Wow... are all americans so obsessed with terrorism?

[Mithrandir]

Or is it just this silly cop?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY2c...ayer_embedded#

Short story:

guy takes pictures of subway entrance. Which is not against the law. Officer comes over and detaines the photographer and claims it's against the law. That Al Quaida would love to buy his subway pictures for a terrorist attack.

After a discussion the cop threatens to put the photographer on a hitlist of the FBI so that anytime he travels or his id is checked he gets detained and questioned.

I confess, the guy could've answered the cop a bit different and would probably be left alone. Then again, he did nothing wrong to begin with.

So my question: is there anyone here who actually believes that Al Quaida would take pictures before a bombing of a subway, especially in such a way as in the movie?

A serious question: are americans really still that obsessed with terrorism everyday?

And some positive USA news: Nikon USA is awarding $100.000,- to the winner of a 140 second movie contest!

http://www.nikonfestival.com/how-it-works/

[Fragony]

"That Al Quaida would love to buy his subway pictures for a terrorist attack."

wish they were that stupid

[Husar]

HOW DID THE COP KNOW THAT THIS IS A TERRORIST TARGET!?!?!?

HE MUST BE A TERRORIST!!!!

Seriously, it looks a lot like the guy provoked that reaction, not only by using a non-digital camera, but then the policeman becomes a bit...weird in his argumentation as well. New York must be a bad place for tourorists who just want to take pictures of the nice subway tracks.

[Fragony]

not only by using a non-digital camera

Why is that?

And have you ever been to New York, I KNOW MY RIGHTS/I AM A PERSON/YOU DON'T RESPECT ME is between every 10 sentences or so, whiny people. No offence to Lemur and Spino of course it are just a few million that make them look bad.

[Mithrandir]

But again my question:

Do people in America live in fear for a terrorist attack everyday?

[miotas]

Guilty until proven innocent!

[Fragony]

Check out the footage of that Obama jet circling over, I would say it sits pretty deep. I was amazed (and somewhat disgusted) of how scared they were, they were actually running from the safety of the park to the potential nightmare that is being between high buildings with lots and lots of glass, no way that jet could have hit them they were perfectly safe.

[miotas]

Yes, because terrorists would rather target some trees than multi million dollar buildings.

[Beskar]

I mean, one terrorist attack crippled America and its psyche.

How many terrorist attacks post 9/11 have there been?
Did you know more people have died of basic illnesses than the lives lost at 9/11 ? Where is the War against Bad Healthcare?
There have been more traffic accidents and lives lost there, where is the War against Traffic? Are you going to invade a General Motors warehouse for revenge?

It's silly.

[InsaneApache]

Don't be too hard on them. We euroweenies have endured terrorist attacks for decades. Us usual the US has a good deal of catching up to do.

[Monk]

But again my question:

Do people in America live in fear for a terrorist attack everyday?

Not really, no. Oh sure you hear about it on all the big news networks but for the most part, life goes on.

[seireikhaan]

In Iowa...?

Nope.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I mean, one terrorist attack crippled America and its psyche.

The moral is to the physical as three to one -- that is the primary "force multiplier" for any terrorist assault. The "it really CAN happen here" thing has had a significant impact (not crippling, but measurable) on the national psyche.

How many terrorist attacks post 9/11 have there been?.

None in the USA. Whatever the manifold flaws of the Bush 43 administration, they were able to improve security and short-punch a number of would-be attempts. Trampled on our rights a bit getting there, but not without impact.

Did you know more people have died of basic illnesses than the lives lost at 9/11 ? Where is the War against Bad Healthcare? There have been more traffic accidents and lives lost there, where is the War against Traffic?.

Different issues. None of them feature an active human agent seeking to cause harm. You imply that government efforts to stop terrorism are mis-spent. I disagree. The problems you cite are problems that we address in an ongoing manner, as we should.

Are you going to invade a General Motors warehouse for revenge?

The hostile takeover by the USG was deemed sufficient. They're still gunning for those silly independents at Ford -- ******** sidestepped the first salvo.

