Democratic Party Ninth District Jack Rogers

The Al Qaeda attack on 9/11/2001 was a terrible event; thousands of innocent people were killed and injured. Our comfortable position as the only superpower suddenly didn't seem so comfortable. In the six years since 9/11, we've conducted a massive campaign against the terrorists, and have undertaken a huge effort to strengthen our defenses. Eliminating terrorists and improving defenses are the right things to do, but this administration has made major blunders in its attempts.

The list of bad moves is a long one; spying on our citizens without warrants, using torture, holding people in prison indefinitely without trial. Thousands of our troops have been killed, tens of thousands maimed. We've paid lip service to reducing dependence on foreign oil. We have a staggering debt that is sure to cause big problems. Underlying it all is the attitude that the Constitution can be ignored if it gets in the way.

9/11 was a big event, but when we compare it to two fairly recent challenges, we have to wonder if it's serious enough to justify these extremes. In WWII, our survival as a nation was in question. Our enemies were Japan and Germany - two modern countries which had already conquered much of Asia and Europe, and had us in their sights. With an all out effort, we won. What does it mean to say we won? It's simple - Germany and Japan were both defeated and surrendered.

Next came the defense of freedom against the spread of communism - the Cold War. Our enemies were armed with formidable military forces and thousands of nuclear weapons. Again, our survival was at stake. This was a long and costly fight, which included shooting wars in Korea and Vietnam, decades under the threat of nuclear holocaust, other painful military adventures, and massive defense spending. It was worth it - we won. Again, what does this mean? The Iron Curtain fell and the Soviet Union collapsed - no debate, no need for spin.

Our enemies today are scary, but they don't compare to those we've dealt with in the past. They can attack civilians, they can ambush our troops. But even if they one day get weapons of mass destruction, they cannot really threaten our way of life. Make no mistake - they deserve to be crushed, but we must find a better balance between defending ourselves and preserving the freedoms that make America a great country. What would it mean to say that we won this war? The question has no answer, because there will always be fanatics who want to harm us. The only sure way to "win" against terrorism is to create a police state, because our freedoms are a big part of why we are vulnerable. But I say let's hang on to the Constitution. I'd rather live in an America where I don't need a passport to drive into Atlanta - even if it means I'm a little more vulnerable to the terrorists.