We discussed International security in our phone-in programme, Talking Point.
In the three years since the attacks on America, domestic security has become a primary concern throughout the world. The most recent attack occurred last week. It is thought a suicide car bombing is responsible for the devastation at the Australian embassy in Jakarta.
President Putin has described Beslan as Russia's 9/11. In response to the attacks a Russian General has said the country is prepared to launch pre-emptive strikes on terrorist training bases anywhere in the world.
US President George W Bush pledged at the recent Republican Party convention in New York "to build a safer world". However some critics have said that US policies have made the global community more vulnerable.
Has the world become less safe since the attacks on America? Is the threat of international terrorism growing? Is the so called war on terror being won? Do you feel threatened where you live?
This debate is now closed. Thank you for your comments.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
For those who say the leading cause of terrorism is poverty, may I remind you that the majority of the terrorists on 9/11 came from either middle or upper class families. Bin Laden himself is hardly a pauper. Perhaps we need to evaluate how many of these oil rich countries take care of their poor and work on their infrastructure.
Bailey Winston, Charleston, SC, USA
It is ironic that after all of the terrorist activity in the world since 9/11 that this issue is in question at all. Yes, international terrorism has been on the rise. It is also true that the war in Iraq is a total failure and will not help to further any productive policy in any way at all. But when did the U.S. become responsible for all of the injustices of the world why is it the centre of discussion on this site? When did the U.S. become responsible for all of the injustices of the world? I agree that the major contributor to terrorism is poverty. However, it is a new post cold war mentality that holds the U.S. so accountable for it. As the last remaining super power the U.S. will always receive an unjust amount of criticism regardless of what is does or doesn't do. For that reason I think the U.S. can no longer invest all of it's hope in diplomacy to address its security concerns. The U.S. is less effective diplomatically now since they have become the common scapegoat!.
Eric, Seattle, USA
 |  If you want to make the world a safer place then make it more equal and give everyone something to defend  |
If you want to make the world a safer place then make it more equal and give everyone something to defend - like civil liberty, good health and education, freedom to practice religion without persecution, freedom of speech, inclusion in the international community and more open international trade. If you seek to impose your will (US) then people will fight back and you can not cry foul when they do.
Duncan, Reading, UK In the words of Peter Ustinov : "Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich".
Aldo Mussi, Birmingham, UK
If we have to effectively fight terrorism and expect it to wane, the world community must collectively pinpoint the leading factors and try to address them. The battle against terrorism cannot be won by simply using military force. As long as there are deprived and oppressed people terrorist groups will have plenty of volunteers to fight for them.
Kamal D, Duhok, Iraq
The world is a lot less safe today. I miss the 80s and the "cold war era". Back then the US and the USSR had each other in a stalemate position. No one would do anything to the other party because they feared retaliation. Today our enemies (read terrorists) fear nothing. They wish to die. They don't care about innocent people dying in terror attacks or innocent casualties of war. All they care about is death and destruction. The world of today is indeed a less secure place. In a near future we may even have to worry about nuclear terror attacks. God save us.
P, Sweden
The 'war on terror' is a ridiculous notion. I was living in New York City during the 9/11 attacks and educated myself as to the reasons behind the attack on my city and country. Now I know that terrorism is a direct backlash from the aggressive actions of expansionist nations. Israel, Russia and the US are to blame for the radical powers which threaten civilisation today. War begets terrorism and terrorism begets war. Instead of fighting terrorism in an intelligent way, through espionage, we drop bombs. Unfortunately, we cannot turn back the clock. We've made a mess of things and now world can never be secure from terrorism.
Ned Wyss, Los Angeles, USA
Despite all the increased security measures around the world, it is definitely a less secure place. The idea that a nation could successfully fight a war against terrorism is simply misinformed. The problems that drive people to become terrorists must be addressed if there is ever going to be a waning of terrorism.
John McCormick, Los Angeles, USA Terrorism is as old as "civilisation" itself. In recent years only two things have changed. Firstly, the continental USA has been targeted, causing the American people to really take notice and demand action. Secondly, a generation of terrorists has emerged for whom killing the innocent is actually the purpose. The new breed of terrorist doesn't seek "sympathy" for his cause. He just wants his "enemies" to suffer as much anguish as he can.
