place and the NSA believes its above the law.
You are naive if you think NSA data collection has stopped. The tools are still in place and the NSA believes its above the law.
Does anyone ask why ISIS hasn't attacked Brazil or threatened Mexico? They are after all, Western, Christian, democratic and have very small Muslim minorities? Aren't these the reasons we are given to explain why they hate us? Or could the root cause of much of this conflict lie in our own policies in the Middle East? The 9/11 Commission report suggests that as a motivation, but that conclusion is buried deep in their findings and never mentioned by media or politicians.
The mainstream media and the politicians are too busy telling us why we need to fight another war and why we need to pay for it with even with our recession driven economy and why we to need borrow money to pay for it so that the wealthy war profiteers can enjoy lower taxes.
I truly feel for the innocent victims of the attack in Paris. But I also feel for the innocent victims of our drone strikes. The last I read 90% of the victims of those attacks are simply civilians. Sometimes we have mistakenly attacked wedding parties. Are the families of those innocents any less shocked and grieved by the death of their loved ones than the families in Paris?
There has never been a clear explanation for why we are pursuing "regime change" throughout the Middle East. Nor have we ever accounted for our horrific war crimes beginning with Bush and Cheney in 2003. I morn the death of innocents in Paris, but i also morn the slow death of my democracy and the arrogance of those who took an oath to preserve and uphold it.
The mainstream media and the politicians are too busy telling us why we need to fight another war and why we need to pay for it with even with our recession driven economy and why we to need borrow money to pay for it so that the wealthy war profiteers can enjoy lower taxes.
I truly feel for the innocent victims of the attack in Paris. But I also feel for the innocent victims of our drone strikes. The last I read 90% of the victims of those attacks are simply civilians. Sometimes we have mistakenly attacked wedding parties. Are the families of those innocents any less shocked and grieved by the death of their loved ones than the families in Paris?
There has never been a clear explanation for why we are pursuing "regime change" throughout the Middle East. Nor have we ever accounted for our horrific war crimes beginning with Bush and Cheney in 2003. I morn the death of innocents in Paris, but i also morn the slow death of my democracy and the arrogance of those who took an oath to preserve and uphold it.
6
Exactly! I wish I had said it....
" The Schengen rules, which allow for free border-crossing inside most of the European Union, have made life simple for criminals." As opposed to the difficulties in traveling from one US State to another? The equivalent of going from Brussels to Paris, as the gunmen seem to have done, would be to go from Philadelphia to New York City. This claim is really dumb
2
I'm not going to criticise European gun control laws - they are sensible. But a big factor in this situation is the disintegration of effective gun control in Eastern Europe and the large number of military grade firearms washing around there. In particular, the Kalashnikov has undergone three iterations, from the classic AK47 to its successor AK74 and the current AK10x (AK101, 102, 103 and 104) rifles and AN94. Each generation has meant that the previous was taken out of military and security service and stored, and then was supposed to disposed of (dismantled for recycling or exported to other militaries.) However, vast numbers of these weapons have leaked, along with pistols, ammunition and other small arms into the hands of Eastern European black markets - and as a result the price of an illicit Kalashnikov (and ex Warsaw Pact pistols) in the EU has dropped like a stone.
Before anyone in the US crows about this though, remember how loose US firearms laws have armed the gangs in Mexico and Latin America facilitating wholesale slaughter, and how easy it is to obtain an illicit firearm in the US, including military grade rifles. The US is the rest of the America's eastern Europe.
Before anyone in the US crows about this though, remember how loose US firearms laws have armed the gangs in Mexico and Latin America facilitating wholesale slaughter, and how easy it is to obtain an illicit firearm in the US, including military grade rifles. The US is the rest of the America's eastern Europe.
This article is a curious mix of complacency, belief in our superior capabilities, claims that we have a superior geographical position, a sense that we will have more time to deal with the problem, and on and on.
We should not forget that Hasan and the Tsnarnaev brothers were reasonably well educated, which was the case with many of the 9/11 perpetrators, at least one of which had a masters degree. Nor should we forget that we have had a number of young men leave this country to try to join the jihadists in the Middle East. Thus, we already have the seeds for a growing problem among us, and there is no guarantee none of these people will not prefer to pursue jihad here at home rather than try to do so in the Middle East.
While it is not likely, that we will have a major influx of young, uneducated, single male migrants from the Middle East, we do have, and will likely continue to have, many foreign students in our colleges and universities. There is no guarantee that none of them could become the next Hasan or Tsnarnaev or worse.
Furthermore, the jihadists in the Middle East are constantly seeking to recruit people to their cause using social media and other means, and they seem to be getting very good at it.
The safest way to proceed is to act as if there is an immediate threat and proceed accordingly. Better to err on the side of caution than to believe mistakenly that it cannot happen here.
We should not forget that Hasan and the Tsnarnaev brothers were reasonably well educated, which was the case with many of the 9/11 perpetrators, at least one of which had a masters degree. Nor should we forget that we have had a number of young men leave this country to try to join the jihadists in the Middle East. Thus, we already have the seeds for a growing problem among us, and there is no guarantee none of these people will not prefer to pursue jihad here at home rather than try to do so in the Middle East.
While it is not likely, that we will have a major influx of young, uneducated, single male migrants from the Middle East, we do have, and will likely continue to have, many foreign students in our colleges and universities. There is no guarantee that none of them could become the next Hasan or Tsnarnaev or worse.
Furthermore, the jihadists in the Middle East are constantly seeking to recruit people to their cause using social media and other means, and they seem to be getting very good at it.
The safest way to proceed is to act as if there is an immediate threat and proceed accordingly. Better to err on the side of caution than to believe mistakenly that it cannot happen here.
5
"Many of the guns are from government stocks in places like Libya and Syria, which has changed the equation in formerly gun-free Europe." No, most of this flood of guns comes from the war zones of former Yugoslavia and the looted arsenals of post-Communist states in Eastern Europe. No non European sources are needed and moving guns around in Europe is much easier that trying to bring them in from outside.
1
This article is flawed with assumptions. ''European citizens happy to massacre their compatriots''? I seem to remember almost monthly school massacres in the US by US citizens seemingly happy to massacre their compatriots. In addition - are you trying to persuade us that spending $650 billion on homeland security was a good thing? The whole cultural structure in Europe is more complex than this article makes it sound. Yes there are massive gaps - but Americanizing the way we deal with security will not work in Europe.
3
That this dispassionate analysis engenders such negative reactions says more about people's current hysteria post-Paris attacks than about U.S. domestic security. The four distinctions between the U.S. and Europe are salient. The emphasis they place on counter-terrorism and intelligence is sound. We would be wise to integrate more of this kind of well-considered thought into the public debate so dominated right now by fear-mongering. If the past nearly fifteen years of military action since 9/11 have demonstrated anything to us, it is that aggressive global intelligence gathering and co-ordinated police work are more effective in fighting Islamic terrorists than large-scale military campaigns in the Middle East.
3
I will post a mild dissent to all the negative comments about the article. As those comments rightly say, there's no shortage of carnage involving innocent people here, thanks to our "active shooter" culture. On the other hand, I think the authors are basically correct in terms of the US not having many of the risk factors that Europe is dealing with when it comes to attacks by terrorists. Imagine if the country to our south was Syria, not Mexico. Our circumstances would be quite different.
3
How ironic that the authors point to our supposedly superior law enforcement capabilities on the morning when the governments of France and Belgium are conducting operations forbidden by our Constitution: they are raiding scores of homes of suspected terrorists' sympathizers.
I dearly love our Constitution but, to be realistic, it can prevent us from taking sensible actions in dealing with warfare as conducted by our enemies.
I dearly love our Constitution but, to be realistic, it can prevent us from taking sensible actions in dealing with warfare as conducted by our enemies.
It is beyond naive to think that a coordinated attack of the magnitude could not happen here. It would require more planning but our borders are porous and the competence at airports where 95% of weapons and explosives went undetected in a test at airports here demonstrates our vulnerability. With or without gun control (and surely more is needed) we can expect deranged people to execute mass killings. I do not minimize the effect of gun violence on the nation but attacks like in Paris or 9-11 have a far greater impact on the national psyche.
9
You are absolutely right in all that you say. In addition, homegrown terrorist do not need to enter our borders, they can be cultivated and trained to disperse anywhere in the US as they did in Paris in coordinated attacks. Their mission is to cause "terror". They do not have to slaughter thousands, hundreds will do the trick. Unfortunately, there are enough disenfranchised youth that would fit that bill right here in NYC and probably in other large cities. As I've mentioned in many of my comments to the NY Times, we cannot fight these people in a conventional manner, they do not attack in the conventional manner. Our intelligence agencies are, I am certain and hoping, looking for those who are recruiting these people who could potentially cause havoc. Yes, even here in the United States.
Attacks like these don't require all that much coordination. Making it seem like this attack required any more than a dozen people with guns and a map is giving it more credit than it deserves.
ISIS could shrink to a force of 200 and we could still have attacks like this every year for the next twenty.
ISIS could shrink to a force of 200 and we could still have attacks like this every year for the next twenty.
1
The majority of concert venues in the U.S. have very limited security... "Event Staff" mostly taking tickets, checking IDs, and looking-out for drunks or someone having a "bad trip," etc. They don't typically check bags, they don't have metal detectors, and they are usually crowded and filled to the gills with concert-goers. In most cases they would probably notice and be able to stop someone trying to carry-in a rifle, but would be helpless against 2-3 terrorists rushing the entrance with guns blazing. Most of the large venues like sports arenas where the big-name acts perform have much tighter security...but 95+% of concerts in America are at the smaller venues (500-1500 in attendance), and also have a limited number of exits. It wouldn't take a "mastermind" to organize 2-3 local terrorists to storm one of these places with AK-47s or AR-15s and kill a lot of people, or to do a drive-by at a sidewalk cafe/restaurant, especially if they were suicidal jihadists. Every one of these smaller concert venues should put a relatively robust armed presence in place (e.g., two uniformed armed security staff at the front) and conduct some form of metal detection. Raise ticket prices accordingly. Don't know what can be done to prevent a drive-by scenario.
4
This article is insulting in its smugness and lacks some basic research, most of which commentators have added here.
1. France has been recognized as one of the most secure nations in the EU and has a good record of thwarting attacks on her soil.
2. We experience domestic violence on an alarmingly frequent basis.
3. The focus of this article should have been more on the need to be careful and alert but not panic or actual ways we can help other nations increase their security, if it is indeed lacking. Instead, the author's felt the need to tell everyone why they perceive our security to be better than everyone else's. That's not a constructive sentiment.
1. France has been recognized as one of the most secure nations in the EU and has a good record of thwarting attacks on her soil.
2. We experience domestic violence on an alarmingly frequent basis.
3. The focus of this article should have been more on the need to be careful and alert but not panic or actual ways we can help other nations increase their security, if it is indeed lacking. Instead, the author's felt the need to tell everyone why they perceive our security to be better than everyone else's. That's not a constructive sentiment.
