Comments on: Covert officers spy on passengers in US airports http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/2009/11/15/covert-officers-spy-on-passengers-in-us-airports/ [Please go to 'Settings' to change your Tagline] Sat, 10 Sep 2011 11:21:50 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Allison Kilkenny http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/2009/11/15/covert-officers-spy-on-passengers-in-us-airports/comment-page-1/#comment-1525 Allison Kilkenny Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:30:36 +0000 http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/?p=2398#comment-1525 <blockquote>and its values</blockquote> Well, we're not usually dealing with terrorists that hate our strip malls and easily accessible credit. They actually have very specific grievances with the US government that have nothing to do with "our values"-- namely the presence of military bases in their countries and the US government's unquestioning support of Israel. If both those grievances were addressed, would terrorism disappear? Of course not. Terrorism will always be with us, but there are smarter ways to approach the issue than creating a police state and an endless supply of new "terrorists" to kill, maim, and indefinitely incarcerate. The goal should always be to minimalize suffering, and not to create endless war.

and its values

Well, we’re not usually dealing with terrorists that hate our strip malls and easily accessible credit. They actually have very specific grievances with the US government that have nothing to do with “our values”– namely the presence of military bases in their countries and the US government’s unquestioning support of Israel. If both those grievances were addressed, would terrorism disappear? Of course not. Terrorism will always be with us, but there are smarter ways to approach the issue than creating a police state and an endless supply of new “terrorists” to kill, maim, and indefinitely incarcerate. The goal should always be to minimalize suffering, and not to create endless war.

]]> By: Caitlin Kelly http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/2009/11/15/covert-officers-spy-on-passengers-in-us-airports/comment-page-1/#comment-1524 Caitlin Kelly Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:23:26 +0000 http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/?p=2398#comment-1524 I take your larger point. I wish I were optimistic enough to think that that would make a difference, but I am not persuaded even those actions would make this country safer from people who loathe it and its values. I take your larger point. I wish I were optimistic enough to think that that would make a difference, but I am not persuaded even those actions would make this country safer from people who loathe it and its values.

]]> By: Allison Kilkenny http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/2009/11/15/covert-officers-spy-on-passengers-in-us-airports/comment-page-1/#comment-1522 Allison Kilkenny Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:23:11 +0000 http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/?p=2398#comment-1522 The "another possible 9/11" excuse has been the cover for all kinds of radical programs like warrantless wiretapping and extraordinary rendition. I'd much rather see the government work on preventing future terrorists, say, by leaving the two foreign countries we're currently occupying and ceasing the drone attacks on Pakistan. PS: With you on the bailouts and bonuses. That is also quite shitty. The “another possible 9/11″ excuse has been the cover for all kinds of radical programs like warrantless wiretapping and extraordinary rendition. I’d much rather see the government work on preventing future terrorists, say, by leaving the two foreign countries we’re currently occupying and ceasing the drone attacks on Pakistan.

PS: With you on the bailouts and bonuses. That is also quite shitty.

]]> By: Caitlin Kelly http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/2009/11/15/covert-officers-spy-on-passengers-in-us-airports/comment-page-1/#comment-1521 Caitlin Kelly Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:18:22 +0000 http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/?p=2398#comment-1521 Better we should worry about another 9/11, then? Watching the government bail out banks and their billionaire-bonusing bosses offends me a lot more. Better we should worry about another 9/11, then?
Watching the government bail out banks and their billionaire-bonusing bosses offends me a lot more.

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