Neil, London, UK
It seems to me that there is a fundamental difference between terrorism and acts of war or other forms of political struggle. What is peculiar about terrorism, I feel, is that it self-consciously chooses to inflict violence and even death on people in a largely random manner and who themselves may be entirely innocent of whatever grievance with which the terrorists may be concerned. In so doing, the terrorists are entirely negating the humanity of their victims. This strikes me as a particularly post-modern form of violence that throws us back to a pre-civilized outlook, and as such, it seems to me that, despite globalization and all our technological and scientific progress, terrorism denotes a kind of moral and spiritual regression in human history.
Robert E. McNulty, Massachusetts, USA
Our (western) world has become less safe, since "classical" means of warfare like bombs don't work, but aggravate the threat. New strategies and policies are necessary to get closer to a primary goal: Solidarity of Muslim and western societies in establishing common standards for humanity. That could enable the next step on a long and painful road of isolating terrorists and to deprive them of their breeding ground.
Bernard, Boston, USA
We do live in a less secure world today than ever before. The fundamental issue is that it is an inter-human struggle. This is the fight between two ideologies, one of which when taken in an extreme view is enough to persuade acts such as suicide bombings. Their lack of fear to die in name of their cause is ever more frightening because they could strike at any time in any number of ways. This is why peaceful resolutions have to pursued or we have lost before we have started!
Rishi, New Malden, London, UK Less secure? Certainly, and it will be until we come to grips with the problem. There are two paths to a secure world; both require a global regime. The first, and least desirable, is strict totalitarian regime with swift and sure punishment for all deviant behaviour. The second is a free state which understands "All Gods are one God, and all men are one flesh". Private agendas, nationalist attitudes, and religious diversion will always lead to conflict. Conflict begets more conflict. As Gandhi said "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". Time for humanity to grow up, or face oblivion.
Keith, Cranford, NJ
No it is a much more dangerous place to live, especially if you are a Muslim. You are immediately a suspect wherever you are, the terrorists don't mind if you're among the victims of their crimes, your country is very likely to be bombed by the US or Russia, and your death is justified because the rest of the world thinks you must be a terrorist, if you speak out against your dictator, you are imprisoned and tortured, your cries to the international community for help are vetoed every time by the US. In today's world, all this is justified under the "war on terrorism", in yesterday's world, it was not spoken of. It is distressing, yet not surprising, that so many Muslims are tempted into violence to channel their frustrations.
Ibrahim, London, England
Terrorism will only perish once the Western world stops its double standards!
Mullah Hafeezud Din, Birmingham, UK
I lived and worked on Wall St. on 9/11. That day, I have seen people jumping to their death, held colleagues in my arms knowing that their loved ones would never make it out of the towers, and wondered who was capable of such act as I barely managed to escape the second falling tower myself. Yes, I wanted those responsible brought to justice. Instead, our government pursued a war elsewhere, discounting any advice from our allies and allowing those responsible to escape and re-group in places like Bangladesh.. Are we safer today? Of course not. Bush frightens most New Yorkers more than the terrorists ever did. Of course I don't expect the Democrats to change our policies in the Middle East. However, regaining some degree of respect from the international community is reason enough to vote Bush out of office.
Andrew D, New York City
Until the actual root grievances are addressed there can be no safe place in this world. Force is not the answer to this problem.
Phil, Portsmouth , UK
| It is sad to see how brainwashed the American society when it comes to understanding the roots of violence |
As many in this forum already pointed out, terrorism is a response to oppression and injustice. As the neo-colonial global capitalism widens the inequality and enslaves people economically, it should come to no surprise that terrorism increases. Yes, the world is more insecure and aggressive propaganda is spewed out both by "terrorists" and by the "war president". Violence is never justifiable, but it is sad to see how brainwashed the American society when it comes to understanding the roots of violence and believing the hawkish, fear-installing propaganda.
EM, Phoenix, USA By voting for governments that support the status quo, we in the west are all responsible for the root causes of terrorism - economic and social inequalities within and between regions.
Derek Geary, Barcelona Spain
Terrorism comes with injustice and will never go away unless justice is done. We see 'terrorism' through the eyes of the US and allies. They dictate who is a terrorist and who is not. The Israeli government has killed more people and children than all of the current terrorist organisations combined. Yet, they are defending themselves! A man blowing up himself who lost everything in life before that point is a terrorist! Instead of waging wars, insure real justice is served to all, and you can sleep at night with doors unlocked and borders open! Until then, the world is less and less secure.
Rami, Oxford, UK
It's not safer for me. People outside of Europe and the US now treat white people with contempt.