10
The balance between personal freedom and national security is a difficult one to achieve. The availability of encrypted messaging on social media positions itself on the side of personal freedom, but compromises national security. Given the genius and creativity so many of the young tech entrepreneurs posses, surely one of them could find a way that would allow the pendulum to swing back toward national security. If not, future terrorists attacks will become increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to thwart.
Once again, there seems to be a conflict between the urge to make more money and the willingness to work for the public good. I pray greed does not prevail.
Once again, there seems to be a conflict between the urge to make more money and the willingness to work for the public good. I pray greed does not prevail.
3
I am first generation immigrant. I came to this country in 1971 when I was five years old. I grew up in Pittsburgh during the slow and painful collapse of the steel industry, the influx of refugees from Vietnam, and the Iran hostage crisis. In other words, not a great time to look different, have a funny sounding name, and practice a weird religion. I have travelled to India several times as well as to the UK, Ireland, and Italy. Despite recent uproars over illegal immigrants, the "browning" of America, and the growing numbers of people who have to mark "other" when it comes to religion, America is a much more accepting country than any other on earth. What's happening in Paris and other European cities has a lot to do with their inability to incorporate people of different ethnicities and religions into their communities. America has a long tradition of doing this. Never was this more apparent to me than in 1976 when I saw the mayor of our town, a tall white American guy, born and raised in Pittsburgh, breaking a coconut during the ground breaking ceremony for the first Hindu temple in our city. As an impressionable child, I looked in amazement seeing the two cultures I was growing up in come together. Above all else, I am an American first. This country has a great tradition of making people from all over the world feel proud to declare this. As long as we keep our arms open, we will be ok.
201
American's welcome LEGAL immigrants who want to join the melting pot. Not change it. You by what you have said is someone that wanted to blend. Welcome.
1
Yes, there are differences that suggest that the U.S. will be less vulnerable than continental Europe. However, it's naive to think that events of similar or greater scale to what happened in Paris won't happen in the U.S. Don't underestimate the depth of intent to cause harm to the U.S. and its citizens. Further, with the growing rate of technological change, in the coming years geographic distance will cease to provide additional protection. It's sobering to think of the possibilities that exist once extremist states access missile technology, which is unfortunately an inevitable outcome in the coming decades.
4
Sorry, folks, but the fact that we have a different murder rate and a number of mass shooting incidents by mentally deranged suspects is appalling but it is not the same thing as the threat posed by ideological enemies such as the Muslim terrorists of ISIS. The mentality that lets a person shot some people at a movie theater is not the same as flying airplanes into buildings or a coordinated assault with multiple suicide bombers and automatic weapons at someplace like Grand Central.
While the US has indeed taken many steps to make us more secure, and there have been incidents (some we probably don't even know about) which have been prevented in the past, we remain a high priority target for these extremists and it is unlikely that we will escape such an assault forever.
The notion of our secure borders, especially with Mexico, is one of the most laughable parts of this piece. And while we may have "cracked down" on overstayed visas I have little confidence that this administration has the stomach to really enforce those infractions especially if anyone even raises the possibility that such enforcement is unfair, racist, and all the usual rest. Why can't a "sanctuary city" pretend to "protect" overstayed Middle Easterners from our supposedly hateful laws as easily as Latin Americans? We're fooling ourselves.
While the US has indeed taken many steps to make us more secure, and there have been incidents (some we probably don't even know about) which have been prevented in the past, we remain a high priority target for these extremists and it is unlikely that we will escape such an assault forever.
The notion of our secure borders, especially with Mexico, is one of the most laughable parts of this piece. And while we may have "cracked down" on overstayed visas I have little confidence that this administration has the stomach to really enforce those infractions especially if anyone even raises the possibility that such enforcement is unfair, racist, and all the usual rest. Why can't a "sanctuary city" pretend to "protect" overstayed Middle Easterners from our supposedly hateful laws as easily as Latin Americans? We're fooling ourselves.
42
I respectfully disagree. Death is death. In both cases it is involving innocent bystanders taken by surprised and completely terrorized. When you find yourself in a public place and all of a sudden you hear the crack of gunfire and see blood and bodies everywhere, does it really matter who did it? Either way, you are terrorized. Or maimed. Or killed.
2
In theory what happened in Paris could also happen elsewhere. The "four things" that Steven Simon and Daniel Benjamin mention are true mainly for France, because it accommodates one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe - 4.7 millions, next to Germany's 4.8 millions.
While most Muslims living in France are from former colonies in the Maghreb, those in Germany are mainly from Turkey, the Balkans etc. and they don't really share the same grievances.
Stepping up surveillance and monitoring of social media may help prevent this kind of coordinated attacks. However there are lone wolves who will act unilaterally. But as soon as they plot multiple coordinated attacks, they will have to rely on networking services.
While most Muslims living in France are from former colonies in the Maghreb, those in Germany are mainly from Turkey, the Balkans etc. and they don't really share the same grievances.
Stepping up surveillance and monitoring of social media may help prevent this kind of coordinated attacks. However there are lone wolves who will act unilaterally. But as soon as they plot multiple coordinated attacks, they will have to rely on networking services.
5
Here is one problem we have. The terrorists are using modern technology like smartphones and Playstation 4 to organize attacks. We have middle aged men who made calls on rotary phones trying to figure this out. Time to get the youth involved in our strategy against ISIS.
14
Old age and treachery will always beat youth and inexperience.
2
Who are these "middle aged men...on rotary phones trying to figure this out"? Technology and aging Luddites doesn't really seem to be our weakness...
2
The irony is that the illegal use of full automatic weapons in the USA since 1934 is almost zero while gun free Europe is awash in Kalashnikovs from Eastern Europe to the point that they sell for as little as $300. Americans have been misled into thinking that semi-automatic replicas of military assault rifles are the same thing, but they very much aren't - as the death toll at the Bataclan demonstrates.
10
a semi auto ak47 can be fired almost as quickly as a full auto
1
If the NRA has their way, that can all change. As you know,the only way to stop a bad guy with a rocket launcher, is a good guy with a rocket launcher.
1
I suggest flying to Paris, taking the RER B to Gare du Nord, getting off the train, and walking around the station for a half hour before your next lecture on gun-free Europe.
1
Folks. It already HAS happened here - multiple times. A coordinated attack on 9/11 against multiple locations, far more elaborate and lethal than the Paris attacks. We've had numerous mass murders since then attributed to Islam-inspired psychopaths, including attacks in military bases on our on soil. And but for some stroke of luck or ineptness on the bombers' part, we would have had scores of casualties from a car bomb in Times Square, just blocks from where I work. These are just some examples.
So to hear these co-authors claim "such anxiety is unwarranted" is hardly comforting. We are, quite literally, ground zero for lethal terrorist attacks.
So to hear these co-authors claim "such anxiety is unwarranted" is hardly comforting. We are, quite literally, ground zero for lethal terrorist attacks.
47
Interesting concept to consider along with your accurate assessment; when countries suffer murderous assaults due to terrorisim, the mindset is to go on with normal everyday life as soon as possible to deprive terrorists of their long term goal of instilling disruptive fear into a population.
Despite what you accurately point out as numerous terrorist attacks being successfully carried out on US soil, we tend to move on quickly with our everyday lives. I'm not so sure this is actually a bad thing.
Despite what you accurately point out as numerous terrorist attacks being successfully carried out on US soil, we tend to move on quickly with our everyday lives. I'm not so sure this is actually a bad thing.
Thanks for your common sense. Obviously the authors of this ridiculous article are not New Yorkers. We go about our days because we have to, for many reasons. But the thought of another tragedy after 9/11 will always be with us. We don't allow the possibility of terrorism hinder our lives, but we are functioning with caution. Our vigilance is a result of our resilience.
In your examples...did you leave out Kansas City and Chattanooga, not to mention all the shootings and bombings at women's clinics, for any PARTICULAR reason?
" a Euro-jihadist infrastructure to supply weapons "
No, we don't have that, but we do have gun shows, where any deranged killer, whether a rejected boyfriend, white supremacist or would be mass murderer for any cause, can back up a truck and, with no background check, drive off with a deadly arsenal.
And while we do have control at the Mexican and Canadian borders, we have no controls at the border with Georgia, Texas, Indiana or other states that allow guns to pour out into places like New York.
No, we don't have that, but we do have gun shows, where any deranged killer, whether a rejected boyfriend, white supremacist or would be mass murderer for any cause, can back up a truck and, with no background check, drive off with a deadly arsenal.
And while we do have control at the Mexican and Canadian borders, we have no controls at the border with Georgia, Texas, Indiana or other states that allow guns to pour out into places like New York.
60
Lynn, if guns from Texas, Georgia, and Indiana are really the problem, why aren't the crime rates there soaring like they are in New York, Chicago, Baltimore, etc?
Obviously you haven't been to any gun shows.
The vast majority of the sellers at gun shows are federal firearms license holders, who do background checks on all of the buyers they sell to. Yes, there are normally a couple of guys who are not FFLs, but they generally are good people who won't sell to someone they are suspicious of.
You've bought the anti-gun propaganda hook, line, and sinker.
Obviously you haven't been to any gun shows.
The vast majority of the sellers at gun shows are federal firearms license holders, who do background checks on all of the buyers they sell to. Yes, there are normally a couple of guys who are not FFLs, but they generally are good people who won't sell to someone they are suspicious of.
You've bought the anti-gun propaganda hook, line, and sinker.
That is entirely untrue. There are background checks at gun shows. Perhaps one out of thousands of guns sold can be sold without a check - and that would be one private individual selling to another person.
IRT Lynn:
Please educate yourself. Gun shows require background checks for firearm sales - period. It is the criminal element that disregards the legalities of existing firearm statutes. Note, if you please, the homicide rates in highly gun restricted cities like Chicago and Baltimore.
I feel much safer at a concert, sporting event or restaurant in Texas knowing that one or more of my fellow citizens is on alert, armed and competent to respond. I and my fellow citizens will not meekly die one-by-one because only the criminal element or terrorist is armed.
Please educate yourself. Gun shows require background checks for firearm sales - period. It is the criminal element that disregards the legalities of existing firearm statutes. Note, if you please, the homicide rates in highly gun restricted cities like Chicago and Baltimore.
I feel much safer at a concert, sporting event or restaurant in Texas knowing that one or more of my fellow citizens is on alert, armed and competent to respond. I and my fellow citizens will not meekly die one-by-one because only the criminal element or terrorist is armed.
My sense is that the picture you paint is too rosy. Indeed, the US does have the advantages you mention -- distance, a less radicalized Muslim population, higher spending on security. But our border with Mexico is laughably porous. If we can't keep Latin American children from crossing it, how are we going to keep out terrorists?
What's more, lax gun control means that once within this country, terrorists would have easy access to assault weapons. They wouldn't need to make bombs and they would have no need to smuggle anything across the border. The worst they would face if caught by the INS would be deportation.
Finally, ISIS has shown that it can circumvent surveillance to arrange a plot like this. That being the case, my sense is that if ISIS had willing suicide killers and wanted to mount an attack here, it would be easy to arrange -- fly unarmed terrorists to Latin America, they make their way across the Mexican border, use loopholes to purchase assault weapons, coordinate their attack using encrypted communications. Or come in with the flock of Syrian refugees, should that go forward. There are lots of ways it could be done.
