Thoughts on Terrorism

I try to keep politics out of this blog, but please permit this one musing. If you don't like it, don't read it.

In thinking about the horrible terror attacks in England yesterday, I cannot help but remember back to 9/11. As a New Yorker I remember that awful day like it was yesterday. I'm sure the memories will live with me forever.

Then I started thinking about what has - or more properly, hasn't - happened: The US has not been hit with a major terror attack since 9/11. Considering the transportation bombings in Spain and the UK this seems kind of odd.

If the goal of these Islamic terrorists is to get us out of Iraq (or Saudi Arabia, or stop supporting Israel, or maybe they don't like our TV shows, or whatever), why not attack the US? Sure, Spain was helping us in Iraq, and the UK has been our strongest ally in the War on Terror. But isn't it us that they really want?

Then I started thinking. What would the American reaction be if New York were hit again? It wouldn't even have to be spectacular like 9/11. Why not just blow up our subway, or take out a tunnel or something (make my commute a slightly worse nightmare than it already is)?

Here's why I think we haven't been hit: Can you imagine the US reacting like Spain? Can you see people calling for us to change our policies because Al Qaida thinks we should? Sure, some fringe leftists would call for us to stop fighting the War on Terror. But I think the vast majoring of Americans would be so strengthened in their resolve that it would only increase the amount of pressure we are putting on terrorists worldwide. And they don't want that.

If Bush had stronger backing (and if we were hit again, he would have MUCH stronger backing), where would the bombs drop next? Syria? Iran? Riyadh? Paris (wishful thinking)? Which Islamic dictator wants to be deposed next? Which terrorist leader wants to crawl deeper into his cave?

Maybe I give the terrorists too much credit, or maybe I give too little credit to all of the cogs in our homeland security defense. I could also be way off base in my speculation around how Americans would react to another attack. I could be... but I don't think I am.