Geoff Walsh, Aldershot, UK
| I'm really heartened by all the comments that seem to understand the massive injustice directed to the Muslim world |
I'm really heartened by all the comments that seem to understand the massive injustice directed to the Muslim world. It makes me optimistic that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Muhammad, UK The real cause of terrorism is the ideology that justifies targeting innocent people as a legitimate means of national, religious or economic struggle.
Ernesto, Israel
I can't believe people have tried to justify terrorism! If I am wronged, do I go out and kill 1000 innocent people? Any problems that one might have with each other or other countries are settled the proper way: treaties and accords between nations, law courts for individuals. You just don't become a terrorist. There are proper channels to discuss problems.
Jack, Philadelphia, USA
I find it rather sad that people blame Bush for terrorism. It's like terrorism never existed until GW Bush became president. You believe the US is a threat to world security, something we find odd. So I ask you. What would you have us do, then? Perhaps, sit and close our eyes, while begging some unseen force, "Please, please, please make it go away!".
Chris, Florida, US
The world has become less safe and at the same time less humane because governments fight against terrorism and in that struggle Human Rights are seriously violated. It seems that we need to renounce some liberties if we want security. In addition we have to think about two threats the terrorist groups and their massive attacks, and the overbearing governments that punish people who think in a different way from what governments think. Now totalitarian governments can find some dubious pretext to restart wars and violate Human Rights.
Oscar Torres, Bogot�, Colombia I want to comment that the war on terror has not been won since the 9/11 instead the world has experienced a lot of bombings and many killed. The war will not be won unless there is adequate and accurate information without which we shall continue facing these sieges in every country. Additionally, the Governments should learn to share the experience and information on terror. If this is not done the psychological effect that terror has caused on the world shall continue as a result.
Thabani Mazwi, Lusaka, Zambia
The war on terrorism is a sham, just as a war on any abstraction is a sham. It conceals the fact that the more powerful are waging war on or feeding on the less powerful. People commit terrorist acts because they have been made irrational by their desperation so that they can only strike back with violence. I condemn all acts of violence, whether suicide bombings or actions like a pre-emptive war. Until the more powerful start trying, again, to live by the rule of law and serious efforts are undertaken to address global, social and economic inequities brought about by such forces as colonialism, capitalism, and imperialism the world will continue to be "unsafe".
David Robertson, Newark, DE, USA
I think the world has become more aware of terrorism and hence there is more hype. Since 9/11 no untoward incident has taken place in America but the 'alerts' are always orange and red. Islamic terrorism is a phenomenon but who has cultivated this baby is an open ended question. Surely it is not the Muslims as they are at the loosing end on all what is happening. So who is gaining? Everyone should try to go the route cause of the real issue and solve it rather than go out and act like bounty hunters.
Mahmood, Lahore, Pakistan
| Remove the reasons and we will see the change, continue on the current path and things will only escalate |
Why is it so difficult to understand the mindset of the terrorist, I don't believe it is. It's whether you are willing to accept where there is injustice. Instead the western nations choose to adopt a hard-line approach which only serves to reinforce and breed more terrorists. What's so difficult to understand is that indiscriminate force achieves nothing but more violence... on both sides... we need people in power who are willing to address the root causes of terrorism.
Militant Islam cannot destroy the West. Only the West can do that by allowing itself to become dragged into this dirty war, instead we need solutions to existing problems in the Muslim world i.e. Palestine, Chechnya etc need to be addressed, once these are removed there will be no pretext for terrorism in the Muslim world and you will then see a major reduction and a change in the support and sympathy these groups are gaining.
Terrorists groups can only run with the support of their peers otherwise their communities would not condone such deeds if there were not arguments to justify them. Remove the reasons and we will see the change, continue on the current path and things will only escalate.
Raz, United Kingdom
Everybody in the world wants to live. It is just the greed and madness of some people which is making the world a place of terror. Right and judged policies can once again bring harmony. War is not the only way out for it gives birth to terror.
Anand Lohia, Gonda, India
| There can never be any winners in any war |
There can never be any winners in any war. The war on "terror" is a war against those the American government choose to label as "terrorist". There is only one way to make the world a safer place, and that is for the human race to grow up and learn to live with each other.
