Sir,
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Originally Posted by astralis
well, to begin with, i don't think you need to fear NYC going up in nuclear fire- NYC is huge and would require rather more than suitcase nuke.
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A scholarly discussion of the destruction of New York City is not necessary. However, a suitcase bomb could irradiate the city enough to render it uninhabitable for several decades. I speak on this without having done recent research. I'll look into the matter.
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but i see where you are getting at. i was using a rather extreme example, of course- but the fact still remains, if the terrorists conduct a hit on us, the ONLY effect it will have is to increase national morale. will it hurt our economy?
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A biological attack could cause damage beyond the economic pale.
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nothing more than in the short-term, as demonstrated by the incredible growth of the US and world economic systems, despite increasing terrorist attacks, a huge spike in the price of oil, and general instability. will it hurt our political system? we have gone through worse, and the constitution has come off no worse for wear.
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I think our political system has been adversely affected by 9/11. Bush abused the trust of American citizens and the institutions of the government. To name a few examples of government malfeasance:
The P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act,
Faulty justification for invasion of Iraq,
Wiretapping scandal,
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as for the cities themselves, the worst that will happen is not the destruction of the buildings, nor the monuments, all of which can be rebuilt or replaced. it will be the deaths of innocent americans. sad as that is, though, it does not change the fact that this is a war that we cannot lose.
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I think that is a pompous attitude that is ripe for dissapointment. I believe Islam is the most dangerous ideology America has faced. Nazism as Communism had more powerful nation-states than Islam has. Indeed, both seemed poised to take over the world. However, Islam has greater numerical strength, a longer historical presence (therefore legitimacy), and has a stronger base among its population than Communism or Nazism ever did.
I agree with Huntington. 9/11 was not an isolated incident of Muslim terrorism, but is a continuation of the same clash of civilizations that has been occuring since 632 AD. Since America doesn't realize this, it is prone to being lulled into a false sense of security by quick victories. Jihadists see the struggle against America as long-term, and that is one of their strengths.
If Islam does triumph over the United States, it may be a gradual victory. That is exactly the kind we are ill-prepared to defend against.