Not exactly what it sounds it seems
I notice that the phrase “less safe” is often, either used or implied, on this site, mostly by people pointing towards how the US is less safe than before we went to war. And this is not necessarily from one person on this site (resident troll as he has been called).
The thing is every time I see it written or implied I often ask myself what exactly do they mean by this? How exactly are we less safe than before after we are aware of a threat? Either way are we ever any safer than before when you are facing a determined criminal?
Here’s my point. In this day in age of technological advances places like banks have some of the most sophisticated security systems. They have vault doors so think it’s a wonder if they could ever get them open if they somehow got stuck (odd chances but you never know, right?). Security cams are a dime a dozen, sensors; lasers and even inch thick glass in some places. Yet, a determined criminal still manages to steal money from these banks, even with security guards on site. Houses with expensive security systems still get broken into, cars with security features that turn off engines and keys that can not be copied still get stolen. Ever criminals in jail find ways to escape with all those guards, cams, sensors, dogs and fences.
Now imagine a terrorist (no specific race, culture or religion), a guy/girl determined to kill as many Americans as possible because for some reason he/she’s mad at us. They enter the country legally or by means of false papers. Our laws restrict us from doing anything to this person cause they have not yet committed any crimes or given any reason for suspicion. Information on floor plans, structural integrity, how to make a bomb, all the components necessary, cameras for studying locations, transportation, prepaid cell phones, internet; all either free or at minor cost, easily accessible and legal. At any time this person can find out how to make a bomb, acquire the materials needed to build one without any cause for concern, do surveillance of the target without any suspicion of a possible attack, study the plans of the target, communicate with other accomplices with prepaid phones, use a stolen or rented vehicle, park it in front of the building or in the garage if it has one and blow up the vehicle destroy most if not all of the building killing everyone inside including bystanders, cars passing by and maybe even people in the buildings near by. The irony of all this? Chances are they could get away with it and not have anyone know hardly anything until after it happens. And to make it worse, hardly anything they did, except for the making of the bomb and blowing it up was illegal. But who would have known? Who would have guess that this person who seemed like a nice person by those who knew him/her or had met him/her would do such a thing? Right now, as we speak there are some out there waiting for the right moment to try something like this, do we know who they are? Maybe, maybe not. But we will never really know till the damage is done, just like on 9/11.
So tell me, with all the satellites in orbit, with all the cameras everywhere across the country, with all the cops, security guards, vigilant civilians, security systems, fences, walls, guard dogs, guns and intelligence agencies; are we ever safer when facing an enemy that is determined to kill us, is patient waiting for the right moment and worst of all faces a security system that, no matter how advanced, was created and is controlled by none other than people, who are prone to ignorance, laziness, carelessness, makes mistakes and can even be part of the enemy itself.
So when exactly are we really safer? I say never, because history and the development of better security technology has shown that a criminal will eventually find a way around it, a determined criminal, who is protected by the laws of this country even after committing the crime, will always find a way and therefore technology will always have to be improved. But this does not mean we have to live in a paranoid state. It does not mean we have to throw the rule book out the window and start locking up everyone that looks suspicious, start banning all bomb related information, making the purchase of certain materials that could be used to make bombs illegal. Too many freedoms would be taken from us if we begin to panic over everything. What we need to do is have an iron fist, we need to put our foot down and demand countries that harbor, supply, train and/or finance terrorist. We need to show them that if you mess with us we will take action; we will do what is necessary to survive. Even if it means having to bend our own rules a little to do it. Hey, in my opinion, it’s them before us.