Jason, Milton Keynes, UK George Bush is not trying to build a safer world. He is trying to build a safer America. In order to do so, he is bombing the Middle East for a host of reasons, none of which are remotely moral. The Middle East is far from safe but that's ok with George Bush because it's not America. The world will only be safer if people the world over, including people in the Middle East, in Africa, etc actually feel safe. We all know this is not the case don't we?
HM, UK
The world has become less safe since the war in Iraq, which was widely predicted by intelligence services and analysts. If terrorism is to be defined as action which causes the deaths of innocent civilians, then governments should be asking themselves whether they are contributing to rather than fighting terrorism.
Margaret Farrell, Rome, Italy
I am saddened that so many contributors to this debate seem to be able to find excuses for the recent barbarous acts in Russia.
Dave, Sheffield, England
We are looking at terrorism with our eyes firmly shut. Terrorism is deplorable and barbaric. So is injustice. Modern technology has made communication and coordination among terrorist groups easier, faster and cheaper than was the case, while the end of the Cold War left many terrorists practically "looking for injustices" to resist. The result is the current cauldron of terrorist strikes and mini-wars the world over. The world is thus far less secure than it was, say, ten years ago. Poor countries that back more powerful states (e.g. Kenya, which is generally pro-American and pro-Israeli) will bear the brunt of terrorism in the coming days, as rich countries tighten border and immigration controls. And, with situations like Iraq and Palestine still festering, sadly, terrorism seems poised to reach alarming new levels. Addressing terrorism will require addressing the "grievances", real and imagined, that the terrorists cite as justification for their cowardly attacks. But with more and more countries taking hard-line stances against any form of negotiation with current or potential terrorists, the outlook is grim.
Peter Wanyonyi, Nairobi, Kenya
The core of terrorism is that it is in revenge for an injustice. The 9/11 attacks did not happen because they were envious of the US riches, Bin Laden was richer; they were not trying to force a version of their religion on New York; they were doing it out of hatred and vengeance for the policies that the US pursues when dealing with the Middle East. Does anyone in the US even know what their government's policies have been in the region? The level of death and suffering caused by these policies is beyond measurement, but apparently, not beyond reply.
Hilary R M, London, England
With the price tag of the US so-called "war on terror", millions of innocent people could be saved from death caused by disease, malnutrition and poverty. This is a few hundred or even thousand times more than all the victims of the 9/11. But of course, these people don't vote in the US elections...
Hugo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
What I am observing here from reading people's opinions is, that while Europeans, Africans, and the rest of the world are looking at ways to deal with terrorism; Americans are always looking for revenge. It is a fact that the world is less safe, and the way things are going, it's going to get even more volatile with people like Bush and his cronies playing the leadership role
Jeffery Dairample, Dominica
| Much more has to be done to eliminate the presently ever widening gap between the developed nations and the rest |
The answer to whether the world is now more or less secure depends, in my view, on what lessons have been learned from 9/11 and other terrorist atrocities. If our political leaders are now closer to understanding the fundamental reasons behind such attacks and are prepared to accept that much, much more has to be done to eliminate the presently ever widening gap between the developed nations and the rest, then the world may indeed be safer now. Unfortunately, there are very few signs that any such lessons have been learned.
Ian, Madrid, Spain The likes of Bush, Putin and Sharon are the best terrorist recruiters in the World. The press reported that the two female suicide bombers that brought down the airliners in Russia had both seen relatives arrested the by the Russian army, relatives that had never been seen alive again. One of the school survivors stated one of the rebels claimed he had lost a young daughter to Russian troops. 10 Iraqis die for every US soldier, and many of them are just innocent bystanders. Every one of those dead bystanders have relatives crying for revenge. We all begin as peaceful people, but how do we react if members of our family are killed by a laser guided bomb meant for our neighbour? Governments should never not allow themselves to become like the terrorists they claim to be fighting but should stick the rule of law. Even in war.
Gilles, Montreal, Canada
Yes, the world is less secure since 11/9/01 but people seem to forget that one of Osama Bin Laden's "excuses" for the attack was the situation in Israel/Palestine. It beggars belief that Israel is allowed to flaunt UN Resolutions to the detriment of the Palestinians. How can there ever be peace in that country when Palestinians are treated so abominably? Why does the rest of the world stand by and allow it to continue?
Irene Crosthwaite, Glasgow, Scotland
It was right that America, and other nations, joined forces to attack Al-Qaeda. However, they over stepped the mark when they went into Iraq. The whole point about terrorism is that a few people can hold whole nations for ransom. We don't know where they will attack, when they will attack or how they will attack. The only way to fight terrorism is to remove the reason for others to support them.
