TERROR - NY Style - Something to think about

I live in NYC. Fifteen miles from ground zero as the crow flies. I lost 85 friends and neighbors when the towers fell. For days afterwards the smoke and debris drifted over my house. Two months after the attack American airlines flight 587 crashed 300 feet from my house. AL Qaeda has taken credit for the attack with a shoe bomber. No one knows for sure, but it adds to the environment of fear around here. In NYC we are on a permament High alert warning status for another terrorist attack. Let's face it USA, we in NYC are the likely target for the next attack. I think about it everytime I set foot on a subway or pass an airport. I take my almost daily walks on a boardwalk over looking the Atlantic ocean and see barges approaching NY harbor, knowing virtually none of the cargo on these boats will be screened and any one of them could contain a weapon that will kill my family and friends.. I know that the cargo of the airplanes taking off or landing at Kennedy airport also is not screened. Living with this constant threat, day in and day out takes its toll. What keeps me up at night lately is the fear that George Bush will get re-elected. Since he invaded Iraq, I don't feel more safe, but much more vulnerable. I know that he has incited many more terrorists to join the ranks and has not spent the money necessary to keep me safe. So as you think about who to vote for, think of me and the millions of other NYers and Californians (another potential target) who are solidly backing John Kerry, because he will keep us safe. He had the balls to go to Viet Nam and didn't hide. The next attack is not going to hit you in Butthead, Texas, but a major world known target. Please vote for John Kerry, but if you don't, say a prayer for me and my family. We're gonna need it.

(((((((((Kathy))))))))))))) My heart goes out to you. I cannot imagine what it is like to be so close to "the action" like that and live with that over my head every single day. I do believe you are right about the targets being big name cities and not some small town in nowheresville (however, just think what that would do for the nation's psyche if that did happen - God forbid - remember the first moments of fear when the Oklahoma City bombing first occurred - before we knew it was done by an American citizen?) In my own opinion though, I do not believe it will make one whit of difference who is in power. When these terrorists want to attack - they will attack us no matter what. Bush probably will increase the risk because the terrorists really hate his guts (Osama bin Ladin certainly does - and his father - but even he stated it does not matter whether Bush or Kerry are in office, we we continue our policies as is - he will attack) My vote is for Kerry - I have my reasons why Bush will never, ever get my support. God help us if he gets (s)elected again.

We need to remember that they found a computer in Iraq with blue prints for several schools in America. I, for one, feel MUCH safer after invading Iraq. Everyone talks about Iraq being a magnet for terrorist as if that a bad thing. I'd rather they be fighting our troops over there than planning terrorist acts over here.

Kathy, First of all, American Airlines 587 crash was caused by a pilot error. He overcompensated for turbulents and that caused the crash. Sorry you had to experience the crash so close to your house, but it was pilot error, not shoe bombers or terrorists that brought that plane down. I really think you need to turn off CBS and Dan Rather and get your info from a more accurate, unbiased, reliable source! Also, I really find it so hard to believe that Kerry would ever be tough on terror when he ran away in Vietnam, then dogged the true heroes that fought in that war, he voted to pretty much disarm and diminish our military..AND he has voted against every single military action this country has ever taken. As I said before, war sucks.. but sometimes it's gonna happen. I would much, much rather have a strong leader like Bush then a wussy coward than Kerry any day! -MIKE BUSH/CHENEY '04 supporter and sooo darn proud of it! -Mike

Mike, For flight 587, pilot error was what the FAA reported within hours of the crash. The NTSB report did not take into consideration the eye witness reports from NYC Police and Firefighters among others. I don't know what the reason was, maybe pilot error, metal fatigue or sabotage, but I don't think we got the truth. I don't know why. The reason I linked it to an environment of fear is that most of us felt we were under direct attack since the crash created multiple explosions. John Kerry did not run away in Viet Nam. He completed one tour of duty and started a second before his honorable discharge and third purple heart. His Daddy might have been able to get him into the Air National Guard, too, but he chose to stand and fight. He spoke up about atrocities in the Viet Nam war. Remember the Mai Lai massacre? It's part of history and led to a series of congressional hearings and courts marshal hearings. He has voted against some obsolete military defense systems. So did your BUDDY Dick Cheney who was in Congress at the time and Porter Goss who has been chosen to lead the CIA. Actually I don'****ch CBS. I watch CNN, MSNBC and force myself to sit through a lot of Fox News shows to catch alternate points of view. What accurate, unbiased, reliable source do you suggest?

Since America has gone in to "liberate" Iraq, the Shiite and Suni muslims have banded together against US forces. That's the first time in over a thousand years they've been willing to work together on a common cause. Before 9/11 and the war in Iraq we had al Queda and a number of other terrorists groups to contend with (don't forget 9 of the 14 terrorists on 9/11 were from Saudi, no word about their punishment). Now however we have millions of Iraqis just waiting for their chance to die to defeat the American invasion. Seems to me like we just jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. The rest of the world knows Bush used 9/11 as an excuse to invade Iraq...how come so many Americans refuse to open their eyes and see the truth? Kelle