Posts Tagged ‘terrorism’

Andy Hefty

Like the once-frozen caveman on Saturday Night Live who became a lawyer confused by all the nuances of modern technology, I find myself scratching my oversized, unattractive noggin over the silliness exuded by Congress and the White House.  I’ll admit:  in many respects, I can be like that simple caveman.  But I never went to law school, and I insure my cars through the famous caveman-hated company.

Simple Caveman has the answers

With the endless insults hurled across the political aisle that those of a traditional mindset are Neanderthal to begin with, you can see why those on the left refuse to even ponder simple solutions.  God forbid that they should be aligned with knuckle-dragging right-wing extremists who think simple thoughts like more guns make for less crime.

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Bob Maistros

I know, I know.  If the attack on Northwest Flight 253 had been successful, none of us would be chuckling about any of the inanities involved on both sides. It’s all pretty much gallows humor at this point.

But while perusing coverage of the Christmas Day incident, I couldn’t help but notice that ABC News’ online site had the first photos of the rather special underwear worn by young Mr. Abdulmutallab. Or the fact that the site noted that hidden inside the briefs, right you-know-where in the crotch, was an “explosive packet.”

Is that an explosive package or are you just happy to see me?

(Pregnant pause.)

Nope. Nope. Not going to say it. Wouldn’t be prudent. Not in a family column.

Oh, heck with it. An “explosive packet?” If I remember correctly, the last time we were all talking about an explosive packet in someone’s pants, it had to do with the strategic airbrushing of Al Gore’s Rolling Stone cover photo during the 2000 campaign.

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Lawrence J. Haas

In perhaps its most cited line, the national commission that investigated the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks blamed the nation’s “failure of imagination” in not recognizing the signs of mayhem to come. 

Today, as events before and after the Fort Hood massacre make clear, we suffer less from a failure of imagination than one of clear thinking – a malady from which we must recover if we hope to prevent more such massacres. 

Maybe it'll go away.

Immediately after last week’s rampage, which left 13 dead and 38 wounded, President Obama and other national leaders cautioned that we not rush to judgment, meaning that we not assume Islam was a motivating factor for the alleged killer, Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. They need not have worried about our rush to target religion, for that’s not where our thinking goes astray.  Read the rest of this entry »

Andy Hefty

While driving home from the office, I learned more details from the terrorist attack at Fort Hood, Texas.  Yes, you read that right.  This is a terrorist attack.  FBI investigators refused to say so.  Even President Obama glossed over it by calling it a “horrific outburst of violence.”

Terrorist.

But I will call it as I see it – a terrorist attack.  And it should be dealt with accordingly.

Here’s why.

First of all, Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan allegedly opened fire upon his own countrymen – his fellow soldiers – on a military installation.  He continued shooting, reloading, and shooting some more.  He wasn’t after a vindictive ex-wife.  He didn’t take revenge on specific individuals that allegedly taunted him for being Muslim.

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Gregory D. Lee

Thanks in part to the Patriot Act, the FBI is more proactive in its search for Muslim terrorists operating in this country. The recent arrests of suspected terrorists in Springfield, Illinois, New York City, Dallas and Boston prove the Patriot Act is working to enable the FBI to be more aggressive in its fight against terrorism.

Keeping us safe.

In the case of Husein Smadi, the Dallas wannabe terrorist who strived to blow up a bank building there, the FBI surfed the internet and visited various terrorism related web sites where it found him trying to join the jihad. Prior to 9/11, the FBI was prohibited from doing this.

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