What's more, lax gun control means that once within this country, terrorists would have easy access to assault weapons. They wouldn't need to make bombs and they would have no need to smuggle anything across the border. The worst they would face if caught by the INS would be deportation.
Finally, ISIS has shown that it can circumvent surveillance to arrange a plot like this. That being the case, my sense is that if ISIS had willing suicide killers and wanted to mount an attack here, it would be easy to arrange -- fly unarmed terrorists to Latin America, they make their way across the Mexican border, use loopholes to purchase assault weapons, coordinate their attack using encrypted communications. Or come in with the flock of Syrian refugees, should that go forward. There are lots of ways it could be done.
21
Your concern about Syrian (or other) so-called refugees is more valid than them flying to mexico and hoofing it up, which is so unlikely. I think this world-wide acceptance of these refugees is nuts. The immediate stance in europe should have been-- try Saudi Arabia.
We did keep those kids from crossing the border. That's how they ended up on Federal busses, being screamed at by hate-filled morons.
Good grief.
Good grief.
Of course another major attack could happen here.
The inability of governments to decrypt communications, only a recent development pushed by those favoring their "rights" over security, blinded the French, as well as all the other security forces that attempt to protect us.
Only after more deaths will this "right" be forfeited to save lives.
Dying with your rights on!
The inability of governments to decrypt communications, only a recent development pushed by those favoring their "rights" over security, blinded the French, as well as all the other security forces that attempt to protect us.
Only after more deaths will this "right" be forfeited to save lives.
Dying with your rights on!
22
The Boston Marathon bombings occurred before Snowden, if that's what you're trying to imply.
1
It's not any different than the purported "right" to own guns. I see neither of these two going away any time soon.
So those who die to preserve our rights are dying in vain, right?
While in general I agree with the authors that we shouldn't overestimate the threat, much of their argument is understating the risk. How many times have we had mass shootings here in the US that is not politically motivated? So if mentally disturbed individuals such as Jared Loughner or Adam Lanza can do such a thing, motivated individuals cannot?
Yes, we are surrounded by highly cooperative neighboring countries such as Mexico. Which is why we have had maybe 15 million people slip illegally into the country over the last few decades. And how much drugs gets smuggled into the country each year? I find it hard to believe that should a terrorist wish to come here, he likely could.
Which doesn't begin to reflect the fact that many of the terrorists who pulled off 9/11 came here legally on visas. The authors say we have cracked down on that, but somehow I doubt it.
Which also ignores homegrown items such as the Boston Marathon Bombers and the thwarted Times Square bombing awhile back.
So, no, we shouldn't panic, nor should we overestimate the threat. But to believe we here in the United States are miraculously shielded from Islamist terrorism (or even other varieties of mass violence) just makes no sense.
Yes, we are surrounded by highly cooperative neighboring countries such as Mexico. Which is why we have had maybe 15 million people slip illegally into the country over the last few decades. And how much drugs gets smuggled into the country each year? I find it hard to believe that should a terrorist wish to come here, he likely could.
Which doesn't begin to reflect the fact that many of the terrorists who pulled off 9/11 came here legally on visas. The authors say we have cracked down on that, but somehow I doubt it.
Which also ignores homegrown items such as the Boston Marathon Bombers and the thwarted Times Square bombing awhile back.
So, no, we shouldn't panic, nor should we overestimate the threat. But to believe we here in the United States are miraculously shielded from Islamist terrorism (or even other varieties of mass violence) just makes no sense.
55
I was with you until your last sentence. The authors do not suggest or imply or say that we are permanently shielded from Islamist terror.
Good point on the drugs. For example, ~5 deaths per day in Ohio from drug overdose, according to the state itself. That's more deaths in Ohio from overdose in a year than the two terror attacks in Paris in the last year.
The Boston Marathon bombers were not "homegrown." They were refugees.
These seem like ill-timed smug projections, especially in light that it was U.S. foreign policy that created the vacuum that enabled the establishment of the caliph. It was what less than 10 persons who carried out maneuvers to kill at least 130, almost killed another 100, injured 250 others. Paris can't happen here, until it does. I think whatever happens violence will increase for the time being.
40
The terrifying possibility of getting murdered by Islamic militants requires the investment of billions of dollars and the creation of a far reaching and deep probing security state.
The terrifying possibility of getting murdered by some mentally ill recluse or a disenfranchised teenager...is an unfortunate but acceptable consequence for living in the greatest and freest country on earth.
The terrifying possibility of getting murdered by some mentally ill recluse or a disenfranchised teenager...is an unfortunate but acceptable consequence for living in the greatest and freest country on earth.
36
We are an open society that exists within a physically and virtually interconnected world. America is by no means immune to anything, including the questionable morality of our half hearted response in the face of regional genocide. The mistakes of prior administrations should not prevent us from acting both carefully and decisively.
6
I almost laughed when I read this article. America experiences mass shootings on a very regular basis. Tens of thousands are killed every year by firearms and these authors want to assure Americans that they are much safer than Europeans? To be honest when you get killed by a mass shooter it really doesn't matter if they are from Isis or just a local lunatic and in the US your chances are orders of magnitude higher than in Europe. With the easy availability of arms in the US (much more so than in Europe) it is only a matter of time before an Isis sympathizer tries their hand at this.
280
I was planning to write something similar to this, but LS saved me the trouble. I worry far less about being killed by an ISIS terrorist than by some lone gunman with whatever grievance. To die is to die. I doubt much that if you counted up the number of civilians killed in the EU by terrorists or even some lone madman comes anywhere close to the numbers who die by gun in this country every year. My sympathies to the families in France who lost loved ones.
2
Your take on this stupid opinion article is perfectly expressed. This is definitely not part of "All the news that is fit to print" as far as the NYT goes. I have been a NYT reader all my life. However I have noticed a decline in its intellectual choices lately and am very sorry to see it happen.
Mass killings? Not remotely a possibility for the average American. Yes we are potentially vulnerable, but vigilance and fortitude are way better than bunkers. We have a vital society to defend and will do so.
This article has not comforted me at all. The comments point out that the US has mass shootings constantly, guns including assault guns are easily accesible and references act of terror like the Oklahoma bombing.
Then I read the authors are scholars who were formerly senior government employees responsible for security and counterterrorism.
Frankly, I am terrified for all Americans.
Then I read the authors are scholars who were formerly senior government employees responsible for security and counterterrorism.
Frankly, I am terrified for all Americans.
42
It's not intended to comfort us. It's intended to analyze the situation in a rational manner at a time of public hysteria
Border controls and surveillance have their limits. Just take the international drug trade as a frame of reference. In spite of all of the law enforcement and interdiction efforts it's still a viable multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise that defeats our borders every day. If the cartels can do that then, even if we catch some, terrorists can make their way in too. They wouldn't even have to smuggle in weapons. Once they were here, $500 could get them an AK-47 and all the ammunition they could carry.
16
I was surprised by all the thoughtless negative comments on this piece. The authors are addressing Muslim terror conspiracies. Our mass killings, while no worse in their effects, are clearly a different phenomenon - and much harder to thwart via intelligence since our shooters tend to be lone wolves. The fact that 9/11 happened here is also not relevant. As the authors note, we followed that tragedy with a massive increase in our counter-terrorism budget that has handily thwarted most similar attacks for the past 14 years. The intelligence community are the unseen and unappreciated heroes in our life-and-death battle with radical Islam. We owe them our thanks during this holiday season.
124
Many people have correctly pointed out that the horror does happen here, courtesy of the NRA and gun absolutists.
But there is another fact to think about. If we have had to spend $650 billion plus since 9/11 on the security apparatus, that is money not spent on schools, roads, bridges, etc. Plus do we not all sacrifice our civil liberties in allowing surveillance of our email traffic, phone records, movements, and innumerable other daily activities? In all these ways, Al Qaeda has won against us.
How about we (a) acknowledge our past support, and (b) cease and desist in future support for unsavory characters like the Shah (going so far as to execute a coup in Iran), the Saudi and Kuwaiti royal families, Hosni Mubarak and the military generals in Egypt, and not just get on our holy high horse and automatically start mouthing pieties about how awful Gadaffi and Sadaam Hussien (whom we also supported, btw, when it was convenient) were. Why do they hate us? Because we exploit(ed) them. We are major contributors to their misery. Religion just happens to be the easiest vehicle for them to justify and act on their feelings of revenge. It is not rational, but you cannot expect brutalized people to act rationally.
But there is another fact to think about. If we have had to spend $650 billion plus since 9/11 on the security apparatus, that is money not spent on schools, roads, bridges, etc. Plus do we not all sacrifice our civil liberties in allowing surveillance of our email traffic, phone records, movements, and innumerable other daily activities? In all these ways, Al Qaeda has won against us.
How about we (a) acknowledge our past support, and (b) cease and desist in future support for unsavory characters like the Shah (going so far as to execute a coup in Iran), the Saudi and Kuwaiti royal families, Hosni Mubarak and the military generals in Egypt, and not just get on our holy high horse and automatically start mouthing pieties about how awful Gadaffi and Sadaam Hussien (whom we also supported, btw, when it was convenient) were. Why do they hate us? Because we exploit(ed) them. We are major contributors to their misery. Religion just happens to be the easiest vehicle for them to justify and act on their feelings of revenge. It is not rational, but you cannot expect brutalized people to act rationally.
89
Very well said!
Hosni Mubarak knew terrorists when he saw them, especially given the manner of his predecessor Sadat's death, and held the lid on them. For that matter, so did Saddam Hussein.
When Bernie Ssnders said he is not in favor of regime change, he used leftist examples but might as well have been speaking of eliminating the strongmen who kept the Middle East relatively stable. Their removals created power vacuums that ISIL is, thanks a lot, filling nicely. Both Bush and Obama were wild about the so-called Arab Spring. Faugh!
When Bernie Ssnders said he is not in favor of regime change, he used leftist examples but might as well have been speaking of eliminating the strongmen who kept the Middle East relatively stable. Their removals created power vacuums that ISIL is, thanks a lot, filling nicely. Both Bush and Obama were wild about the so-called Arab Spring. Faugh!
1
Their fundamentalist religion does call for our death or submission. It is clearly there, and clearly stated.
It'd ridiculous to assert that terror attacks like the terrible ones in Paris are less likely to happen here when we already have mass casualty gun attacks on a weekly basis in common, public spaces like schools and movie theaters. If the United States really wanted to effectively protect its citizens, from attacks by terrorist organizations or individuals, we would get a lot smarter and more effective gun control policies. It's just not possible to assert our safety from terrorists when there are many places in the United States where you can still buy a gun legally without a background check.
29
"European citizens happy to massacre their compatriots"<br/><br/>Excuse me? What an absurd thing to write. These terrorists identify primarily as Muslims, not as European citizens. From my experiences with Europeans they're mostly happy to get up in the morning, take care of themselves or their families, go to work and come home safely.<br/><br/>Like most stuff in the media today, too many people writing too many things trying to out-clever each other.
