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Getting people into this country isn't that hard, and killing people isn't that hard. They don't do the second very often. Why is that?

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1. It is widely believed that the Al Qaeda network has been disrupted. Part of this is due to international efforts (Afghanistan, international intelligence gathering, etc.) However, they have also been domestically disrupted. You tend not to hear a lot about the latter, because of the general practice of law enforcement to not comment about ongoing investigations and/or sources & uses of intelligence. However, some reports have been published, e.g. Oregon training camps, Lackawanna group, etc. Additionally, the relationship between international and domestic intelligence gathering blurs--for example, the Times article noted that the NSA wiretaps of international calls accelerated after Abu Zubayda was captured in Pakistan, and his computer showed contacts with persons in the united states.

2. Al Qaeda has historically shown a preference for "large" demonstrations of terror--e.g., WTC1, WTC2, Bojinka plot, African embassies, etc. It took them 8 years to get from WTC1 to WTC2. These operations can take a while. Just because we havent seen a major act of domestic terrorism in the country since 9/11 doesnt mean the threat isnt real.

You civil libertarians hate this stuff, and as a small government conservative, Im a bit leery as well. But im a pragmatist, and I recognize that without security there can be no liberty. As of today, young muslim males are more likely to be terrorists than any other group. Is it unfortunate that we may infringe on some patriotic muslims in this country? Yes. Do I have a problem with doing so if it would greatly increase the likelihood that we coudl prevent another 9/11 attach? No.

Easy to say as a non-Muslim, perhaps, but c'est la vie. The Europeans have a much greater problem with their domestic muslims, because the horse is already out of the barn--they're in legally, bringing in their extended families, and reproducing at a higher birthrate than non-Muslims. The United States should view the muslim population with suspicion, and avoid the European road to ruin. Patriot Act helps us keep tabs on these people.