Our opinion: Connecting dots
In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against America, it became clear that U.S. intelligence agencies had failed to "connect the dots." That is becoming even more difficult as al-Qaida changes its tactics.
Al-Qaida terrorists are expected to attempt an attack on the United States within the next three to six months, intelligence officials told members of Congress on Tuesday. But the pattern of planning and carrying out the assault will not be the same as was used prior to 9/11.
Instead, al-Qaida will continue to recruit "clean" operatives - people who have few known links to terrorist organizations, CIA Director Leon Panetta explained. Some of the operatives will be "homegrown extremists" with little training for their missions, he added.
That is not a surprising conclusion, especially in light of events during recent months. We hope Panetta and others in President Barack Obama's administration take their own advice seriously, and act on it.
U.S. Army Major Nidal Hassan, who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, is a "homegrown extremist," Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair told lawmakers. That makes it all the more puzzling why the administration at first downplayed Hassan's links to Islamic terrorists and still seems to view him as something other than a terrorist. Clearly, he was just that.
Political correctness is standing in the way of connecting the dots. If we allow that to continue, we do so at great peril.
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Morrison
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02-12-10 4:08 PM
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For the record I don't think "religious nuts" fits most people of faith. We've had decisions in our government made by religious people...nearly all Christian...for centuries. They did quite well.
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Kaspar
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02-11-10 9:57 PM
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one additional note - explain please, if you would, what's a "religious nut" and for what legitimate reason should they be kept out of "important decision making positions" - at your convenience.
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Kaspar
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02-11-10 7:20 PM
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"Bible-based foreign policy is medieval. This is why we have to keep religious nuts out of important decision making positions." To me that is why the world/society or whatever vernacular you choose,that the world is in the "rebellous modus operundi" that it is in. The world as a whole has abandoned the wisdom of the scriptures, and hence how to govern ourselves and our countries. "Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." William Penn 1644-1718
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Morrison
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02-11-10 1:13 PM
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:0....If you listen to what I say rather than immediatley shelve me into the raicst ignorant Republican box, you might be surprised. But I am of course, more hawkish.
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garypayton
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02-11-10 12:13 PM
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How does it keep happening??? Morrison and I agree on something again!!!! Bible-based foreign policy is medieval. This is why we have to keep religious nuts out of important decision making positions. Dominionists want to hasten Armegeddon and the end times even if that means deliberatly putting our national interests at risk. Not sound governance in my opinion.
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Morrison
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02-11-10 9:07 AM
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Why not? Other than your Bible mandates? Israel spies on us like the Russians and Chinese. If God is on their side, why should they need us?
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Kaspar
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02-10-10 9:50 PM
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We must never, never abandon Israel, as has President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, simply put - not a good idea.
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garypayton
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02-10-10 7:48 PM
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If this country has a more-than-able military and all the technology to deliver devastating weaponry against their enemies, why are we still in bed with them? I'm not disagreeing with Morrison here. I think we should get the heck out of the middle east including financial and military support for Israel. I thought it was taboo to even suggest cutting Israel loose to fend for herself. I learn every day here. Thanks!
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writer10
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02-10-10 7:27 PM
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h e l l is not a bad word. nothing like Christian censorship.
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writer10
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02-10-10 7:26 PM
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Israel has one*****of an army. Some of their weapons are made by the US but Israel buys the more expensive versions. They can hold their own. Much like South Korea would destroy North Korea without our aide.
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garypayton
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02-10-10 6:08 PM
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So you do advocate abandoning Israel. Interesting take from a conservative.
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Morrison
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02-10-10 5:14 PM
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Sorry Gary. Acting like a pansy will bring us down. Nobody ever stopped a bully by acting weak. Every time Israel is kicking ass on the attackers we "ask" them to stop. Let them go. We don't need to take care of them. Or the poor little Palestinians.
