[jyl]

tabs, I don't follow your reasoning.

I agree there is a lot of political infighting. I disagree the infighting has had any impact on US policy/action as relevant to defense/security. Because, regardless of infighting, actual power has been firmly held by one party and that party has rigidly followed its leader.

The Republican party has controlled White House and Congress, and has effectively made all the decisions for the past six years. The President has gotten his way on any and every material defense/security issue. Every action he's wanted, every budget dollar he's wanted. Can you name a significant defense/security initiative of his that has actually been blocked by "infighting"?

So if you think the US has been rendered impotent vs its enemies, it can't be attributed to political infighting, because that infighting has had no real impact.

I also disagree that the US is in fact impotent. The US is experiencing the end of a period in which it was the sole and unquestioned global power: Russia was in economic ruins, China was still a third-world country, the oil producers were helplessly peddling $20/bbl oil, US economic growth was the envy of the world. Things are different now. So instead of being the 250lb strongman in a crowd of 98lb weakings, the US is a 200lb man in a crowd of 160lb men. Feels like a comedown, but maybe its just getting back towards balance.

Finally, as you point out terrorist attacks produce only limited physical damage. The attendant psychological damage is basically in our own control. Other countries have adjusted to continual terrorist attacks, with manageable impact on their economic or psychological vitality. London during the IRA campaign, Israel for many decades, are examples. The US is still in the early stages of adjusting to terrorism. Psychologically we're like the little boy who cries all day over his first bad scrape; give him some more action and he'll toughen up.

The main danger, IMO, is if terrorists begin to use weapons of a completely different level. Instead of explosive in duffel bags, nuclear weapons in vans.