John Jonik ( http://jonikcartoons.blogspot.com)
Let's put all of this in perspective:. The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) reports that, excluding the 9/11 atrocities, fewer than 500 people died in the U.S. from terrorist attacks between 1970 and 2010. In comparison, over 30,000 Americans are killed by guns annually, and a similar number in automobile fatalities each year. In the last five years Americans were four times more likely to be struck by lightning than killed by a terrorist. Is the relatively small risk of terrorist attack worth decimating our treasury, as well as our long-standing values of personal liberty and privacy?
Some may say it is these efforts at combating terrorism that has kept us relatively safe since 2001. But of the estimated 50 terrorist plots foiled since 9/11, none have been of a large scale, nor originating from a well-organized plot from al-Qaeda. In this country, acts of terror typically take the form of a "lone wolf" or two or three independent young men eager to avenge what they perceive to be American aggression in the Muslim world. Most foiled attempts originated from sting operations led by an agent provocateur--an FBI operative instigating terrorist action.
To some, It sounds far-fetched to think of the War on Terror as a hoax and a scam, but it would not be unprecedented. Just look back on our own history: "Remember the Maine!" (Spanish-American War), The Gulf of Tonkin (Vietnam), WMDs (Iraq). Each of these were false or questionable scenarios leading to unnecessary, illegal, and costly wars.
Clearly, a large number of powerful and influential special interests are heavily invested in the national defense and homeland security gravy train. We are assured "The War on Terror" will end when the threat of terror is eliminated--which, when you think about it, translates to "never." Unless Americans take a hard, critical look at the reality of the War on Terror, the financial, political and emotional cost will overwhelm and destroy us, and a great deal of the rest of the world as well.
"War is a racket" easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious" It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives".It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."
Major General Smedley Butler, U.S. Marines, from his book War Is a Racket, (1935)
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