Mark Hughes, Worthing, UK
Your average American would probably say the world was less secure, as before 9/11 terrorism wasn't really an issue for them. Ask the question of someone who put up with the constant chaos the IRA caused in London over several decades and you'd get a different answer. The world may be more aware but it's no more or less secure.
Bazil Woodroffe, St Neots, UK I think that after 3 years there are still too many unexplained facts related to 11 September. If we do not find out the truth then we can't be sure that we are living in safe world.
John, Estonia
Safe is a relative term. I feel safer now than during the cold war days of the 60's and 70's. However as much as we may disagree on the ancillary causes of modern day terrorism, my view is that the US foreign policy not only is a prime root cause of terrorist acts, it could also be the source of the start of a resolution. Until the US takes a more even-handed approach to the Palestine problems, the Arab/Islam world will be forever in conflict with them and their supporters. The U.S. policy of appeasing the Jewish-American voter by subsidising Israel cannot continue to be sanctioned by them or the other Western powers.
Chris, Somerset, UK
I think the world is less secure. Firstly terrorist organisations now know that if New York can be hit then so can London, Paris etc. These groups seem to be well organised and have access to all sorts of weapons and chemicals. How can you defend against individuals willing to blow themselves up? The events in Beslan show just how ruthless these groups can be. It's time for our governments to really go to war on terrorism, and not just use it when they want to further their own aims.
Sean, Derry
| The "you're either with us or against us" quote from Bush has done nothing but polarise the West versus Islam argument |
The war on terror is not a conventional war. There are no clear battle lines, no visible army, no uniform and it's a war on many fronts. It is a war that can never be won. The "you're either with us or against us" quote from Bush has done nothing but polarise the West versus Islam argument. The war in Iraq has merely confirmed what some radical Muslims feel that it is a war on Islam. Therefore it has served as recruitment for fundamentalism - drawing people into terrorism. The world is inherently unsafe - more so now than ever. The US has frittered away the good will of the international community after 9/11 and the lines have been drawn. I fear that the world will become even more volatile should Bush get re-elected - making this already unsafe world even more unsafe.
Jock, Blackwood, Gwent
Secure? Iraq, the "beacon of light", is going down the path towards Chechnya. Bush knows this and therefore he will open a new front with Iran to raise the patriotic mood at home. When officials celebrate the Beslan operation as a success because most of the terrorists were killed the world is on the edge of collapse.
Andreas, Munich, Germany
People seem to have forgotten the main reason why the world is less safe now. The end of the Cold War. Back then there were two superpowers who could destroy the world between them. Nations were on one side or the other with contained superpower conflicts all over the globe. Without the two superpowers the world has fractured into many more than two ideologies and so the world is more chaotic and dangerous now. Needless to say, Islam is the new communism and I don't care what the PC crowd say about that.
James Butler, County Kerry, Ireland
The war on terror can be won but that will not happen as long as Bush or his successor refuses to work with and show respect for the views and feelings of the wider world community. What is required is clever use of soft and hard power. Bush finds it easier to emphasise the latter and even use it unwisely (Iraq comes to mind). While it may be popular at home to project an image of strength through the use of US military might, it will not win the war abroad (colonial wars provide an eloquent lesson here) the real war is the war for hearts and minds supplemented from time to time by reasonable use of force.
Peter Kebuile, Gaborone, Botswana
The world is decidedly less secure. Indeed, the War on Terror has seemingly degenerated into a War over Islamic Oil or even an outright War against Islam. The wanton use of force without addressing the underlying causes of the turmoil is an exercise in futility, as it would merely generate further strife.
Kiat-Jin Lee, Singapore/USA The world is not less secure, it is that people are more informed. The people that perpetrated these horrific acts must be dealt with. I hope that Iraq becomes the beacon of light in the Muslim world. The more educated and free they become, the less likely they will become part of the problem.
Bryan, Green Village, NJ USA
Isn't it interesting that both Chechnya and Iraq are about large world powers controlling oil reserves against the wishes of the local people. I think we are seeing the start of a series of wars and terrorist events that will determine who controls the worlds remaining fossil fuel reserves.
Richard Read, London, UK
The point of terrorism is to sow fear. We are attacked and so we are afraid. The government keep telling us there's a huge risk of us being attacked again, so we are more afraid. We allow legislation to be passed that restricts our freedom and denies human rights because we are afraid. Terrorism has always been a risk but it's only since the war on terror was declared that we have allowed the terrorists to change our way of life. Who looks like they're winning here?
