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> The United States has spent more than $500 billion on intelligence during that period, an outlay that U.S. officials say has succeeded in its main objective:
by Zelphyr 13y ago
> The United States has spent more than $500 billion on intelligence during that period, an outlay that U.S. officials say has succeeded in its main objective: preventing another catastrophic terrorist attack in the United States.
We hadn't had a catastrophic terrorist attack even approaching 9/11 prior to that date. And I'm guessing we've spent more in the past 12 on "preventing terrorism" than we had in the 225 years prior to 9/11.
My point: we may have overreacted.
- marshray 13y agoIn my lifetime there have been plenty of plane hijackings and bombings that killed hundreds of Americans. They just mostly weren't on continental US soil.
- Zelphyr 13y ago"hundreds of Americans" Key point here. Hundreds of Americans over the course of decades. Meanwhile millions died from heart disease, auto accidents, kidney disease, pneumonia, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, lung disease, and cancer, just last year. More people died of heart disease in this country alone last year than have died by airline hijacking since the invention of manned flight.
- frank_boyd 13y agoImagine all that money going into education and research. The 2 most important things for humanity to live happier lives.