[drone]

No. Just the sheeple that bought into the fear sold by the news companies for ratings and by the government for our rights.

[Hosakawa Tito]

He must have been watching Fox again...

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Not as much as Europeans are obsessed with America...

[Fragony]

Not as much as Europeans are obsessed with America...

Yeah and kinda yeah. That is simply true.

[Major Robert Dump]

If my "terrorism" you mean "tits", then yes, I am obsessed

[Crazed Rabbit]

But again my question:

Do people in America live in fear for a terrorist attack everyday?

No. This is more a situation where a cop decides he makes the rules. See the police abuses thread.

CR

[Mithrandir]

If my "terrorism" you mean "tits", then yes, I am obsessed

[Lemur]

And have you ever been to New York, I KNOW MY RIGHTS/I AM A PERSON/YOU DON'T RESPECT ME is between every 10 sentences or so, whiny people

Sounds like you've never been to New York, actually. If you want to find Euroweenie wannabes who prattle on about their rights while munching on vegan tofurkey whilst rubbing their earth shoes down, New York is not the place to be. Try Seattle, or San Fran.

Here's what interests the average New Yorker:

1. Money
2. Sex
3. Power
4. Money
5. Fashion
6. Fame
7. Money

In that order. You do know where Wall Street is located, right?

[Don Corleone]

I wet my pants every time a plane flies overhead or a person of Middle Eastern ethnicity passes me on the street....

That's the answer you're looking for, right? Enjoy whatever crazy fantasies you enjoy about Americans being freaked.... CR has the right of this. It's more a story of the overstepping of American police than us being panty-waists.

But if it makes you feel any better, Monk just came on TV, and Tony Shaloub made me wet myself....

[Louis VI the Fat]

Obsessed Yanks discover Weapons of Mass Distraction in Iraq!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Sensitive tips, prone to cause explosions....smells like, like VICTORY!

[Gregoshi]

There is no obsession from the safety of my bunker.

Excuse me now, I have to call the cops - my neighbor is cleaning with some potential bomb-making substances...

[Samurai Waki]

I regularly have to have to check my wife to make sure she's not carrying any...ummm... Improvised Explosive Devices...

It turns out she does, from time to time, but its only when I use that excuse to cop a feel.

[Gregoshi]

It turns out she does, from time to time, but its only when I use that excuse to cop a feel.

Homeland Security demands vigilance.

[Azathoth]

Hey, don't knock us New Yorkers.

Seriously, it looks a lot like the guy provoked that reaction, not only by using a non-digital camera, but then the policeman becomes a bit...weird in his argumentation as well. New York must be a bad place for tourorists who just want to take pictures of the nice subway tracks.

I saw a couple of French tourists actually photographing the subway maps. What epic noobs.

New York's police force is the size of a small army (35000+). It's bound to have a few unsavory characters. I think we have a couple of trials going on with police officers who shot and killed innocent men. It's usually pretty decent, though.

[Fragony]

If you want to find Euroweenie wannabes who prattle on about their rights while munching on vegan tofurkey whilst rubbing their earth shoes down

[Banquo's Ghost]

Actually chaps, the good old United Kingdom is way ahead of the States in this regard. There are actually laws now prohibiting the photography of just about anything, and the police are entirely within their rights to detain you for decades under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for taking a picture of any public or private building - or indeed, themselves. Any tourist wanting the stereotypical picture of them with a London bobby or guardsman can in fact, be imprisoned without trial for weeks, should the mood take. I kid you not.

So in the UK, this is against the law.

And of course, terrorists do take pictures of their intended targets and being largely unimaginative morons, often do so in odd ways. Being vigilant is not the same as being obsessed.

Finally, the 9-11 attacks made an enormous impact on the world's psyche. We in Europe may, as IA pointed out, have become somewhat wearied to the reality of terrorism, but that has not stopped many of our leaders using the event that scarred America to deprive us of our own liberties in a way that ETA or the IRA never managed. So the high horse is much more rickety than we want to believe.