Katarina, London
There are now more people that hate America than before Bush came to power: fact. Some of those are prepared to use violence to make their point. Of course the world is less secure and it is down to the actions of Bush and Sharon.
John Farmer, Henley-on-Thames, UK
| Combating Islamic terrorism is the wrong way of thinking about it |
The world is less safe now - most obviously shown by the horrific events in Beslan. For Bush to claim that America is safer now shows that he is either a liar or just plain stupid. Combating Islamic terrorism is the wrong way of thinking about it; the root causes have to be explored and understood. Palestine would be a good place to start. The so-called war on terror is not being won and cannot be won by conventional military means - in the short-term we are most dependent on our intelligence services (which proved to be highly unreliable on Iraq WMDs) and beyond that we must ourselves stop being terrorists: economically, environmentally, politically and militarily. With Bush in Washington and Blair in London the prospect for peace is very bleak indeed.
Ken, Brighton, UK
Here in the UK I am as safe as I ever was. We've just gone from an Irish threat to a Muslim one. It's when overseas there is a difference. Blair has aligned our foreign policy with US with consequence that I am viewed very differently when travelling as a Briton and not always made as welcome as I would have been previously and yes, certainly less secure. It's a new experience to be hated for simply being British and I certainly don't thank our government for bringing it about.
Phillip Holley, UK
Yes, and for a simple reason: We are fighting each other rather than our common enemy: the terrorists who want to destroy western civilization. We have been so paralyzed by political correctness that we blame everyone and everything except the people who are bombing our cities and killing our people, and refuse to act decisively to stop them. Sadly, it will probably take another massive attack to finally shake us out of this nonsense.
Jeremy, Regina, Canada
With George Bush playing the part of global hero, protector of the faith, saviour of woman and children (and apple pie) - then the answer is yes, the world is very much less secure.
Gerry Noble, Salisbury, UK
It has become less safe, just because of the polarising reaction of the US. The more innocent people die in the attempt to kill terrorists, the more terrorists you are creating among the relatives. The war on terror is invented to make the world more simple: you are a terrorist or you are an American. The events in Russia is the soviet example of terrorists getting even with events in Chechnya.
Pierre Beerkens, Netherlands The western world appears to be divided into two opposing camp. Left and Right. The right seem to be very hawkish and the left seem to think that we must blame ourselves first and change the policies that force terrorists to hate us. The terrorists want nothing more than the complete destruction of western society. They do not care about right and left. They hate us all. Russia did not support the United States in Iraq. Yet the war came to them. Make no mistake, Chechnya been apart of Russia since the 1700's. This is not a war of independence. It's war over militant Islam. Every single Democracy in the world is at threat. How long will it be until you see these attacks in France and Germany? Does anyone cling to the false belief that terrorists only hate Republicans?
J Blanchard, Austin, TX USA
I'm sorry, but the comments J Blanchard from Texas have made just shows the belligerent attitude that has led the world to be in the state that it currently finds itself. No person wants to become a martyr because they 'hate us all'. People are killing themselves and others in an effort to show how our democracies and our religion has suppressed them as a people. I in no way condone the actions of 9/11 or any other terrorist attack but what must be remembered, and was conveniently forgotten by Bush, Cheney and Blair, is that one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. A war on terror was never going to be, and never will be the answer. The only way to sort this problem, if it has not been pushed to far already is to sit and talk, the troubles in Ireland have proved that. Bush and his associates have made the world nothing but a more dangerous place to live, but what scares me most is the thought of him getting a second term.
Darren Maher, Croydon, UK
Terror has escalated; just count the incidents and the countries. As a US citizen, I no longer feel safe outside this country. The Bush years have been a disaster for the world.
Henry Atherton, Sterling, USA
It is easy to say the world is not safer, but that comment is too simplistic. The "Terrorist War" did not start on 9/11, but years before in Afghanistan, the Gulf, Kenya, Palestine and even the first Trade Towers bombing. 9/11 was a wake up call to the West. God only knows what atrocities would have been carried out if the War on Terror was not being waged. Most likely what we have seen since 9/11 is only a sample of what would have happened. The war on terror can only be said to be one when, after a time nobody notices the lack of absence of terrorist actions.
James, Epsom, Surrey
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