87
There is no doubt, America has worked terrific to combat terrorism. It is inspiring and motivating of other developed and developing countries. However, building resources would is not a single solution. Awareness among citizens and a strong feeling of the nation state is also required, which is hardly shown in the developing countries like India. The countries should also bring stringent policy for addressing issues of refugees and migrants.
"Paris" is happening here routinely if you define "Paris" as murder by stranger(s). I suggest that for the U.S. victims and their survivors, murder by a stranger was just like murder by a terrorist. Like Paris, many of these U.S. murders were mass murders with far-reaching impact on the populace.
The Department of Justice reports that 21% to 27% of murders were committed by strangers each year 1993-2010. See http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vvcs9310.pdf.
Each year 2010-14 murders in the U.S. ranged between 14,200 and 14,900 so the annual total of murders committed by strangers can be estimated at 3,000 to 4,000, or a "Paris" on average every 12 to 15 days.
The Department of Justice reports that 21% to 27% of murders were committed by strangers each year 1993-2010. See http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vvcs9310.pdf.
Each year 2010-14 murders in the U.S. ranged between 14,200 and 14,900 so the annual total of murders committed by strangers can be estimated at 3,000 to 4,000, or a "Paris" on average every 12 to 15 days.
14
You are missing the point; safety, logic and statistics won't take the place of fear mongering media outlets, Internet buzz about terrorism and presidential candidates quite willing to exploit 'fear' just to garner a few votes (But lot's of money campaigning).
The last statistics I could obtain about 'gun violence' in the United States (2013) told me that during that year, approximately 90 people a day died from gunshot inflicted wounds. Yet the gang shootings, the domestic violence shootings, the suicides, etc. just do not make good press and would lose any politician the support of the NRA if ever really highlighted.
Look at the bright side; at least two segments of the American 'economy' are doing well;
a. The people who manufacture and sell guns and
b. The politicians who pocket tons of money to keep those manufacturers happy.
I would no sooner travel to Syria nor South Los Angeles though I'd bet I might be just as safe/unsafe in Syria as I might be in that area of California.
The last statistics I could obtain about 'gun violence' in the United States (2013) told me that during that year, approximately 90 people a day died from gunshot inflicted wounds. Yet the gang shootings, the domestic violence shootings, the suicides, etc. just do not make good press and would lose any politician the support of the NRA if ever really highlighted.
Look at the bright side; at least two segments of the American 'economy' are doing well;
a. The people who manufacture and sell guns and
b. The politicians who pocket tons of money to keep those manufacturers happy.
I would no sooner travel to Syria nor South Los Angeles though I'd bet I might be just as safe/unsafe in Syria as I might be in that area of California.
9
Europe needs to step up its efforts to combat terrorism, for sure. However, insofar their effectiveness is proven (quod non), I don't think most Europeans will accept the high price of mass surveillance and invasive intelligence agencies collecting private data of its citizens in the name of war on terrorism.
4
"Europe needs to step up its efforts to combat terrorism,"
They could start by banning or at least significantly restricting the influx of Muslim "refugees".
They could start by banning or at least significantly restricting the influx of Muslim "refugees".
1
Since 9/11/2001 the U.S. has taken measures, some of them questionable, to increase security, and this may give us a sense of being safer. Still, anyone willing to sacrifice his or her own life can find a way to hurt others as the Boston marathon bombings showed. Unless the U.S. confronts its economic inequality, its racial inequality, its head-in-the-sand approach to mental illness, its glorification of male violence in the entertainment media, and its woefully inadequate gun regulations, we will not be safe from terror and violence within our borders.
6
This article is full of wishful thinking. The safe Canadian/Mexican borders are a non-issue; the enemy is already here. The attacks in Paris were not sophisticated, nor were they the products of a mastermind and well-trained terrorists any more than Columbine, Newtown, or the Aurora theater shootings were. As long as there are disaffected young men willing to die in a blaze of notoriety, this is a real possibility. No one needs to travel to Syria for training or orders - that's what the Internet is for, stupid! Furthermore, decades of political correctness has created a society with no boundaries - our prisons, filled with the dross of society as well as the unfairly sentenced - are a breeding ground for radical Islam. Urban gangbangers feel no loyalty to America and they are ripe for exploitation. Soon enough though, we will see disaffected/mentally ill James Holmes's and Adam Lanza's who are camouflaged by their middle-class creds who will be willing to die for a cause, any cause if it is anarchic enough for them. Anyway, there are plenty of homegrown Muslims here to do the job. This is an asymmetrical war and we haven't learned how to fight that way although we should have learned in Viet Nam.
23
As a lawyer, I suggest that the greatest threat to us all is the potential abrogation of the Bill of Rights in the name of protecting us from terrorism. More and wider searches, deeper intrusions into our privacy and fewer procedural safeguards. And politicians will only seek to appease us with quick, costly solutions--solutions that once in place will seldom be rolled back. Solutions that will cost us a fortune--a fortune that could be better spent on healthcare, education and decent housing, just to name a few. This is where the terrorists exact a high toll. We can't let them win.
15
"The slaughter in France depended on four things: easy access to Paris, European citizens happy to massacre their compatriots, a Euro-jihadist infrastructure to supply weapons and security agencies that lacked resources to monitor the individuals involved. These are problems the United States does not have" Indeed, America had those problems when I was at Dartmouth, long ago; and we still do. Unless, of course, we simply rely on the assurances given by those who are trying to deal with them. Then we're perfectly safe.
5
Of course terrorist acts equivalent to those in Paris can happen here, and the odds really are that such will occur. The trick is not to live in fear, not to respond as our country did after 9/11, but to skip all the pretend security, such as the duct tape absurdity, to engage in meaningful security and non-politicized intelligence gathering, and go about our lives, not giving terrorists even posthumous victories by fundamentally changing who, as a nation, we are.
Of course, good leadership helps, and the difference between "We having nothing to fear but fear itself" and "buy lots of duct tape and shop more" is a relevant difference.
Also, though there is a huge difference, it is not irrelevant that each and every day a hundred mostly innocent people are killed on our roads, so let's keep a sense of proportion about threats to each of us as individuals.
Of course, good leadership helps, and the difference between "We having nothing to fear but fear itself" and "buy lots of duct tape and shop more" is a relevant difference.
Also, though there is a huge difference, it is not irrelevant that each and every day a hundred mostly innocent people are killed on our roads, so let's keep a sense of proportion about threats to each of us as individuals.
7
I think you are kidding yourselves with the poor comfort that "these are problems that the United States does not have". The US has the highest per capita gun ownership anywhere in the world at 112.6 guns per 100 residents, followed by Serbia, where the figure is 69.7. And given you are at the forefront of the "war on terror" the US has made itself a hated target through their military actions, and, moreover, the triumphalist rhetoric of some government leaders that comes on the back of some military strikes. It would be utterly naive, and indeed arrogant, to think that there are not homegrown terrorists with murder in their hearts and a burning resentment over some of the things the US has done in the name of fighting terror lurking in your towns and cities just waiting for the moment to strike. The arsenal they need is all around them, at every gun show and in homes up and down the country. They do not need a "Euro-jihadist infrastructure to supply weapons" and what even is that? Terror comes from the Middle East - Europe is your ally, not your enemy. Do not make it such, especially not in as intelligent a publication as this - for that is what the terrorists want: to divide and conquer, to pit us against one another. This entire opinion piece dismays and angers me.
10
The fact that we have high gun ownership is something that protects us. Europeans cannot defend themselves.
I can and I will defend myself and others.
I can and I will defend myself and others.
There are no easy answers here, but one thing the Europeans might want to consider is the creation of a "Department of Homeland Security" for the entire European Union. Imagine if every state in the US had it's own department of homeland security; the waste, weaknesses in one state, lack of coordination in another, jurisdictional issues, etc. One organization responsible for European Homeland security can operate more effectively and efficiently than each country having it's own.
I think the authors whitewash American vulnerability to this kind of attack. I think the US is uniquely vulnerable due to freedom of movement, access to weapons and relatively exposed infrastructure resources.
Think of an attack on a crowded shopping mall on Black Friday. Even if the mall was heavily policed and the attackers only managed to kill a few dozen people before being stopped by police, such an attack would probably have devastating economic consequences as fear would keep people out of stores during retail's most critical period, not to mention whatever religious ideology message that would be implied by the seasonal nature of the attack.
What I would worry more about such an attack isn't the attack itself, but the response from the public, politicians and security officials. I'd worry about revenge attacks by fringe elements, the irresistible political demand for a heavy military response (the last time a Democrat appeared weak in the Middle East, they lost the White House for 12 years), and the inevitable further erosion of civil liberties resulting from new security restrictions, domestic surveillance and so on.
Think of an attack on a crowded shopping mall on Black Friday. Even if the mall was heavily policed and the attackers only managed to kill a few dozen people before being stopped by police, such an attack would probably have devastating economic consequences as fear would keep people out of stores during retail's most critical period, not to mention whatever religious ideology message that would be implied by the seasonal nature of the attack.
What I would worry more about such an attack isn't the attack itself, but the response from the public, politicians and security officials. I'd worry about revenge attacks by fringe elements, the irresistible political demand for a heavy military response (the last time a Democrat appeared weak in the Middle East, they lost the White House for 12 years), and the inevitable further erosion of civil liberties resulting from new security restrictions, domestic surveillance and so on.
4
America went into a massive panic after 9-11, 2001. It was like someone who had their house broken into then hearing sounds all night long every time the wind blows. This panic was aided and abetted by the Bush administration, eager to equate the threat from terrorism with the long cold war with the Soviets. It was nowhere near the same thing, but why bother with "nuance"?
We were not, then or now, dealing with state actors, but rather an international gang of terrorists. This made them both more threatening (no limits on their blood lust) and, also, less dangerous, because they did not possess the power, nor the weapons, of a military.
For whatever it is worth, I wrote in the months and years following 9-11, 2001, that attacks were far more likely in Europe than here. In the panic mood of those times, few cared to pay attention. We wanted to stay scared, like kids at Halloween.
It is true that we have spent hundreds of billions on security, but a lot of that money has been wasted. I won't go into details, but assuming that we've bought 650 billion dollars in protection is false.
As for our security forces, the governments in Europe are generally better than ours in tracking would be terrorists, especially in the U.K. This is in part because they don't worry about Constitutional restraints and, also, they didn't go bonkers after 9-11 (they might now).
Our big advantage is the ocean, period. The other is the inherent complexity in organizing anything on a massive scale.
We were not, then or now, dealing with state actors, but rather an international gang of terrorists. This made them both more threatening (no limits on their blood lust) and, also, less dangerous, because they did not possess the power, nor the weapons, of a military.
For whatever it is worth, I wrote in the months and years following 9-11, 2001, that attacks were far more likely in Europe than here. In the panic mood of those times, few cared to pay attention. We wanted to stay scared, like kids at Halloween.
It is true that we have spent hundreds of billions on security, but a lot of that money has been wasted. I won't go into details, but assuming that we've bought 650 billion dollars in protection is false.
As for our security forces, the governments in Europe are generally better than ours in tracking would be terrorists, especially in the U.K. This is in part because they don't worry about Constitutional restraints and, also, they didn't go bonkers after 9-11 (they might now).
