Let me respond briefly to some of the comments.
I do not know on what basis Mr. Fallows in the Atlantic Monthly believes that we have broken al Qaeda's operational capacity. Granted, we have seized or killed many of bin Laden's henchmen, and his sanctuary in Pakistan is less secure than his pre-9/11 sanctuary in Afghanistan, so it is fair to surmise that we have weakened al Qaeda. But the Heathrow plot suggests (though does not prove) that al Qaeda can still orchestrate a devastating, though fortunately foiled (well, al Qaeda's 1995 plot to blow up airliners over the Pacific was also foiled, and that didn't prove that al Qaeda had been broken), attack on the United States. It makes no difference whether al Qaeda employs British Muslims or Saudi Arabians to carry out the attacks that it plans.
I disagree with the comment that says that we should spend less on antiterrorism because terrorism kills fewer people than ordinary crimes. First, it is harder to limit terrorism than to limit ordinary crime; the terrorists are more determined and less deterrable. More important, the potential threat posed by terrorists in an era of proliferation is much greater than the potential threat posed by ordinary criminals.
When I said that our current expansive conception of civil liberties dates from a time we felt safer, I didn't mean to disparage the fear of nuclear war during the Cold War. After communist subversion in the United States was defeated in the late 1940s and early 1950s, we felt pretty safe from domestic threats, the kind of threats that put pressure on civil liberties. We no longer have that feeling of safety.
Finally, I was asked about profiling. I am not an enthusiast for profiling. Apart from the resentment it causes on the part of people (American Muslims) whom we very much want to keep loyal to the United States, it can be circumvented by recruitment of terrorists who do not fit th eprofile. More and more "white" Europeans are being converted to Islam and some of them may become terrorists. On the other hand, some limited, discreet profiling is efficient and I very much agree with the commenter who said there should be a "pass" from security checks for people who have security clearances or are otherwise certifiable as safe.
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/17/2009 at 06:22 PM
I want to say - thank you for this!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/18/2009 at 03:17 AM
Perfect site, i like it!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/19/2009 at 03:48 AM
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/19/2009 at 06:36 AM
شات الشلة
دردشة تعب قلبي
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/19/2009 at 09:07 AM
ÿ¥ÿßÿ™ ÿØŸÑÿπ
شات الود
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/19/2009 at 09:08 AM
شات حبي
شات الحب
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/19/2009 at 09:08 AM
Perfect site, i like it!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/19/2009 at 01:02 PM
Perfect work!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/20/2009 at 11:01 PM
tiffany jewellery
ugg boots
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/21/2009 at 01:46 AM
links of london
abercrombie and fitch
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/21/2009 at 01:46 AM
I want to say - thank you for this!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/21/2009 at 08:47 PM
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/22/2009 at 08:40 AM
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/23/2009 at 08:42 AM
بنت 18
شات بنت 18
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/24/2009 at 01:52 AM
very thanks for article
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/25/2009 at 12:43 PM
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/25/2009 at 06:42 PM
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/26/2009 at 03:50 AM
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/26/2009 at 07:28 AM
Great site. Keep doing.
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/26/2009 at 02:46 PM
Provides the best tiffany jewellery, including Necklaces, Pendants, Bracelets, Earrings,
Ringsat the lowest prices.Tiffany jewellery
is the best online United Kingdom jewelry stores where you can buy the cheapest Tiffany &
Co silver Our huge selection of
tiffany jewelry
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/29/2009 at 01:29 AM
good post,I think so!Abercrombie & Fitch on Sale, Hoodies, Jeans, T-Shirts, Pants, Polos
abercrombie and fitch abercrombie and
fitchcheap abercrombie fitch Abercrombie Men Tee abercrombie womens polos Abercrombie
& Fitch Men, women, and children's clothing and accessories edhardylife a famous ed hardy
store which sell directly ed hardy clothing, shoes, boots, swim suit and other cheap ed
hardy ed hardy cheap Ed Hardy ed hardy
clothing,Providing authentic Ed Hardy Clothing with competitive price and fast,secure
delivery.The famous brand by Don Ed Hardy 's Vintage Ed Hardy
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/29/2009 at 01:30 AM
Incredible site!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/30/2009 at 12:58 AM
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/30/2009 at 03:43 PM
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/01/2009 at 11:15 PM