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garypayton
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02-10-10 12:11 PM
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For the record, I never came out against guns. I just get a little nervous when my legally armed neighbors start getting excited about "exercising thier gun rights." BANG! And the bad guy goes down, right? As for completely isolating the middle-east, who will take care of Israel? That's the main reason for all the conflict, right? Are you saying that you are ready to abandon Israel? BTW, it was a lie about the USSR. They didn't have anything like the capability we were led to believe. Scaring schoolkids about Russia then and scaring schoolkids about Muslims now. Nothing has changed except our standing in the world. Perhaps it's our lies that will bring us down in the end.
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Morrison
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02-09-10 7:10 PM
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The enemy is playing chess. We are playing yahtzee. That doesn't work. No amount of American money or lives can bring the Middle East into the 21st century. Isolate them. Let them kill each other off until what is left is of no consequence. They cannot be forced to accept Western culture anymore than I can be forced to accept the secular progressive ideolo gy flooding these posts.
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writer10
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02-09-10 6:35 PM
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I wonder how many jobs were lost when Clinton stripped down our military. All the troops that were let go, along with those who made the uniforms, weapons, and so on. Now our military is stretched very thin in two small countries and can't even take care of the job due to low numbers. If we had the army we used to those terrorist would all be blown up by now.
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Morrison
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02-09-10 6:28 PM
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gary-it wasn't a lie about Russia. We managed to do what Reagan said. We win, they lose. We broke them. And now we are being going broke trying to keep up with being politically correct in our defense. Profile!!
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watcher
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02-09-10 5:04 PM
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The people against guns make absolutely no sense to me. Why hate a tool? By itself the gun is a tool like a spoon. If you get food poisoning...will you be against the spoon used to put the food in your mouth? It is the person using the tool and the manner that they use it that you should be considering. Ignorant people always blame the tool. The fools. Then they expect someone else to protect them.
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Backwoods
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02-09-10 4:38 PM
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A BID Amen to that Morrison
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Morrison
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02-09-10 4:29 PM
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People with guns don't scare me much. People against guns do.
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Morrison
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02-09-10 4:28 PM
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Much of lthe flood from the resevoir would go down Brokentraw valley. The amount of explosive to evacuste the entire structure would be better used any where but here. Pittsburgh wouldn't notice. Real terrorism is what Israel has. Any street, bus, market, school, any time. We could not handle that in this country. If I were a terrorist that is what I woud do. And cyber attacks at the same time. False info wide spread. :)
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watcher
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02-09-10 4:21 PM
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I just LOVE war-time propoganda. gary...They do not have me scared. Fear is a crippler and I refuse to be paralyzed. There is no sense in being afraid of something that might have a chance of happening. It is unlikely I would have any control of the situation anyhow. So life goes on.
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Backwoods
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02-09-10 4:18 PM
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For terrorism to be effective it need to hit high profile targets. The higher the profile the more effect it has planting the seeds of fear. Also the greater impact it has on our economy. After all there goal is to make us fearful and to destroy our economy as 9/11 did for a while. Another advantage a high profile target gives a terrorist is they are a very good recruiting tool.
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garypayton
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02-09-10 3:50 PM
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Doesn't anyone remember going to school in Warren during the cold war? We were TOLD that Kinzua was nuke target of the USSR. I specifically remember Ron Firestone telling us 8th grade civics students that the russians had us beat on number of arms and men. This was just as Reagan was coming into the limelight before the 1980 election. Now the same scare tactics are being used about terrorists. I resented being lied to then and I resent the same B.S. now. As I said in a previous post, they have us right where they want us; scared to death. To all you "men" out there packing heaters, please be careful! I'd hate to see someone accidentally shoot himself because they saw a suspicious character. I'm more worried about Gun Nation in Warren County doing something stupid than a terrorist attack on Kinzua or URC.
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Kaspar
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02-09-10 3:17 PM
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Red Matter/Red Mercury one in the same ? guess I'd have to see and hear what was being said or referred to in Trek'.
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watcher
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02-09-10 2:55 PM
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I know what you mean about the kinzua. I was in it years ago. You woould have to make the*****have almost a 100% failure to affect anything though. It still wouldn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things.
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