Our big advantage is the ocean, period. The other is the inherent complexity in organizing anything on a massive scale.
10
The 9-11 jihadists were quasi-state actors, backed by the Wahhabists in Saudi Arabia, just like ISIS is today, yet we are loathe to crack down on the Saudis. Why?
So we need to "double down on our intelligence collection"? Wouldn't that be a tad difficult, given that the government already collects data on all of us? Advocates of the national security state always respond to any crisis with a cry for more intrusion into the lives of citizens, without any evidence as to the effectiveness of the current level of surveillance. It is entirely predictable, as well, that members of Congres will demand higher military spending and probably direct military intervention in Syria.
The U.S., like our Western allies, undoubtedly faces a serious security challenge in the wake of the Paris tragedy. But a knee-jerk reaction that triggers more control over our lives and a hasty military response in Syria mirrors our panicked response to 9/11. The notion that more is always better tends to resonate with Americans, who frequently confuse quantity with quality.
Reducing the freedom of Americans will not enhance our security. A more targeted program of surveillance, aimed at likely suspects (by which I do not mean all Muslims), would surely be more efficient as well as compatible with individual freedom. Promoting positive ties between government and the Muslim community, relying on persuasion rather than coercion, not only conforms to American principles; it encourages cooperation. Alienation helps ISIS, whereas a strong sense of community that excludes no one who shares our political ideals will strengthen security better than surveillance.
The U.S., like our Western allies, undoubtedly faces a serious security challenge in the wake of the Paris tragedy. But a knee-jerk reaction that triggers more control over our lives and a hasty military response in Syria mirrors our panicked response to 9/11. The notion that more is always better tends to resonate with Americans, who frequently confuse quantity with quality.
Reducing the freedom of Americans will not enhance our security. A more targeted program of surveillance, aimed at likely suspects (by which I do not mean all Muslims), would surely be more efficient as well as compatible with individual freedom. Promoting positive ties between government and the Muslim community, relying on persuasion rather than coercion, not only conforms to American principles; it encourages cooperation. Alienation helps ISIS, whereas a strong sense of community that excludes no one who shares our political ideals will strengthen security better than surveillance.
2
Can it happen here, well yse does anyone remember 9/11? I would think the NYTimes would certainly still remember. It makes no differeence if it Is Al Queda or ISIS. In the end they ues the same methods to attain the same result. Perhaps some day we will have a president who understands this.
6
With over 16 thousand murders last year, we're doing pretty good by ourselves.
12
We already raise plenty of home grown "terrorists" and from what I can see of the ever increasing divisions and alienation among ourselves, we are creating more of them than we used to in the past.
12
If you live in New York, you already know it can happen here, because it already has.
113
And Boston...
1
The US was much better protected from attacks like this before Snowden. There must have been obvious patterns in the phone call meta data to coordinate an attack like that.
People are "up in arms" already. We are a pretty trigger happy society here. Our best "shot" at keeping peace and securtiy in this country is to retreat from the ME and put a big tax on oil. We need to get our act together and do what many countries are doing to be fossil fuel free. We are making the world our giant dumping ground of plastics made from petro chemicals, with baby sea birds dying of ingested plastic swalled by fish, to tons of computer parts, plastic bags and plastic water bottles clogging our landfills and roadside ditches. We are indeed a wasteful society. And the human cries for help are now reaching us with masses of them seeking to escape the droughts and bombing of the ME, flooding into Europe. In the past decade, eople around the world are rising up and objecting to abject living standard imposed on them by the biggest cartel that ever ran the world; banking, war profiteers and fossil fuel industries. Facsism abounds with the IMF and others imposing the denationalizing of assets and opening countries to exploitation. Wars are their go to in this giant money making scheme. Pope Francis was right about that. People are making a lot of money on wars. They always have.
46
Thank you! Couldn't have said it better myself. Enough is enough. Those $650 billion we spent on homeland security...they should have been able to go to our children...or ME children...or African children...
1
Halliburton anyone? They got rich off or Iraq. The world pays a terrible price.
2
This article is complete and utter nonsense. It can and will happen here. We would all be a lot safer if the government and its raving liberal acolytes weren't so intent on disarming us.
27
Could and possible are sweeping words. It could happen here and it's possible too. Is it likely? Not so sure. We have so many illegal gun sales and many are opposed to complying with the law on gun sales so I think it's more likely than not.
4
because you'd empty both barrels of your six-shooter at the terrorists, Yosemite Sam? yeah, that'll learn 'em.
1
Does this mean you are planning on bringing weapons to bars and rock concerts? I think I'd feel safer with professional security people.)
It happened here. 9/11, the Boston Marathon, the attack on the Military recruiting office, and other events. It is unrealistic to suppose our vast country is totally secure. We must somehow make Sunni countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar see that it is in their best interest to discourage such attacks, and make it painful if they do not.
37
The truth is that the tragedy in Paris is happening in the US every single second of every day. As Jon Stewart said on his truthier comedy show, we spent trillions invading two countries & are responsible for spilling the blood of thousands of our young soldiers lives to supposedly keep our citizens safe, although the incidence of gun violence & rise of hate groups within our country has only grown exponentially since the Iraq War. The Oklahoma bomber killed 168 and injured over 600 people because of resentment against the federal government. Many radical Republican Tea Party members have a growing hatred for the federal government which the GOP party is currently exploiting. The militant divisions are growing more & more virulent every day as evidenced by the increasing anger within inner cities like Ferguson, MO, Baltimore, MD, Southeast LA, Oakland, CA, Chicago, IL, New York City, etc. which the liberal politicians are appealing to including the million dollar funding by George Soros & Taco Bell heir Rob McKay & exploited by various interest groups. White supremacy groups including the KKK, Aryan Nation, anti-abortion violence including setting clinics on fire or bombings, 2009 Fort Hood shooting, eco terrorists, gang warfare & other hate groups. An average of 3 women are killed every day in the USA by domestic violence & the incidents of mentally ill school or work place shooters occurs frequently.
In comparison with the hatred & divisiveness between the population
In comparison with the hatred & divisiveness between the population
39
Another Jihadist attack and you point to the menace of nativist US domestic terrorists?
Really?
Radical Islam is the global menace whose name people of certain political persuasions dare not speak...
Really?
Radical Islam is the global menace whose name people of certain political persuasions dare not speak...
It is extremely rare when I criticize heavily an article from the NYT but the authors of this Article: Steven Simon and Daniel Benjamin are profoundly misguided and about every of their analysis is a half truth. In fact this article uses abundantly half truth such as: European borders are porous but not American borders, What about border between Mexico and the US and Canada and the US: Anybody could cross the border by simply walking at night. The use of these half truth creates an article of incredibly low quality, and very unintelligent. My opinion is that: Yes Muslim extremism terrorism will happen! Let's hope it will not be too big or with too many horrific events. The Authors constant litany of saying in the USA it is : Not so bad, Not so bad, not so bad, not so bad, makes this article an extremely not reliable article were good analysis is impossible to find.
58
NO we are NOT safer.
Anyone can buy military style assault weapons here, from private sellers or at shows with NO background check.
We have also let our guard down a lot after 9/11.
Is the man with a shopping cart by the station really homeless? Or is that shopping cart really filled with explosives? Immediately after 9/11 those of us who worked in transit stations were told to report any idle person or bag, we don't do that anymore. - We have become too complacent.
It is sad and scary to realize how quickly someone could acquire large amounts of ammunition and weapons without causing any concern, we have put ourselves in a very bad position.
Anyone can buy military style assault weapons here, from private sellers or at shows with NO background check.
We have also let our guard down a lot after 9/11.
Is the man with a shopping cart by the station really homeless? Or is that shopping cart really filled with explosives? Immediately after 9/11 those of us who worked in transit stations were told to report any idle person or bag, we don't do that anymore. - We have become too complacent.
It is sad and scary to realize how quickly someone could acquire large amounts of ammunition and weapons without causing any concern, we have put ourselves in a very bad position.
20
Maybe in SD but certainly not in NY and CT where bomb squads are called in response to middle school science projects discarded on the streets. Try leaving a bag in GC; see what happens.
"Anyone can buy military style assault weapons here, from private sellers or at shows with NO background check."
True military rifles are capable of gull automatic fire, they will keep firing as long as the trigger is held back and there is ammunition in the magazine; the rifles available to the public are semi-automatic only and will only fire one shot each time the trigger is pulled.
True military rifles are capable of gull automatic fire, they will keep firing as long as the trigger is held back and there is ammunition in the magazine; the rifles available to the public are semi-automatic only and will only fire one shot each time the trigger is pulled.
It's important to keep the numbers in perspective. In 2014 there were over 12,000 gun related deaths in the US and only about 2% of those were categorized as mass shootings. We certainly have a gun problem in this country, but so far ISIS has not been a factor. Even if the Paris attacks had instead happened here, it would represent barely over 1% of last year's deaths by guns. It's important to see the big picture.
216
Are you saying that Americans are killing themselves just fine without the help is ISIS.
32
Steven, I'm a strong advocate of gun control, and of course our country has a horrendous problem with shootings which ought to be addressed as a top public health priority. - *But* - this is utterly irrelevant to the issues related to attacks of terrorism. I fail to see any point in the comparison.
since 911, there have been about 140,000 gun deaths in th usa
It can happen here. It very well could be a question of when not if. IS could already have several sleeper cells of their agents already here. Or they could be everyday people in America who've been recruited and have been here for years. All they would need is weapons and training. It's very frightening when you think about the possibility.
8
We need to accustom ourselves to the idea that American citizens will commit heinous, violent acts to advance some bizarre political cause, obey some absurd religious edict or tenet or to support an enemy group or nation-- of their own free will. And no one can stop them until they are killed or captured.
In my view, the best defense against this kind of politically motivated violence, and terrorism generally, is to devalue it by paying scant attention to it; as hard as that might be.
Wall-to-wall live news coverage is the dividend terrorists seek. We should refuse to pay it.
In my view, the best defense against this kind of politically motivated violence, and terrorism generally, is to devalue it by paying scant attention to it; as hard as that might be.
Wall-to-wall live news coverage is the dividend terrorists seek. We should refuse to pay it.
16
While the incidence of U.S. "malcontents" may be lower than in Europe, as the authors say, all it takes is one malcontent.
And given the scope of illegal immigration across our southern border, how can the authors claim that would-be terrorists are prevented from slipping across it?
We do not need to be paranoid, but this opinion piece reminds me a bit of whistling while walking past the cemetery at night.
And given the scope of illegal immigration across our southern border, how can the authors claim that would-be terrorists are prevented from slipping across it?
We do not need to be paranoid, but this opinion piece reminds me a bit of whistling while walking past the cemetery at night.
20
...because of our amazing working relationship with the talentedC hard-working and incorruptible personnel of Mexico's internal security apparatus?
Our terrorists are already here and they are home grown -- alienated, mentally ill, and often racist young men with easy access to guns.
