Jack Hunter: Did the terrorists win on 9/11?

[ElNono]

I've argued for several years around here that the willingness to erode civil liberties in the hope of preventing terror attacks was the manifestation of the terrorists accomplishing at least one of their goals. If they hated our freedom, we damned sure were willing to cede it in the name of preventing any further attack. That these measures are now ingrained both culturally and legislatively will be a lasting legacy of 9/11/01.

The surest way to thumb our noses at them was to carry on as we were on 9/10/01; we, instead, chose to increase the power of government and its power to intrude into our lives. I realize that there are some who weren't saddened by the functional rollback of some of those protections, but for anyone who fancies himself or herself a civil libertarian, it has to be saddening to know that the cost of security has been an erosion of freedom or at least our willingness to stand up for the virtues of freedom when they are imperiled.

Was there an option? I can't recall any politician of any party speaking against the measures taken. I guess the political strawman of being labeled 'soft on terror' trumped the actual noble cause of standing up for our freedoms.

[LnGrrrR]

Was there an option? I can't recall any politician of any party speaking against the measures taken. I guess the political strawman of being labeled 'soft on terror' trumped the actual noble cause of standing up for our freedoms.

Russ Feingold spoke up against it. Coincidentally, there's a moneybomb going on for him today.

[boutons_deux]

"actual noble cause of standing up for our freedoms."

what bull .

We've lost many more "freedoms" from the bogus war on terror than OBL could have ever dreamed of removing.

[ElNono]

Russ Feingold spoke up against it. Coincidentally, there's a moneybomb going on for him today.

I forgot about him, thanks. Basically, the single exception to the rule.

[ElNono]

"actual noble cause of standing up for our freedoms."

what bull .

We've lost many more "freedoms" from the bogus war on terror than OBL could have ever dreamed of removing.

Right, that was indeed my point.

[Nbadan]

The same forces that got us into Iraq and Afghanistan are keeping us there today....I'm amazed at how even the most modest Obama doubter thinks that Obama can just decide to end the wars and bring the troops home immediately without there being a huge political price to pay...

[DarrinS]

The same forces that got us into Iraq and Afghanistan are keeping us there today....I'm amazed at how even the most modest Obama doubter thinks that Obama can just decide to end the wars and bring the troops home immediately without there being a huge political price to pay...

thermite

[Nbadan]

thermite

Muslim

[Nbadan]

American Empire

[DarkReign]

Disagreement while people stand around and let these things happen might as well be agreement.

Fair point.