Israel in particular has had to endure periodic terror attacks for decades. Israelis retaliate when they have a good idea where the attack came from. They take security measures to combat future attacks. But attacks still happen. Attacks cannot be completely prevented. Israelis conduct their funerals, clean up the mess, and rebuild. Israelis do not go into a national panic every time they are attacked on their homeland.
The American homeland, on the other hand, prior to September 11, 2001, had not been successfully sneak-attacked since Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, a sixty-year run of good fortune in that respect. American soldiers are brave; but compared to the Israeli citizenry, American citizens are still acting like trembling cowards five years after 9/11.
Suppose you're willing to live in a total surveillance society -- and make me live in one too -- to minimize your fear. Then you need to read this report by defense experts on methods of virtually unstoppable attacks:
It may sound like science fiction, but the prospect that suicide bombers and hijackers could be made redundant by flying robots is a real one, according to experts.
The technology for remote-controlled light aircraft is now highly advanced, widely available -- and, experts say, virtually unstoppable.
. . . .
Bruce Simpson, an engineer from New Zealand, managed to produce an even more dangerous contraption in his own garage: a mini-cruise missile.
Go read the whole report. Then we'll trace a particularly evil and cowardly meme coming out of the mouths of a few U.S. Senators. Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said on December 20, 2005: "None of your civil liberties matter much after you're dead." As Reason Online Hit & Run reports:
There's been a little fuss over Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and his comments at Gen. Michael Hayden's confirmation hearing.
"I am a strong supporter of the First Amendment, the Fourth Amendment and civil liberties. But you have no civil liberties if you are dead."
This would be one thing if Roberts was flustered and winging it to defend the nominee. But he's said the same thing multiple times this year. He said it on March 26 and February 3. Senators Jeff Sessions and John "I miss Harriet Miers" Cornyn have used the same line of, uh, argumentation, but Roberts alone thinks it's clever enough to keep repeating.
Much to his credit, Senator Russ Feingold responded to the first use of this hideous meme with the perfect anti-meme, Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death:"
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
The lightweight carbon fibre mono-wings will allow them to jump from high altitudes and then glide 120 miles or more before landing - making them almost impossible to spot, as their aircraft can avoid flying anywhere near the target.UPDATE: Safety a concern as drones catch on.
Amazing post. I really enjoyed it.
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