92
'We are having your 9/11 here', was the first thing a friend in Paris told me. The French poet Jacques Prévert wrote a poem on 'Despair' with these roughly translated words:
'On a park bench is seated a man who calls out to you when strolling by. He wears dark shades, an old grey suit, and enjoys a smoke, and he beckons to you or waves, but you must not look at him, or listen. Walk on by. Pretend that you haven't seen or heard him, ignore him and hasten your pace, because if you look at him, if you listen to him, nobody will be able to stop you from sitting next to him. And then he will grin, look at you and smile, and you will suffer horribly. The more he grins, the more you will smile in pain, share the same terrible grin, while the children continue to play, people walk by quietly, the birds from one tree to another, and you, you will know seated on this bench of despair that you will never play like these children, never be at peace, and you will never feel free like the birds in the air'.
From America to France, from sea to shining sea, we will prevail in the name of liberty, equality and justice, closer together with all free countries of this world, and put an end to this Evil, a ruthless boot which is relentlessly crushing the open face of Humanity.
Solidarité, we stand united, heads held high with courage and conviction, all in the name of love for the Human Condition.
'On a park bench is seated a man who calls out to you when strolling by. He wears dark shades, an old grey suit, and enjoys a smoke, and he beckons to you or waves, but you must not look at him, or listen. Walk on by. Pretend that you haven't seen or heard him, ignore him and hasten your pace, because if you look at him, if you listen to him, nobody will be able to stop you from sitting next to him. And then he will grin, look at you and smile, and you will suffer horribly. The more he grins, the more you will smile in pain, share the same terrible grin, while the children continue to play, people walk by quietly, the birds from one tree to another, and you, you will know seated on this bench of despair that you will never play like these children, never be at peace, and you will never feel free like the birds in the air'.
From America to France, from sea to shining sea, we will prevail in the name of liberty, equality and justice, closer together with all free countries of this world, and put an end to this Evil, a ruthless boot which is relentlessly crushing the open face of Humanity.
Solidarité, we stand united, heads held high with courage and conviction, all in the name of love for the Human Condition.
4
What drives France’s inability to effectively surveil a rising number of domestic Jihadist sympathizers is its constant need to balance priorities on the head of a pin. This is not unlike the challenges that face all European societies that consume so much of their GDP in funding pervasive social safety nets and that consume so much of their attention on such matters, really with only the occasional (so far) distraction of outrages such as those just committed. Do you feed and house the multitudes or do you guard against murderous Islamist sympathizers? They may not be able to do both, and they may need to either reorder their priorities or resolve to suffer the occasional murderous outrage.
It’s good to have confirmed what many of us already knew – that since 9/11 we’ve invested in and continue to pay for a far more pervasive and effective intelligence and security umbrella that makes it unlikely that Paris could happen here. But that makes Europe all the more likely to suffer since the West’s adversaries can’t easily strike the U.S. directly. And it’s a cautionary circumstance for us: we also could become so consumed with erecting dependencies on our economy SO vast that very little else can be done. For those who think this could never be, simply look at the plight of some of our states that are starving investment in education, infrastructure and policing to satisfy the requirements of Medicaid and the underfunded requirements of public sector pensions and benefits.
It’s good to have confirmed what many of us already knew – that since 9/11 we’ve invested in and continue to pay for a far more pervasive and effective intelligence and security umbrella that makes it unlikely that Paris could happen here. But that makes Europe all the more likely to suffer since the West’s adversaries can’t easily strike the U.S. directly. And it’s a cautionary circumstance for us: we also could become so consumed with erecting dependencies on our economy SO vast that very little else can be done. For those who think this could never be, simply look at the plight of some of our states that are starving investment in education, infrastructure and policing to satisfy the requirements of Medicaid and the underfunded requirements of public sector pensions and benefits.
31
So now all the social programs are at fault for terrorism and responsible for 'certain' states funding problems (Kansas?). All in the name of all those sweetheart tax deals for the wealthy righties that contribute so little to our society.
The bodies are not even cold yet and we have to listen to this?
The bodies are not even cold yet and we have to listen to this?
1
Well it almost sounds like you wish that Europe was a little more like the US "investing in and continuing to pay for a far more pervasive and effective intelligence and security umbrella....". Perhaps it would be better in the end if we continue to starve education for children who are not lucky enough for private schools and cut off medicare and medicaid - better to be alive than educated or healthy :) Really ? Do you think there might be another way ? I live in a state with extreme religious views (Baptists and Evangelicals) who sometimes seem as dogmatic as ISIS.
1
Against the backdrop of the unexpected 9/11 terror attacks on the US, that in fact globalised the Islamist terror, It would be cold comfort rather churlish to rule out another Paris in the US or anywhere else. For, whatever the transatlantic ideological, political, or cultural divide, the Muslim world across the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa perhaps rightly or wrongly sees the US and Europe through the common prism of colonial/neocolomial exploitation and domination of native society. The problem is further compounded by the growing trend of the rightist revival across the world that has lead to social alienation, in general, and that of the Muslim and other minority groups ,in particular. which has contributed to the radicalisation of youth, and prepared the fertile ground for the recruitment for the Jihadi terror in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, or other countries. Finally, since the US led European and Arab allies are fighting a war against the ISIS, they become the common targets of the Islamic State wrath and terror attacks. So, its not not just Paris but the whole world that's on the fireline of the Islamic State or its other version of terrorism.
22
How tolerant of you.
How exactly did Europe become a place where "Europe's citizens are happy to massacre their compatriots"? Every single terrorist who has struck Europe since 9/11 has either immigrated from the Middle East or North Africa or is a descendant of such an immigrant. As for the proposition that Mexico's security apparatus monitors and secures the US-Mexico border, this is possibly the most ludicrous statement I have ever read in the NYT.
163
@SW, As for your last paragraph, I don't think the meaning you took was the one intended by the op-ed writers. While they would have to speak for themselves, I think what they were saying, in a broad brush sort of way, is that we have a good, cooperative relationship with both Mexico and Canada. Crossing the southern border into the U.S. would be the easy part. First, potential terrorists would have to get into Mexico and hook up with those who smuggle Mexicans. Presumably, they would create a lot of noise by just being in Mexico and trying to make those connections. The United States would likely be alerted and the potential terrorists might be arrested in Mexico before they could get anywhere. The borders, north and south, are nonetheless matters of concern.
1
Spot on, and it's perhaps worth adding that the Tsaernev brothers weren't born here but were recent immigrants, something the article seems to overlook.
5
Thats the very thing I am asking ! Am Norwegian living in US . Never have I known a citizen described as described here .
If lone shooters can kill in this country with such ease -- in schools, churches, movie theatres and other public places, why should we imagine that a couple of determined extremists (whether Islamic or of the Oklahoma city kind -- remember that one, folks?) couldn't wreak havoc and carnage with heavy weapons in public places? It's not at all clear that these killers need the cover of a large population -- to suggest that the larger Muslim communities of Europe pose a proportionally larger threat impugns the overwhelmingly law-abiding members of these communities and misjudges the modus operandi of these cells that likely rely on a very small and tight circle of collaborators. This isn't like a popular uprising of some kind or like the melees in urban riots.
184
'...to suggest that the larger Muslim communities of Europe pose a proportionally larger threat...'
Is to state a fact, no matter how politically incorrect that may be.
Is to state a fact, no matter how politically incorrect that may be.
1
James of Flagstaff: it's not the majority of law abiding Muslims that is the problem; it's that the large numbers provide a haven and a cover for the small numbers that do the terror. You know, finding a needle in a law-abiding haystack.
1
One of the things the authors are not considering is the role of complacency. The hyper-vigilance we need to maintain in order to prevent an attack is not sustainable indefinitely. (Compare the security in airports after 9/11 with reports about security in airports of late.) This is not a criticism, it's simply an acknowledgement of the fatigue that inevitably comes with such a difficult task. Human beings are also inherently optimistic--even horrific events fade into our consciousness over time which in turn makes us vulnerable.
25
Laughable. Another "Peace for our time" moment.
50
What do you suggest? The President shouting 'I am in control!'. Everything that we are reading and writing, everything that the Times is publishing is being read. High security measures have been installed for a long time now, and we are to expect to stay in the dark with some certainty for our own protection.
Let us set an example for our young ones to emulate. Europeans have known Evil to come marching on their premises. This is going to require a concerted effort, and better communication with our allied countries, to put an end to this threat, and during this time, a responsibility on our part as to what we place on Facebook and other such medium ways of exchanging our views.
Let us set an example for our young ones to emulate. Europeans have known Evil to come marching on their premises. This is going to require a concerted effort, and better communication with our allied countries, to put an end to this threat, and during this time, a responsibility on our part as to what we place on Facebook and other such medium ways of exchanging our views.
The authors exude the smug confidence and complacency that characterized so much American thinking in the days immediately preceding 9/11, when Washington was consumed with relatively trivial news stories such as one about a missing Congressional intern and Congressman Gary Condit.
79
The large number of mass shootings at schools and even military bases seems to discount this article.
309
And it took not one, but 2 of them to write it.
It already happens here. Think of all the school shootings, shop shootings, wherever anyone can aim a gun. To distinguish between deaths of the innocent based on who kills them seems a bit pedantic. Sandy Hook was a homegrown tragedy. No one had to cross a border, be on a bad guy list, just buy some guns legally and decide where to aim.
419
"No one had to cross a border, be on a bad guy list, just buy some guns legally and decide where to aim".
And THAT is exactly what's most worrisome. . . . . .
And THAT is exactly what's most worrisome. . . . . .
so was oklahoma
It's not panic. It's sensible caution. Words like "unlikely", "impossible", etc., are meaningless. Apparently most of the Paris killers were French or Belgian. Homegrown. It's wrong to keep saying, "Don't worry, they're too far away." Geographical advantage is diminishing daily.
104
Thirty year old male Middle Eastern "college students," who blatantly mock
our religions, should be especially suspect.
our religions, should be especially suspect.
Another good reason to write your legislators and tell them not to accept any of these 'refugees' from the Middle East conflicts : fifth column enemies of law and order.
The U.S. has tighter security? Anxiety is unwarranted? How naive. Didn't the authors of this article learn anything from the Paris attacks? They were soft targets in which no one would have suspected terrorists would really go after. Also, given the fact that firearms would be much easier to acquire in the U.S. than they were in France, it could easily, happen, especially with homegrown jihadists. One of the terrorists they are still looking for was born in France!
For the record, I have not seen armed guards outside any of the theaters on Broadway or the thousands of restaurants throughout the city.
Spend the money on intelligence so these things can be prevented before they happen, otherwise, you can never have enough security forces to anticipate everything, it just isn't possible.
For the record, I have not seen armed guards outside any of the theaters on Broadway or the thousands of restaurants throughout the city.
Spend the money on intelligence so these things can be prevented before they happen, otherwise, you can never have enough security forces to anticipate everything, it just isn't possible.
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"Spend the money on intelligence so these things can be prevented before they happen"
LOL prevent? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bin_Ladin_Determined_To_Strike_in_US
Even with increased intelligence you will not be assured of prevention. You end up with NO privacy and while being LESS safe in the process.
LOL prevent? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bin_Ladin_Determined_To_Strike_in_US
Even with increased intelligence you will not be assured of prevention. You end up with NO privacy and while being LESS safe in the process.
