On Friday the Bush Administration removed North Korea from the “Blacklist”. The “Blacklist” is the list of countries that are suspected of helping or harboring terrorists. In the beginning of the Bush Administration, President Bush called Iraq, Iran, and North Korea the “axis of evil” and said that these countries supported terrorism. Until recently President Bush has maintained a hard stance with the countries on the “blacklist” and did not negotiate with them.
North Korea has agreed not to start its reactor since it has been taken off the “Blacklist”. With North Korea agreeing not to restart their reactor after being taken off the “Blacklist” it may allow North Korea to feel open to it neighbors and be willing to have peace talks with such countries as South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Also with North Korea not operating its nuclear reactor it will not produce nuclear byproduct which can make nuclear weapons. With North Korea being taken off the “Blacklist” it will make the American public safer by making the North Korean government not feel threatened by the United States and its allies and may make them more willing to accept American concepts and help fight terrorism.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/11/AR2008101100261.html?nav=rss_world/asia
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Are We Really Safer
Since the attacks on September 11th, the United States has rebuilt the protocols and techniques that are used to protect the structure and citizens of the U.S. A new office of Homeland Security has been created in the wake of September 11th to deter other attacks from happening. The question needs to be asked, are we as a country, really any safer now than seven years ago before the attacks?
In my opinion I think the country is still vulnerable to attack. There are so many icons, vital structures, and soft targets that we cannot defend them all. The agencies and protocols that have been put in place have deterred some attacks but when the people who are trying to commit these terrorist attacks are willing to kill themselves, their families, and friends in order to ensure that they kill “infidels” then you cannot stop all of the attacks. After the attacks security was tightened everywhere in the United States. Now that the attacks are a distant memory for many Americans security is starting to relax. For example, a ballpark has so many entrances and exits that it would not be difficult for a terrorist to sneak in and plant a device on game day that could kill and hurt thousands. That is a terrible event and I hope it never happens but it is a plausible event. After the attacks there was security everywhere in a ballpark now instead of using humans to guard entrances and areas the ball parks are now using wire fences that could be easily cut.
America needs to realize that even though there are federal agencies protecting us from terrorism it is creating a false sense of security. Just because there are agencies in place to stop attacks does not mean there will never be another attack. Condoms work 99.9% but there is still that 0.01% where it fails. Americans need to realize that an attack can happen and that they need to be prepared with exit plans, supplies, and shelter in case help cannot be there quickly. Americans should not live their life in fear but they need to be vigilant of their surroundings and the actions going on around them so they can report suspicious activity to the authorities.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050623-delaware-targets.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/report/gao/ai98092.pdf#xml=http://www.globalsecurity.org/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/webinator/search/pdfhi.txt?query=security&pr=default&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&rdepth=0&sufs=0&order=r&cq=&id=48cc9c4737
In my opinion I think the country is still vulnerable to attack. There are so many icons, vital structures, and soft targets that we cannot defend them all. The agencies and protocols that have been put in place have deterred some attacks but when the people who are trying to commit these terrorist attacks are willing to kill themselves, their families, and friends in order to ensure that they kill “infidels” then you cannot stop all of the attacks. After the attacks security was tightened everywhere in the United States. Now that the attacks are a distant memory for many Americans security is starting to relax. For example, a ballpark has so many entrances and exits that it would not be difficult for a terrorist to sneak in and plant a device on game day that could kill and hurt thousands. That is a terrible event and I hope it never happens but it is a plausible event. After the attacks there was security everywhere in a ballpark now instead of using humans to guard entrances and areas the ball parks are now using wire fences that could be easily cut.
America needs to realize that even though there are federal agencies protecting us from terrorism it is creating a false sense of security. Just because there are agencies in place to stop attacks does not mean there will never be another attack. Condoms work 99.9% but there is still that 0.01% where it fails. Americans need to realize that an attack can happen and that they need to be prepared with exit plans, supplies, and shelter in case help cannot be there quickly. Americans should not live their life in fear but they need to be vigilant of their surroundings and the actions going on around them so they can report suspicious activity to the authorities.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2005/050623-delaware-targets.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/report/gao/ai98092.pdf#xml=http://www.globalsecurity.org/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/webinator/search/pdfhi.txt?query=security&pr=default&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&rdepth=0&sufs=0&order=r&cq=&id=48cc9c4737
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