This an irresponsible article. What is the difference between the recent mass shootings in the US and the carnage in Paris? Is not the common denominator, the mindless massacre of innocent life?
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The article is about Islamic terrorism and it is human nature to treat an external threat differently from an internal one, even if the consequences are the same.
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Would you prefer a headline from the Times 'We are at War! The President cautions that we should remain calm. Security measures have been taken. Keep your children inside. Highly recommend that you safeguard your homes and be vigilant when going to work. We are not able to release further information at this time, but are fighting ISIL across the Globe, We will prevail in the name of Humanity. God bless us all'.
This massacre was not mindless. Quite the contrary -- it was very well planned and thought out. Mindless violence is a lot easier to combat.
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I think the writers make some useful points -- especially important to remember at this time of anguish and insecurity. But they fail to acknowledge the negatives -- our porous southern border among them.
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The US does not have "citizens happy to massacre their compatriots"? <br/><br/>What about Newtown, Charleston, Aurora, down through Oklahoma City?<br/><br/>Blinders on, it seems.
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Lydia, the author was writing about the threat from Islamic terrorism. I don't think it's fair to change the subject and then criticize him on that basis.
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Sorry Mr. Hill. It's more than fair. Do you really think it matters if you or a loved one is murdered by an ISIS terrorist or an American nutcase. Presenting the idea that we are safe from what happened in Paris is so ludicrous that it's only logical that comments like the one you are protesting should be the norm in response to this self-serving column.
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Those cases involve severely mentally ill men with personal agendas of their own. That said, members of death cults like old Jonestown and ISIS today reflect the mental illness which accompanies any adherence to archaic religious beliefs. I am deeply pleased to see that religious observance is in sharp decline amongst the young generation of US adults-- fewer people permeable to such nonsense as immaculate conception, transubstantiation of bread and body, speaking in tongues, hands on healing, etc.
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One factor to consider in the US concerning the missing "Euro-jihadist infrastructure to supply weapons" - if ever your basic Jihadist wannabe were to forget or lose his Kalashnikov he can always pick up a couple of AR15s at the local gun exchange, no questions asked, cash preferred. Need more ammunition? - probably Walmart could oblige.
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Spot on. I don't know why this article missed that.
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Erasmus
I don’t believe there is an easy weapons supply in France but that didn’t stop the slaughter did it. The French made sure that the jihadist had a safe working environment though by ensuring that its citizens were forbidden by law to have guns of their own.
I don’t believe there is an easy weapons supply in France but that didn’t stop the slaughter did it. The French made sure that the jihadist had a safe working environment though by ensuring that its citizens were forbidden by law to have guns of their own.
Let's compare population density and country sizes before we say how much less Europe spends on security. Yes, America spends much more, even proportionally, but Germany is about the size of Montana. They wouldn't need to spend nearly as much as the United States.
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Yeah, if Montana had 80 million people. Security is about more than borders.
But populations are not comparable. That's the rub. It might also be interesting to know what the EU as a whole spends for comparison which supports your point. Although like in the US terrorists tend to pick certain places: i.e. Paris Berlin etc. hence the need for France and Germany to spend.
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The American public needs to be better educated on every day surveillance of their surroundings . Heighten state of alert by all local,state and government employees. Our borders seemed to be very porous and airport officials need not be so politically correct. Focus on the enemy not grandma at the airport.
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"Heighten state of alert by all local,state and government employees." / "Focus on the enemy not grandma"
The police could start by not focusing on Black and Hispanic citizens trying to live their lives in peace. By not shooting innocent civilians doing nothing wrong.
The next terrorist act in the US better be in the White part of town, because right now Blacks and Hispanics would hesitate to call the police because of past abuses by the police against them.
The police could start by not focusing on Black and Hispanic citizens trying to live their lives in peace. By not shooting innocent civilians doing nothing wrong.
The next terrorist act in the US better be in the White part of town, because right now Blacks and Hispanics would hesitate to call the police because of past abuses by the police against them.
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Even grandma and baby are going to pass a security check, including the family dog when traveling.
I think Europe needs to adopt a "zero-tolerance" policy for extremism, similar to US zero-tolerance policy for drugs. Any person who possesses extremist propaganda material should go to jail.
Refugees should stay in the refugee camp. After the war is over, send them back home.
Refugees should stay in the refugee camp. After the war is over, send them back home.
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Oh yes, our "zero tolerance" on drugs has been so very beneficial to our society. If you're white and wealthy that is.
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"I think Europe needs to adopt a "zero-tolerance" policy for extremism, similar to US zero-tolerance policy for drugs."
Yup, zero tolerance has eliminated illegal drugs in the US. NOT!
Right now you can find what you want when you want it at a reasonable price. Not only that the quality of drugs you find is much better.
Heaven help us if zero tolerance against terrorism has the same result!
Yup, zero tolerance has eliminated illegal drugs in the US. NOT!
Right now you can find what you want when you want it at a reasonable price. Not only that the quality of drugs you find is much better.
Heaven help us if zero tolerance against terrorism has the same result!
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Exactly. No efforts should be made to integrate these interlopers in Europe. After all, Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon have had to support life in limbo in various refugee camps for decades. We Westerners should not offer them anything more than safe quarter and nourishment in fenced off high security zones, preferably on disused military bases or farflung islands in the Pacific.
Here is where I disagree in part with Steven Simon and Daniel Benjamin. Watch the '84 movie with Diane Keaton, Little Drummer Girl which is based on John Le Carre's bestseller.
In light of the Black Lives Matter and other student unrest here in the states and hatred for the US's policy in regard to the Palestrina cause I wouldn't put it past some young American blonde blue eyed male or female to sympathize with ISIS.
Hollywood has been showing America how terrorists can, do and will attack and its time for American to take notice and not rely on ivory tower 'experts'. Remember 9/11? Pure Hollywood made real.
In light of the Black Lives Matter and other student unrest here in the states and hatred for the US's policy in regard to the Palestrina cause I wouldn't put it past some young American blonde blue eyed male or female to sympathize with ISIS.
Hollywood has been showing America how terrorists can, do and will attack and its time for American to take notice and not rely on ivory tower 'experts'. Remember 9/11? Pure Hollywood made real.
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Mmm can't see how it would be so hard to procure a few semi-automatic weapons and start spraying crowded areas. Of course it could happen "here". And the conclusion that the world needs more American intelligence because... because why? France might not have predicted the attacks, but then neither did the US.
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What's interesting is terrorists are communicating with apps that even the software makers can't decode, so tracking all U.S. citizens' I'net and telephone Communications wouldn't help anyway.
1
Nobody believed that 9/11 could happen here and it did. ISIS views non-Muslims as infidels and those Muslims that don't follow their fundamentalist doctrine as apostates. They feel completely justified is killing, enslaving and even rapig the women that fall into these categories.
If there is any opportunity to launch a successful attack on U.S. soil ISIS will take it.
If there is any opportunity to launch a successful attack on U.S. soil ISIS will take it.
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"ISIS views non-Muslims as infidels and those Muslims that don't follow their fundamentalist doctrine as apostates. They feel completely justified is killing"
Then we should have no compunction in killing as many of them as possible, even with nuclear weapons if necessary.
Then we should have no compunction in killing as many of them as possible, even with nuclear weapons if necessary.
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Actually, the US intelligence community did predict 9/11 - their warnings were ignored first by the Clinton Administration, then the Bush Administration. But that really just points up the wrongheadedness of this article. No one believed Al Qaeda or Bin Laden would be capable of pulling off an operation like that. I think we could very easily be surprised again here by something that sounds outside the realm of possibility to the people in charge.
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We have better security? Come on. Since there are about 300 million guns in the US it seems some IS operatives wouldn't have a problem arming themselves here. Even toddlers in the US have ready access to guns here.
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(and shoot others with them...)
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Erik
Good thing the French had strict gun control, which makes access by ordinary French citizens to guns almost impossible. How did that work out for them?
Good thing the French had strict gun control, which makes access by ordinary French citizens to guns almost impossible. How did that work out for them?
Not to be rude. But where were you? It already happened here fourteen years ago on a clear day in September.
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I don't remember reading a more foolish piece! Of course it can - and will - happen here. The geographic advantage is illusory in a time of mass intercontinental air travel. Intelligence and law enforcement folks would be the last to claim that our protections are impermeable. Heaven knows our country has no shortage of automatic weapons and explosives. When it does happen, our right to confront these twits will be cold, pale comfort. Hanover is a lovely town, but I wonder that its bucolic charms have deprived them of sound judgment. Perhaps they should be working on their ice sculpture!
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I unreservedly agree.
What false comfort!
We have a country where high school students slaughter & maim dozens of classmates & any wacko under the sun apparently has little difficulty in getting as many guns as he/she wants.
We have violent extremists of every type, from neo-Nazis to those who hate the government to those who attack abortion clinics/doctors to our very own Muslim and non-Muslim religious extremists (including those who have traveled to the Middle East to join ISIS & other lunatic outfits).
While the French looked like amateurs in responding to the attacks in Paris, & made me glad I had the various forces of New York City & federal government to fight back, "feeling safe" was not my primary sentiment on learning of the Paris attacks.
When a small group of madmen, with 1 gun to each of them, can inflict so much mayhem, then there is absolutely no reason to argue "well we're safe" (in fact it is delusional lunacy to argue that).
We should be scared. That should not deviate us from our routines of life or from our aims for our nation, both here & abroad. But it should give us pause & some recognition of humility & vulnerability.
American lecturing to the world pre 9/11 was done from a context where our geographical isolation shielded us from the horrors so many countries daily encountered.
9/11 & the Boston Marathon attacks showed us in no uncertain terms that we are not cauterized from global mayhem. It can reach us. We must fight it. I hope we can destroy ISIS sanctuary.
We have a country where high school students slaughter & maim dozens of classmates & any wacko under the sun apparently has little difficulty in getting as many guns as he/she wants.
We have violent extremists of every type, from neo-Nazis to those who hate the government to those who attack abortion clinics/doctors to our very own Muslim and non-Muslim religious extremists (including those who have traveled to the Middle East to join ISIS & other lunatic outfits).
While the French looked like amateurs in responding to the attacks in Paris, & made me glad I had the various forces of New York City & federal government to fight back, "feeling safe" was not my primary sentiment on learning of the Paris attacks.
When a small group of madmen, with 1 gun to each of them, can inflict so much mayhem, then there is absolutely no reason to argue "well we're safe" (in fact it is delusional lunacy to argue that).
We should be scared. That should not deviate us from our routines of life or from our aims for our nation, both here & abroad. But it should give us pause & some recognition of humility & vulnerability.
American lecturing to the world pre 9/11 was done from a context where our geographical isolation shielded us from the horrors so many countries daily encountered.
9/11 & the Boston Marathon attacks showed us in no uncertain terms that we are not cauterized from global mayhem. It can reach us. We must fight it. I hope we can destroy ISIS sanctuary.
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I am not sure how prepared any country is when multiple terrorists attack the citizen population as occurred in Paris. I thought the French Police and Firefighter Emergency crews did a good job - the French citizens are also to be commended - they heard and saw what was happening and called to their fellow neighbors to find safety in their homes.
I disagree with you when you write "We should be scared." We should be aware. We should be prepared. We should notice what is happening around us. We should be prepared to act.
We should also realize that groups like ISIL aka ISIS, Al Qaeda, Daesh are not going to disappear simply because their leaders are killed.
These groups are evolving and with finely polished propaganda and the lure of a better life appeal to disillusioned young men and women who want to make their mark on the world and find meaning in their lives.
I disagree with you when you write "We should be scared." We should be aware. We should be prepared. We should notice what is happening around us. We should be prepared to act.
We should also realize that groups like ISIL aka ISIS, Al Qaeda, Daesh are not going to disappear simply because their leaders are killed.
These groups are evolving and with finely polished propaganda and the lure of a better life appeal to disillusioned young men and women who want to make their mark on the world and find meaning in their lives.
2
Paris DOES happen here, several time each year. Instead of the cafes and music theatres in France the venues are high schools and movie theatres in the US. This kind of violence seems to be the accepted American way of life.
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Dude, yes, it happens here, but accepted American way of life? You have to be kidding. We're a country of 300 million and the chance of being killed in a movie theater or school is miniscule.
In my 60 years of life, I have personally known only one person who was killed by violence -- and she was killed in the UK.
As the awful events in Paris indicate, the world has its share of nuts -- but given the number of people in the world, it's actually pretty remarkable that things of this sort, either terrorism or just plain mass murder, are so uncommon.
In my 60 years of life, I have personally known only one person who was killed by violence -- and she was killed in the UK.
As the awful events in Paris indicate, the world has its share of nuts -- but given the number of people in the world, it's actually pretty remarkable that things of this sort, either terrorism or just plain mass murder, are so uncommon.
5
Defined as American Exceptionalism by the GOP
1
The issue isn't violence per se but organized, directed, and funded terrorism. We must address both types of violence and both are horrible.
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Could Paris Happen Here? It could happen. Don't be under any delusion. It is only question of time
According to FBI director ISIS is present in all 50 states. This is what the FBI Director James Comey said in February 2015:
"Those people exist in every state. I have homegrown violent extremist investigations in every single state. Until a few weeks ago there was 49 states. Alaska had none which I couldn't quite figure out. But Alaska has now joined the group so we have investigations of people in various stages of radicalizing in all 50 states,"
In less than three years, ISIS has gone from a terror start-up overseas to what FBI Director calls a "chaotic spider web" in the US, with young Muslim men being radicalized in Illinois and the 49 other states. Comey suggested that ISIS uses social media like a job fair. That's how he says terrorists snagged three New York men facing ISIS charges.In Chicago, there are several current federal cases of teenagers being recruited online by ISIS, buying plane tickets to travel overseas. So, Paris could happen here. How can you forget the Boston marathon tragedy of 2013, just two youngsters terrorized the city for two days.
According to FBI director ISIS is present in all 50 states. This is what the FBI Director James Comey said in February 2015:
"Those people exist in every state. I have homegrown violent extremist investigations in every single state. Until a few weeks ago there was 49 states. Alaska had none which I couldn't quite figure out. But Alaska has now joined the group so we have investigations of people in various stages of radicalizing in all 50 states,"
In less than three years, ISIS has gone from a terror start-up overseas to what FBI Director calls a "chaotic spider web" in the US, with young Muslim men being radicalized in Illinois and the 49 other states. Comey suggested that ISIS uses social media like a job fair. That's how he says terrorists snagged three New York men facing ISIS charges.In Chicago, there are several current federal cases of teenagers being recruited online by ISIS, buying plane tickets to travel overseas. So, Paris could happen here. How can you forget the Boston marathon tragedy of 2013, just two youngsters terrorized the city for two days.
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Sometimes I think we would solve most of the world's problems by running all young men on treadmills to the point of exhaustion every day until they are in their 40s.
3
The writer suggests that anxiety over our national security and fear of an imminent attack at home are unfounded. I'm not convinced. No matter how good our intelligence, no matter how many informants are in law enforcement's back pocket and no matter how many systematic truck stops are made, it would seem eminently feasible for well-prepared hostile forces to attack and destroy part of our vital infrastructure in New York City and in the process, inflict devastating injury on many people. You just can't screen every subway passenger or backpack, every vehicle crossing our bridges and tunnels or passing near our vital resources. So while law enforcement's heroic efforts are commendable, and our high level of vigilance essential, let's not be deluded into a false sense of security. I for one will remain apprehensive.
27
What fantasy talk. "European citizens [are] happy to massacre their compatriots". Wasn't also American Timothy McVeigh in the American state of Oklahoma?
Even in passive, multi-racially tolerant Canada a dozen home-grown Islamic terrorists have planned terrorist acts, and some have successfully carried them out.
It is simply delusional to think that in the US, a country that sees no need to enact gun reform after 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook were killed by a fellow American, should feel safe from more esoteric forms of extremism.
And while Europe accepts over a million Syrian and North African refugees, American speaks about deporting 11M integrated "illegal" immigrants. Whoever Steve Simon and Daniel Benjamin are, savvy about America's vulnerability to extremism is not in their job description.
Even in passive, multi-racially tolerant Canada a dozen home-grown Islamic terrorists have planned terrorist acts, and some have successfully carried them out.
It is simply delusional to think that in the US, a country that sees no need to enact gun reform after 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook were killed by a fellow American, should feel safe from more esoteric forms of extremism.
And while Europe accepts over a million Syrian and North African refugees, American speaks about deporting 11M integrated "illegal" immigrants. Whoever Steve Simon and Daniel Benjamin are, savvy about America's vulnerability to extremism is not in their job description.
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As long as our psychopathic jihadi 'Allahu Akbar' friends are more in love with death and their invisible god than they are with life, I'm sure they'll find a way to massacre whatever country they feel like.
The offense always has the advantage of surprise.
It's simply very difficult to stop stark raving madmen from wreaking havoc.
The 'religion of peace' has morphed into the 'religion of death'.
The offense always has the advantage of surprise.
It's simply very difficult to stop stark raving madmen from wreaking havoc.
The 'religion of peace' has morphed into the 'religion of death'.
63
My slogan is Voltaire's 'Ecrase l'infâme!' in response to organised religion. I can only sigh with resignation knowing that literally billions of my fellow human beings are still in thrall to men in lacy gowns spouting subjective interpretation of 'holy writ'. We must promote secular freethinking in the media and in education as a means of survival in the face of sexual deviancy in the Catholic Church and the death cults Islam is propagating in recent years.
5
I cannot fathom any wisdom here to the least ,sense.We have had nearly the same attacks ,though our death count excluding 9/11 ,which is beyond is nearly exceeding the hundred mark. Boston ,the Hassan and other shooting directly tied to terrorism is right up there. and ,not to mention France is actually conglomerate to the whole of surrounding nations. In relation to guns ,France is akin to attacking a gun free zone exactly as they have here in the states. The terrorists would never start shooting in any well armed location they are familiar with . Open carry in states like AZ MS Alabama or some parts of Texas would likely result in a rapid armed response by civilians and off duty armed law enforcement officials.
12
Mr. Davidson, the idea that terrorists would "never start shooting in any well armed location" is patently false, or have you forgotten the Ft. Hood shooter?
You have to remember that these are terrorists, they are equipped with machine guns, hand grenades and suicide vests. They have already decided to die for their cause. Even if every single person in that Paris concert hall had been armed, that wouldn't have stopped them. In fact, if the concert-goers had been armed and had started shooting back after those first hand grenades were lobbed into the crowd, there would have been even more casualties, as concert-goers mistakenly shot each other in the general confusion. Think about it.
You have to remember that these are terrorists, they are equipped with machine guns, hand grenades and suicide vests. They have already decided to die for their cause. Even if every single person in that Paris concert hall had been armed, that wouldn't have stopped them. In fact, if the concert-goers had been armed and had started shooting back after those first hand grenades were lobbed into the crowd, there would have been even more casualties, as concert-goers mistakenly shot each other in the general confusion. Think about it.
8
Sorry Annie but what is “patently false” is that the victims were armed at Ft. Hood. They were in fact totally disarmed by and because of military regulations.
Yes I agree with your point about the PARIS attacks showing the wisdom of AmEricans retaining the right to bear arms. Interesting I have read that one of the main proponents of this right at the time of the drafting of the US Constitution were the descendants of Huegenot refugees who had an ingrained folk-memory of the St. Bartholomew Day Massacre in 16th Cent France! Perhaps the French (and other Europeans) who criticise the American custom will think again now. With all its drawbacks the Amendment prevents people from being slaughtered like sheep.
What a relief to know that our elementary schools, movie theatres, office buildings, and churches are relatively safe from fanatical, monstrous attackers. Oh wait...
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Why is it that we have this feel of "its safer here", when there are daily shootings of Americans, by other Americans, amounting to more than 18,000 a year ? Aren't these victims just as dead as if they were shot my terrorists? Isn't the NRA and her propaganda the easiest way to hurt our country? ISIS has an ally on these shores already. Its the NRA
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I think you are being a little hard on your own country. please read my reply to Mr. Davison above
"Defeating ISIS" seems a rather naive idea to me, given homegrown radicalization, which happens in poor ghettos but also in middle class homes.
Defending against extremists from right wing militias to radical jihadis will require better focused tools and community cooperation.
The TSA failure rate of over 90% on weapons smuggling tests is not reassuring. The understaffed FBI is poorly organized for acting on domestic terrorist risks and is swimming in data with weak analytical ability, as we saw in the Boston Marathon bombing.
We wasted alot of lives and money invading Iraq, a small fraction of which might have been better applied to security back home.
Defending against extremists from right wing militias to radical jihadis will require better focused tools and community cooperation.
The TSA failure rate of over 90% on weapons smuggling tests is not reassuring. The understaffed FBI is poorly organized for acting on domestic terrorist risks and is swimming in data with weak analytical ability, as we saw in the Boston Marathon bombing.
We wasted alot of lives and money invading Iraq, a small fraction of which might have been better applied to security back home.
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I resent the slightest suggestion that we in the West take in millions of 'refugees' from the Levant. That said, we should send the bill for maintenance to the war criminals who destroyed Iraq : George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condaleeza Rice, and Tony Blair. Ditto for those who busted up Libya, namely Nicolas Sarkozy. These irresponsible criminals were the catalysts for the tremendous upheavals and religious strife spilling over into the European Union today.
2
Of course it could happen here.
Gibberish. Many americans have joined Daesh. Army employees have killed people here.
Why publish such propaganda?
24 hours and the usual suspects are already putting on their latest dog and pony show. Trash.
Gibberish. Many americans have joined Daesh. Army employees have killed people here.
Why publish such propaganda?
24 hours and the usual suspects are already putting on their latest dog and pony show. Trash.
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There were some very good points made in this article. It would be prudent for Americans to invest in a national ID card to prevent terrorist infiltration into the homeland.
14
It's not propaganda - unless you enjoy being scared to death. This article points out that the scenario/circumstances are vastly different. Try being analytic, rather than reacting to fear.
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I can't imagine an America where a national identity card requirement would be supported.
2